Medical Science BSc (Hons)

This module aims to provide you with the skills and underpinning knowledge on the basic principles of biochemistry. This will include the knowledge of the structure and function of the key biomolecules and their role in metabolism. The module combines elements of biology and chemistry to relate to the understanding of metabolic diseases, health and wellbeing. 

This module aims to introduce you to the biomedical profession and job prospects while developing essential laboratory skills, safety practices, and communication methods necessary for academic and professional advancement, particularly in clinical laboratory settings. This module also aims to promote teamwork among students and encourages self-reflection as an integral component of professional development practices.

This module introduces you to the concept of integrated pathology. This module provides a comprehensive understanding of different types of common diseases, disease mechanisms and diagnostic techniques. On this module you explore the multidisciplinary nature of disease investigation, management, and prevention, emphasising biochemical techniques for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring.

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the principles, practices, quality assurance, and applications of commonly used screening and diagnostic techniques of molecular diagnostics and clinical genetics for disease investigation. Additionally, the module aims to enhance your knowledge of how to apply common molecular biology techniques for pathogen identification. Furthermore, the module aims to equip you with basic bioinformatics tools used in the study of genes associated with disease.

This module provides you with the skills to plan, implement, analyse and report project-based work, in preparation for the final year project module. The module also develops core research skills for scientific research design. Specific research skills include analytical techniques and provides you with an insight into the translation of science into real-world solutions and the factors affecting innovation, and knowledge production and transfer.

The module covers issues relating to human nutrition during the life cycle in both health and disease. It also explores scientific evidence and current issues relating to diet, health and disease. Additionally, you will gain an appreciation of the genetic, molecular, and physiological basis of nutritional disorders.

The aims of this module are to give you an understanding of the many ways in which the immune response protects the host from infectious disease. This module also aims to provide you with an understanding of the structure and function of infectious agents and their control. You will also be taught more advanced microbiological techniques that will enable you to characterise infectious agents.

The module aims to provide an understanding of the action of therapeutic and recreational drugs on the nervous system. It also provides an appreciation of steps required to develop a new therapeutic drug.

The module develops your understanding of the capabilities and limitations of a range of diagnostic techniques. You will learn to recognise abnormal results and relate them to basic technical problems, anatomical or physiological changes in the human body. The module also covers the ethical and legal issues related to clinical decisions and the collection, storage and use of medical data.

This module explores pharmacology, physiological systems and regulation, cellular and molecular perspective, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms of drug action, clinical application, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics. You will learn to apply pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics principles to propose drug dosage regimens that optimise the therapeutic benefit whilst minimising toxicity.

This module provides students with a critical understanding of what happens when the immune response become dysregulated leading to immune mediated pathology and neoplasm. Students will also get a sound knowledge of pathogenicity, epidemiology, antimicrobial agents and resistance, One Health concept, and the global emergence, prevention and control of microbial infections. Students will acquire practical skills of laboratory diagnostic methods that will enable them to identify bacterial pathogens.

This module covers the scientific basis underlying nutritional support, medical ethics and nutritional counselling. It provides a review of the relevant physiology, pathophysiology, nutritional support and dietetic application for the common disorders, within the context of current scientific recommendations.

This module provides knowledge of all the key processes involved in bringing a drug to the market and the associated challenges. The module will focus on the science and technology used during the discovery process, from identifying medical needs, to the discovery of a drug candidate and understanding how to interpret results from molecular modelling programs to provide insights into drug design. The module also analyses all the necessary steps to transform a drug candidate into a market-ready product, including preclinical and human clinical trials, economics of drug discovery, regulatory controls and manufacturing processes.

Teaching on Medical Science BSc takes place through a combination of interactive sessions, laboratory classes, problem-based learning exercises and case-study analysis. Short key concept videos will be provided throughout modules, and occasional interactive sessions take place online.

You will work alongside your peers, through presentations, group work, debates and discussions. You will read learning materials independently, both self-directed and structured, and be asked to reflect on what you have learned. 

Research projects, role-play, and laboratory work will help you to develop practical skills, which will feed into the development of portfolio material and practical laboratory reports.

You will be studying at our north London Hendon campus.

You will learn your subject by attending lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Seminars and workshops are a great opportunity to discuss what you have learnt in lectures and through independent study with your peers and tutors.

Most seminar groups have about 25–30 students.

Your work will be divided into credits. Each credit is equal to 10 hours of study time. You will complete 120 credits per year of study, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.

Timetable

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Independent learning

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Academic support

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open from 7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.

Our Disability Advice and Support service supports students with additional needs such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties such as dyslexia. We’re happy to help you discover whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, so please get in touch with any questions.

Wellness support

We have specialist teams to support your emotional wellness and mental health with access to free individual counselling sessions, workshops and support groups. The Student Welfare Advice Team (SWAT) offer information guides to provide support and advice during your studies.

Your knowledge, understanding and skills will be assessed in various ways. These include: peer presentations, laboratory reports, case studies, essays, quizzes and objective-structured practical assessments. You will also create a portfolio, and conduct project and research work. 

As well as scientific knowledge, these assessment methods are designed to evaluate graduate competencies including:

• Leadership and influence
• Entrepreneurship
• Communication, empathy and inclusion
• Curiosity and learning
• Collaborative innovation
• Resilience and adaptability
• Technological agility
• Problem solving and delivery

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.