high-achieving undergraduates
Check eligibility →BSc (Hons) Medical Biosciences Bachelor's degree at Imperial College London
BSc (Hons) Medical Biosciences at Imperial College London. Rather than treating theory and practice as separate strands, the course positions you close to the questions that matter in medicine and biomedical research, from how disease develops to how new treatments are tested and evaluated.
About this course
Assess critical challenges facing human health and gain laboratory and research skills. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Medical Biosciences is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Imperial College London, based in South Kensington. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Subjects allied to medicine graduates from this provider, 70% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Medicine & Dentistry, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 70% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 98% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 5 modules
- Chemistry of Biological InteractionsCore
Module details
Investigate the role that chemicals and macromolecules play at the cellular, molecular, and system levels, using examples to illustrate their real-world implications.
- Integrative Body SystemsCore
Module details
Learn how the endocrine, haematological, immunological and nervous systems regulate the functioning of the body.
- Lab Pod 1Core
Module details
Explore real scientific questions in a supportive, yet challenging environment, modelled after an active research lab, and experience the excitement of performing scientific research.
- Molecular & Cellular BiologyCore
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Gain a thorough understanding of molecular biology and cellular biology in order to comprehend the impact of these disciplines on human health.
- StatisticsCore
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Learn how to explore data sets and undertake rigorous statistical analysis.
Year 2 10 modules
- Genetics & GenomicsCore and Compulsory
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Find out how DNA differs between and within individuals, and how genetic linkage mapping and DNA sequencing detect these differences.
- Lab Pod 2Core and Compulsory
Module details
Test your own hypotheses in teams based on an individual research problem.
- I-ExploreCore and Compulsory
Module details
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules. All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
- Microbiome in Health & DiseaseOptional
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Explore how microbiota influence human health and disease and become familiar with the key platforms and methods that characterise the microbiome.
- Pharmacology & ToxicologyOptional
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Analyse the concepts that underpin pharmacology and toxicology and evaluate the pharmacological and toxicological responses of key therapeutic agents.
- Stem Cells & Reproductive BiologyOptional
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Obtain an understanding of stem cell biology from embryonic and adult stem cells, including aspects of mammalian development and reproduction, and how these cells can be used in basic research, disease modelling, and in regenerative medicine.
- Cancer BiologyOptional
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Learn about basic carcinogenesis, tumour biology, and personalised medicine.
- Cardiovascular & Thoracic BiologyOptional
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Analyse the basic physiology of the heart and lungs and begin to understand how genetics and the environment contribute to heart and lung disease.
- Immunology & InflammationOptional
Module details
Get a deeper understanding of the physiology of the immune system, including how it functions, develops, and interacts with pathogens.
- NeuroscienceOptional
Module details
Examine nervous system function and dysfunction, from molecules to disease, using case studies to create a real-life context for the knowledge acquired.
Year 3 17 modules
- Laboratory Based Research ProjectRequired
Module details
Conduct five months of research in a 'wet' or 'dry' lab, in areas such as cell biology, stem cells, regeneration, clinical, data science, or computational research among many others.
- Literature Based Research ProjectRequired
Module details
Research a topic of your interest within or related to biomedical sciences in depth or analyse a relevant major health issue, focusing on associated theories and developments.
- Work Placement Based ProjectRequired
Module details
Gain real-world experience and apply theoretical skills by working in a relevant organisation in the public, private or third sector.
- Creative Reflection on Professional PracticeOptional
Module details
Develop skills in creative reflection to think critically about your learning experiences to date and explore new creative activities with professional guest artists.
- Science Communication & Public Engagement AdvancedOptional
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Understand the social contexts that underpin communication of biomedical sciences and apply this to practical, public focused communications in a variety of media.
- Biology of AgeingOptional
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Develop analytical and data evaluation skills, and learn how ageing and genetics impact neurodegenerative disorders.
- Biomedical Data ScienceOptional
Module details
Evaluate which machine learning algorithms are appropriate for different research questions, analyse the outputs of these algorithms on large biomedical datasets, and visualise the results.
- Designing Drugs for the 21st CenturyOptional
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Learn how drugs are developed from chemists and industry professionals, who will give you insight into their own career paths and patient involvement.
- Ethics and Medical RegulationOptional
Module details
This module invites students to evaluate the purpose and value of biomedical research within society in order to critique from an ethical perspective the current regulatory framework in the UK. The focus will be on the regulation of clinical trials including research in low income settings. Historical context will be provided through discussion of major scandals and controversies from the 20th century and more recently. Students will explore the ability of co-production and community engagement
- Global HealthOptional
Module details
Look at global disease trends from a public health, political, ethical, and epidemiological perspective.
- Innovation and Translation in MedicineOptional
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Understand the steps needed to establish research-led thinking to the development of transformational medical technologies and devices.
- Nanobiology & BiomaterialsOptional
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Learn how biomaterials and nanomaterials are used in biomedical research, clinical trials, and treatments.
- Obesity & DiabetesOptional
Module details
Deepen your understanding of obesity prevalence, diabetes medications, appetite control, bariatric surgery, and genetics.
- Regenerative MedicineOptional
Module details
Examine regenerative medicine strategies to repair and rebuild organs including stem cells, endogenous repair and biomaterials.
- Precision MedicineOptional
Module details
Evaluate the major resources and analyses available for large-scale biological data; compare "big data" and "precision medicine" approaches.
- Science Communication & Public EngagementOptional
Module details
Learn practical skills for communicating biomedical sciences to a range of non-expert audiences.
- Targeting Antimicrobial ResistanceOptional
Module details
Analyse how antimicrobial drugs work, how bacteria develop resistance to them, and what consequences this has for patients.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course structure moves progressively from foundational understanding towards independent research capability. You'll cover core theory to establish the scientific grounding needed across human biology and disease, alongside research & methods work that introduces the practical and analytical techniques used in laboratory-based bioscience. Applied practice modules connect this knowledge to real biomedical contexts, helping you see how theoretical understanding translates into questions about diagnosis, treatment and health outcomes. As you progress, specialist options allow you to focus on areas that interest you most, such as aspects of human physiology, disease mechanisms, or biomedical research techniques, depending on what's offered during your studies. The independent project is where much of this comes together: a sustained piece of research work that lets you apply the laboratory and analytical skills you've built to a question of your own. Running alongside the scientific content, professional skills components are designed to prepare you for the practical realities of working in research or health-related careers, covering things like scientific communication and working methods relevant beyond the degree itself.
Who it's for
This course suits people who are genuinely curious about how the human body works and what goes wrong in disease, and who want that curiosity to be matched by rigorous, hands-on laboratory training rather than purely theoretical study. If you enjoy the process of investigation, forming a question, designing a way to test it, and working through what the results actually mean, the independent project and research-methods elements will likely be the parts of the course you find most rewarding. Most entrants come in with A-levels or equivalent, typically within the 144–159 UCAS tariff range, so you'll be joining a cohort with a broadly similar academic starting point, though this reflects what past students have held rather than a fixed requirement. Day-to-day, expect a mix of structured taught content and time in the lab, with the balance shifting towards independent, self-directed work as you move through the three years. It suits students who are comfortable with a demanding science curriculum and who want their degree to lead somewhere concrete, whether that's further study, clinical training routes, or work in biomedical or health-related research settings.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Medicine & Dentistry courses, 89% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 75% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled or are continuing into further study, figures that reflect the national Graduate Outcomes picture for the subject area rather than outcomes specific to this course. National earnings data (LEO) for the field shows a typical starting range of £27,000–£32,000 at 15 months after graduating, £24,650–£34,800 after three years, and £29,325–£41,400 after five years; these are national ranges, not guaranteed salaries, and individual outcomes will vary considerably depending on the specific role, sector and location. Around 90% of students nationally continue past their first year of study in this field, which gives some indication of course retention typical of the subject area. A Medical Biosciences degree of this kind is commonly a route towards further postgraduate or clinical study, as well as research, laboratory, and other biomedical-science-related roles, given the practical research skills developed throughout.
University & format
Imperial College London is a public, research-intensive Russell Group university based in South Kensington, with around 17,565 students in total and a history stretching back to 1907. It was and holds a Gold rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. The BSc (Hons) Medical Biosciences is delivered full-time over three years, taught in English, and leads to a nationally recognised UK degree award.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 89% |
| Other | 7% |
| a Baccalaureate | 3% |
| an Access course | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Imperial College London →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Medicine students
Check eligibility →undergraduate students
Check eligibility →international students
Check eligibility →students of Black heritage
Check eligibility →National funding for this subject
- NHS Learning Support Fund: Eligible nursing, midwifery and allied-health students can receive a non-repayable training grant. Official guidance
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Medicine & Dentistry graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,000 | £26,000 – £35,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £27,500 | £24,000 – £32,500 | 20 |
| 5 years after | £38,500 | £34,500 – £58,000 | 15 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in medicine & dentistry · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Medicine & Dentistry nationally
National figures for Medicine & Dentistry graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Medicine & Dentistry courses at the same study level.
Compared with 804 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 40% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Quality and Regulatory ProfessionalsSOC 2020 248 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £46,058
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 55; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Medicine & Dentistry graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Medicine & Dentistry graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- The NHS
- Private practice
- Research & academia
- Public health
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Medicine & Dentistry graduates.
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
70% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.3 out of 10: NSS 82.3% · in work or study 70% · continued 98%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Medicine and dentistry across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around South Kensington
3,468 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Medicine & Dentistry right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Imperial College London from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Imperial College London; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Imperial College London offers the GREAT - Imperial College London Scholarship for international students, see Scholarships above.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Imperial College London and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Imperial College London
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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