Medical Physiology BSc
3-4 years
The human body works through complex interactions between ions, atoms, molecules, cells and systems. Whilst allowing maintenance of diverse functions in health, even subtle changes can result in disease. Understanding how these components operate in normal physiology and how they malfunction in disease provides the opportunity to understand how we target disease and how new therapies might be developed.
Course information
Typical offer ABB
UK fee £9,535
UCAS code B120
International fee £24,500
Institute code L34
This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
Course description
Course description
Physiology is the study of study of the mechanisms and functions within living systems from the ionic level up to the whole animal. To maintain healthy function, all of these aspects must operate optimally, including adapting to changes in the internal or external environment. This course will develop your understanding from the ionic level through to the integration of whole systems that are required to sustain life. This will provide a foundation for understanding how often subtle changes can underlie disease, how we are able to treat disease and how future generations of scientists may develop improved and new treatments.
The course is delivered in modules, allowing you some flexibility to focus on areas that align with your developing interests.
Over the programme, in addition to subject-specific knowledge, you will gain important transferable skills that will make you an attractive prospect for future employers.
This course is identical to the first three years of the MBiolSci in Medical Biosciences (Physiology).
This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting (in part) the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol). Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.
What's the difference?
At the University of Leicester, we offer seven Biological Science subjects and four Medical Bioscience subjects, all as BSc (three years) and most as MBiolSci (four years), plus a Foundation Year option, giving you an impressive range of different courses to choose from.
- Biological Science covers major aspects of biology and molecular science across a wide range of organisms from bacteria and fungi to humans and plants. All 14 courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1.
- Medical Science allows you to select specialist modules that focus more closely on the application of biological principles to medicine. All eight courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1.
It is possible to switch between a Biological Science course and a Medical Bioscience course during the first half of your first year, but after that the two fields diverge.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A-levels: ABB, including at least two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology. We may consider two AS-levels in place of one A-level. General Studies not accepted.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ grade B. A-level subjects to include two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology. General Studies not accepted.
- Level 3 Core Maths with A-levels: BBB + Level 3 Core Maths grade B (if Maths not taken as a full A or AS level). A-level subjects to include two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Psychology. General Studies not accepted.
- GCSE: At least Grade 4/C in both English Language and Maths (if not held at A2/AS-level).
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass Science diploma with 45 credits at level three, 30 of which must be at distinction.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points to include grade 6 and 5 in at least two relevant HL science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in SL Maths or 3 at HL and grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language and Maths at GCSE.
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Applied Science Diploma with D*DD plus five GCSEs at B/5 or above including two relevant sciences.
- T Levels: Distinction in Science (with an Occupational Specialism in Laboratory technician).
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
Second year entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Contextual offers
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School of Biological Sciences.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2025
The tuition fees that will be payable by you to the University for the 2025/26 academic year will be £9,535
- £9,535 in your first year. Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations. The inflation rate used will be the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage payments (RPIX)
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,430 for that year
- Year in Industry: your fee will be £1,905 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2025
- £24,500 per year
- Year Abroad: £6,125 which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
- Year in Industry: £3,675 which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our degrees prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities.
You will get excellent training in analytical thinking, data-analysis, problem-solving, the communication of complex concepts, and in how to apply scientific methodology to projects.
This unique transferable skills set means that University of Leicester Biological Sciences graduates are highly desirable to employers.
Bespoke careers support
The School of Biological Sciences offers a wide range of bespoke careers support tailored to your year or study to help you on your employability journey from day one.
This includes:
- Timetabled “careers hours” given by school staff with specialist technical knowledge, employers (such as AstraZeneca, GSK, the NHS, and MERCK) and the Careers and Employability Team. Sessions run twice a month and are designed to give you practical advice, support and insider knowledge to get you into the career, or further study pathway, that you want.
- Our 'careers after Biological Sciences' series of lectures features Leicester graduates giving insights and tips based on their career experiences with the exact degree that you will gain.
- In the summer vacation between years 2 and 3, support to find research placements in laboratories, giving you the chance to develop your scientific skills.
- Support in finding and obtaining “year out” opportunities such as a Year in Industry (for example current students are based in research institutes, the NHS, and the pharmaceutical industry) or to Study Abroad (for example in Europe, Japan, and the United States).
- As a student in the School of Biological Sciences, you are welcome to attend seminars in any department, presented by national and international experts in the biosciences.
- A tailored weekly bulletin of all biosciences-relevant careers opportunities.
- Named points of contact in the University’s Careers and Employability Team with specific biosciences expertise.
Graduate destinations
Many of our graduates follow further training for research careers in biology, often through our MSc or PhD programmes at Leicester.
Others gain positions in the NHS, in medical or pharmaceutical laboratories, in environmental management, in teaching, or in skilled professions outside of biology.
A few examples of pathways that our graduates have successfully taken include:
- Graduate medicine
- Postgraduate research (MSc or PhD)
- Laboratory Research Scientist
- The NHS Scientist Training Programme
- NHS Clinical Scientist (physiologist, genetic counsellor, mental health support)
- Clinical trials coordination
- Teaching
- Science communication
- Wildlife protection
- Financial Auditor
The Royal Society of Biology
This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. This means that for the duration of your studies, you will receive free membership of the Royal Society of Biology. This will open up networks for you, which can be important when applying for jobs.
The Royal Society of Biology is the leading professional body for the biological sciences in the United Kingdom. It represents over 17,500 biologists from all areas of the life sciences, as well as almost 100 organisations which make up the diverse landscape of biology in the UK and overseas. The Royal Society of Biology offers members unique opportunities to engage with the life sciences and share their passion for biology. Whichever area of biology you wish to gain a career in, membership will help you:
- Stay up to date with what is happening across the life sciences
- Gain additional recognition for your skills and experience
- Develop your professional network
- Demonstrate your support for the future of biology
In accrediting our degrees, the Royal Society of Biology, highlighted our “timetabled, bespoke, and structured employability support sessions” as an area of good practice that makes our Biological Sciences degrees stand out from the crowd.
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We’re here to support your journey towards a successful future, including securing a great graduate job. With a lifetime offer of support (even after graduation) our specialist careers advisers and mentors will guide you every step of the way. From crafting standout CVs and acing interviews to accessing volunteering opportunities and placements, we’re here to help you achieve your professional goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 3: Health and well-being
Testimonials
"I gained a wide range of transferrable skills through various assignments that focused on teamwork, public speaking, researching beyond the course material for presentations or essays, analytical skills, and core skills such as lab techniques and scientific report writing.
These skills are beneficial for any type of career, and I do believe that my course provides a well-rounded approach to ensure that you are prepared for the career of your choice."
Márcia Jalo, Medical Physiology student, 2024
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Year 1 is a shared programme across our Medical Sciences degree programmes. This will ensure that you build firm knowledge- and skill-based foundations on which to specialise as you move through the years towards graduation.
Modules
- The Molecules of Life: An Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (double module)
- The Cell: An Introduction to Cell Biology and Microbiology (double module)
- From Individuals to Populations: An Introduction to Genetics
- Multicellular Organisation: An Introduction to Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience (double module)
- Introduction to Medical Bioscience
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
Year 2 is a mixture of core and optional modules that will allow specialisation and present a range of options that will complement your core interests.
Core modules
- Pathophysiology of Disease
- Research Skills 1
- Research Skills 2
- Physiology and Pharmacology
- Exercise Physiology and Pharmacology
- Physiology of Excitable Cells
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
- Genomes
- Principles of Microbiology
- Molecular Cell Biology
- Global Change Biology and Conservation
- Medical Microbiology
- From Genes to Proteins
- Introduction to Python programming for Bioscientists
Then choose one option module from:
- Contemporary Techniques in Biological Data Analysis
- Genes, Development and Inheritance
- Immunology and Eukaryotic Microbiology
- Immunology and Eukaryotic Microbiology (with science enterprise trip)
- Bioinformatics
- Neurobiology and Animal Behaviour
- Protein Control in Cellular Regulation
- Behavioural Neurobiology
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year in Industry or Abroad (optional)
Year in Industry or Abroad (optional)
If you want to, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions or working in an industrial placement. Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
Year Abroad
We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
- Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
- Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.
Year in Industry
An industrial placement is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience of laboratory work - and will normally be a paid position, more than offsetting the additional cost of the extra year.
Industrial placements are limited and are awarded through a competitive selection process, based on your performance in your first year. Previous students have worked for pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Oxford Biomedica and GlaxoSmithKline, and in research institutions such as the Animal Health Institute and Kew Gardens.
A year in industry still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
Core module
Option modules
Overall, you must choose at least three modules from those marked *.
Choose two option modules from:
- Comparative Neurobiology
- Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology*
- Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience*
- Evolutionary Genetics
- Gene Expression: Molecular Basis and Medical Relevance
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology
- Human Genetics
- Microbial Biotechnology
- Structural Biology
- Sustainability Enterprise Partnership Project
Then choose one pair of option modules from:
- Experimental Research Project A plus Experimental Research Project B (double module)
- Education Research Project A plus Education Research Project B (double module)
- Analytical Research Project (double module) plus one additional option module from the list below
Finally, choose two option modules from:
- Cellular Physiology of the Cardiovascular System*
- Physiology, Pharmacology and Behaviour*
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology
- Microbial Pathogenesis and Genomics
- Human and Environmental Microbiology
- Neuroscience Futures
- Conservation and Ecological Genetics
- Behavioural Ecology
- Sustainability Enterprise Partnership Project
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Our history of genetic achievements include the invention of DNA fingerprinting and the genetic identification of the remains of King Richard III. More recently, we have brand-new cryo-EM facilities and have leading research into antibiotic resistance.
With a high staff to student ratio, we ensure that every student gets the support and encouragement needed to achieve their best work.
Our standard of teaching and support is reflected in our NSS 2024 results. We scored 90% and above in subjects aligned to Biological Sciences for questions regarding teaching, approachability of staff and introducing new subjects (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data). View the NSS questions all students were asked for individual themes.
Teaching and learning
Most of your teaching will be delivered through lectures. Individual lecture styles vary considerably, depending on the topic – and the lecturer! In tutorials, a small group of students meets with a member of staff for an hour to discuss and explore topics, or solve problems as a group. Some tutorials will require you to research a particular topic beforehand. All of our Biological Sciences courses are practical degrees with strong emphasis on lab work and fieldwork.
Your first year exams will mostly be multiple choice and short answer papers, with longer essay-style questions in your second and final year exams. Coursework may include practical lab work, a lab write-up or report, a practical skills test, essays, online multiple choice assessments, a data handling exercise, solo or group presentations, a field journal or critical evaluation of a scientific paper. At the end of each semester in Years 1 and 2 you will be able to judge your overall performance, enabling you to closely monitor your progress and, if necessary, adjust your work pattern.
A significant part of your final year will be spent on an individual research study which will form the basis of your dissertation.
You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether they are academic, financial, housing, career or social issues. You will also have access to the University's student welfare services.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Medical Physiology | Qualification BSc | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code B120 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Medical Physiology with Year Abroad | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code B120 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Medical Physiology with Year in Industry | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code B120 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
I love how flexible my course is, I’m free to pursue all of my passions.