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LIFE SCIENCES: FAQs

What are the life sciences?

The life sciences are a broad field of scientific disciplines that study living organisms and life processes, including their structure, function, growth, interactions, and evolution. This field includes many areas such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, zoology, ecology, pharmacology and biomedical science and has practical applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Life scientists investigate life at various scales, from individual cells to entire ecosystems, aiming to understand the principles governing life and develop solutions for human health and environmental challenges.  

What curriculum subjects would I study?

  • Students on our life sciences pathway would typically be split between those studying A Levels and those studying BTEC Applied Science.
  • For those studying A Levels you would typically be choosing Biology, Chemistry and one other A level subject, often (but not always) Psychology, Maths, Geography or Physics.
  • Students studying for an BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science are also part of our Life Sciences pathway.

What if I don’t know what career I want to pursue?

The life sciences pathway is very broad and includes many opportunities across a wide range of career areas. If you are unsure of what you want to do but have an interest in science, this is the perfect pathway for helping you to try a lot of different things and to guide you towards a suitable career. We have had students who had no idea of which career they wanted to pursue at the start, but after completing a range of work experience placements they had found something they were determined to pursue. 

How is this pathway similar to and different from the MeDeVet pathway?

There is some overlap between the life sciences and the MeDeVet pathway but the MeDeVet pathway is more focused on patient-focussed careers where you would be dealing directly with the public in clinical settings. The Life Sciences Pathway is more focused on science in laboratory, research and business settings such as drug discovery, pharma, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, forensic science, ecology, animal science and many more. You may be interested in medicine and health but would rather go into careers where you are developing and testing medicines.

What kind of projects will I be able to complete?


If you join the life sciences pathway there are a range of exciting projects that will be available to you.

One example is the AstraZeneca Vaccine Challenge where you will get the opportunity to design your own vaccine to combat a fictional viral threat. You will hear from expert vaccine scientists from AstraZeneca who will introduce you to vaccine development and early career options at AstraZeneca. You will then complete research into the stages of vaccine development and work through all of the stages a real vaccine scientist would. At the end of the project you will pitch your ideas back to scientists from AstraZeneca with the chance to win a week-long work experience placement with the company.

 

 

Our Life sciences pathway has been purpose-built to blend the skills, qualifications, and experiences that you will need to move onto the best university-based science programmes in the country.

So, if you aim to become a doctor, research scientist, or build a career in any specific science branch, this is the pathway for you. Working with a dedicated team of specialist science teachers in each of the separate science disciplines throughout your time at A-Level, you can be confident that you will have the resources available to you to achieve your ambitions.

With our university's standard research laboratories and dedicated project based learning team, you will gain more than just qualifications that will prepare you for a future as a professional scientist.

Suitable Subjects

A-Level Biology

A-Level Chemistry

A-Level Physics

Cam Tech Engineering

A-Level Maths

A-Level Computer Science

A-Level Further Maths

A-Level Psychology

BTEC Applied Science

University Courses and Apprenticeships

University Courses
  • Medicine (MBBS, MBChB)
  • Biomedical Science (BSc, MSci)
  • Pharmacy (MPharm)
  • Biological Sciences (BSc, MSci)
  • Biochemistry (BSc, MSci)
  • Microbiology (BSc, MSci)
  • Genetics (BSc, MSci)
  • Forensic Science (BSc, MSci)
  • Environmental Science (BSc, MSci)
  • Physiology (BSc, MSci)
  • Zoology (BSc, MSci)
  • Animal Science & Management (BSc, MSci)
  • Food Science & Nutrition (BSc, MSci)
  • Radiotherapy & Oncology (BSc, MSc)
  • Nursing (BSc, MSc)
  • Teaching & Education (BSc, PGCE)
  • Psychology (BSc, MSc, PhD)
  • Engineering (BEng, MEng) – including Biomedical & Chemical Engineering
  • Applied Science (BSc, MSc)
  • Computer Science (BSc, MSc, PhD)

 

Apprenticeships
  • Laboratory Science Apprenticeships
  • Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeships
  • Healthcare Science Apprenticeships
  • Engineering Apprenticeships
  • Data Science & Bioinformatics Apprenticeships

Careers

Pharmacy, Engineering, Associate Practitioner and Biomedical science. Other careers accessible with a BTEC L3 Applied Science include Environmental Scientist, Physiology and Criminology, Teaching & Education, Forensic Science, Animal Management & Zoology, Nursing, Radiotherapy, Lab science and food and nutrition and many more…..

Partners

AstraZeneca

UN Sustainability Goals

Bio Tech

IRIS

Alfred H Knight

BioNow

Applied Science Pathway

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The Applied Science Pathway is an option available to students interested in careers in the Life Sciences sector that is assessed differently to traditional A-Level courses with 9 coursework units. The BTEC qualification also supports learners with their self management skills that the qualification structure can help them to become more independent learners in control of their academic progression into university. This pathway will offer practical support in building laboratory, analytical and numerical skills. It will help you to develop communication and teamwork skills. This will be an advantage when applying for university or apprenticeships.

Applied SCIENCE: FAQs

What will I learn?

A wide scientific knowledge and practical skills sets that can be used to support progression in a range of science careers and to gain entry to university courses. Applied science consists of a range of pure science, chemistry, biology and physics  and specialist science subjects including physiology, electrical circuits and material physics. Critical and analytical thinking skills will also be developed and applied in different contexts throughout the course

 How will I be assessed? 

There are  4 units of external examination units and 9 internal coursework units (3 compulsory and 6 optional) over a two-year period. The units are arranged in such a way that learners can concentrate on examination units at particular stages of the course and coursework  is scheduled around exams, and marks from both exams and coursework results contribute directly to the overall BTEC profile grade. The spread of units across the two-year period reduces the exam pressure of the qualification and students benefit from continual progress that they can directly control.


How will this prepare me for my next steps? 

BTEC Applied Science provides a varied range of knowledge and skills necessary for learners to progress to different areas of study including universities, Apprenticeships and jobs. The wide range of practical and theoretical scientific activities undertaken throughout the course help learners to build their knowledge and develop skills that will prepare them for the scientific workplace or for higher education.


Careers 

 Common degrees undertook by recent BTEC Applied Students included Pharmacy, Engineering, Associate Practitioner and Biomedical science. Other careers accessible with a BTEC L3 Applied Science include Environmental Scientist, Physiology and Criminology, Teaching & Education,  Forensic Science, Animal Management & Zoology,  Nursing, Radiotherapy,  Lab science and food and nutrition and many more.