2.5-Term Pathway - Foundation Certificate in Science and Health - Continue to Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Human Biology (Placement Year)

For students who've finished high school but don’t meet the entry requirements for university, a Foundation Certificate can help them gain entry to an undergraduate degree. After completing this pathway option students qualify for progression to the 1st year of an undergraduate degree at the University of Essex.

A student’s course length is determined mainly by their English language level (UKVI IELTS score). Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. Students taking a course longer than 2 terms, will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Human Biology

The BSc Human Biology builds on the foundations of biology to explore the complexity of the human body using cutting-edge technology. Students learn how recent advances in understanding our genetic make-up and cellular function is leading to exciting new developments in treating and preventing human disease.

The course provides students with a cellular and disease-focused understanding of human biology, covering topics including:

• Anatomy and physiology • Cell biology • Genetics • Immunology • Microbiology

A major research area at Essex is centered on the relationships between protein structure and mechanisms of disease. This sheds light on the complex cellular pathways involved in cancer and brain cell damage. Another research area uses computational approaches to study the role of epigenetics and DNA structure in human disease. In their final year, students carry out an individual research project. Popular topics have ranged from mutagenesis of proteins linked to human diseases such as blindness and cancer and mechanisms of cell death and antibiotic resistance.

In the School of Life Sciences students learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical lab sessions, giving them the opportunity to ask questions and develop skills by doing experiments at the laboratory bench.