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Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences

BSc (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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This course will appeal to those with a keen interest in science and in how research and technology can impact on human health. It is training scientists at the interface of science and medicine. You will learn how scientifically driven investigations can advance our knowledge of disease prevention, detection and treatment and translating these into clinical utility. The course will immerse you in modern medical and biological sciences and focus on the application of scientific developments. BHLS offers students a unique opportunity to complete a research project with a Principal Investigator in a biomedical research area that interests you and an opportunity to be involved in peer-reviewed publications.

About This Course

This course will appeal to those with a keen interest in science and in how research and technology can impact on human health. It is training scientists at the interface of science and medicine. You will learn how scientifically driven investigations can advance our knowledge of disease prevention, detection and treatment and translating these into clinical utility.

The course will immerse you in modern medical and biological sciences and focus on the application of scientific developments. BHLS offers students a unique opportunity to complete a research project with a Principal Investigator in a biomedical research area that interests you and an opportunity to be involved in peer-reviewed publications.

The small course size enables students from this course to form close friendships and strong connections for life. The flexible, modular structure of this degree allows you to specialise in the areas of investigative biomedical science that interest you, particularly in the later stages of the degree.

First Year

You will take modules in:

Clinical Human Anatomy • Translational Research • Basic Tissues & Early Development • Genetics Cell Biology You will also start to learn about translational research and the influence of science and medicine on society.

Second & Third Year

You will continue with modules in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Physiology. You will also start to integrate modules focusing on specific diseases and disease processes, in order to learn more about the development of new, more effective means of diagnosing, treating and preventing illness.

Supporting modules include:

Neuroscience • Cardiac Biology • Vascular Biology • Renal Biology • Endocrine Biology • Pharmacology • Biochemistry • Microbiology • Genetics & Proteomics • Mechanisms of Disease • Central Nervous System Diseases • Introduction to Research • Journal Club Laboratory Skills • Biostatistics • Bioinformatics

Fourth Year

You will build skills in biomedical research through interactions and research rotations with international researchers in a range of disease areas. These are undertaken within the School of Medicine and its affiliated teaching hospitals. The degree will develop your fundamental knowledge in the translation of scientific discovery into clinical utilisation.

You will take modules in:

Cloning, Gene Therapy & Stem Cells • Advanced Neurochemistry • Drug Discovery & Development • Clinical Biomarkers • Genetics, Disease & Behaviour

You will have the opportunity to be involved in peer-reviewed abstracts and publications, and to present at national and international meetings.

You will experience an innovative mix of learning methods including lectures, small group tutorials, research projects and laboratory-based learning.

Assessment methods include end-of-trimester exams, continuous assessment, report writing and oral presentations.

You may apply to study abroad for either a semester or a year through the Erasmus programme or on a non-EU exchange. UCD has over 200 Erasmus partners in Europe and an increasing number of non-EU exchange agreements with universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and elsewhere.

Please visit the Erasmus section by clicking on the UCD Global website

The majority of graduates follow careers in biomedical research, undertaking MSc and PhD higher degrees. They also have a high success rate for entry to Graduate Entry Medicine and pursue opportunities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, as well as other areas allied to health.

UCD Health Sciences Programme Office Health Sciences Centre (Ground floor)
Belfield,
Dublin 4

Tel: +353 1 716 6656
Email: healthscience@ucd.ie
Web: www.ucd.ie/healthsciences


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
ANAT10110 Clinical Human Anatomy I Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ANAT20030 Basic Tissues & Early Develop Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PATH10010 Translational Research Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PATH10020 Basic Principles of Cell Biolo Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PHYC10120 Physics in Medicine Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ANAT10120 Clinical Human Anatomy II Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
CHEM10050 Basis of Organic and Biological Chemistry Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MDSA10210 Science Medicine and Society Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PATH10200 Basic Principles of Genetics Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PHYC10130 Physics II Medical Science Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students who did NOT receive a grade of C3 or better in Chemistry in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) MUST register to the module CHEM00010 Introductory Chemistry.
All other students should select CHEM10040.
CHEM00010 Introductory Chemistry Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students who did NOT receive a grade of C3 or better in Chemistry in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) MUST register to the module CHEM00010 Introductory Chemistry.
All other students should select CHEM10040.
CHEM10040 The Molecular World Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Students have the option of choosing one of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose one elective module of their choice. For students choosing STAT10050, please select the Spring offering and not the Autumn.
STAT10050 Practical Statistics Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Students have the option of choosing one of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose one elective module of their choice. For students choosing STAT10050, please select the Spring offering and not the Autumn.
BIOL10070 Biology for the Modern World Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Students have the option of choosing one of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose one elective module of their choice. For students choosing STAT10050, please select the Spring offering and not the Autumn.
EDUC10280 Why Trust Science? Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Students have the option of choosing one of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose one elective module of their choice. For students choosing STAT10050, please select the Spring offering and not the Autumn.
PERS10020 Fundamentals of S & C Online Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
BMOL20060 Biomolecular Lab Skills 1 Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
BMOL20090 Molecular Genetics and Biotech Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
BMOL20110 Biomolecular Sciences Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
STAT20070 Data Modelling for Science Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
BIOC20060 Biochemistry in Action Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
BMOL20070 Biomolecular Lab Skills 2 Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
PHAR20040 Pharmacology:Biomedical Scienc Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.
CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.
FDSC20010 Food Macronutrients Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.
MDSA20010 Gastrointestinal Tract and Liver Biology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.
PHYS20050 Cell-Cell Communication Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.Students that wish to take Respiratory Physiology (PHYS30020), please contact BHLS@ucd.ie to be manually registered to this module.
FDSC20020 Nutritional Energy Metabolism Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.Students that wish to take Respiratory Physiology (PHYS30020), please contact BHLS@ucd.ie to be manually registered to this module.
MDSA20170 Vascular Biology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.Students that wish to take Respiratory Physiology (PHYS30020), please contact BHLS@ucd.ie to be manually registered to this module.
NEUR20050 Principles of Neuroscience Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - B) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.Students that wish to take Respiratory Physiology (PHYS30020), please contact BHLS@ucd.ie to be manually registered to this module.
PHYS30020 Respiratory Physiology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.
MDSA20180 Cardiac Biology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.
MDSA20190 Renal Biology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - C) Min 1 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.
MICR20050 Microbiology in Medicine, Biotechnology and the Environment Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D)2 of:
Students have the option of choosing two of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose two elective modules of their choice.
FDSC10010 Food Diet and Health Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 2 Options - D)2 of:
Students have the option of choosing two of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose two elective modules of their choice.
PHTY20280 Born to Run: The Science of Human Endurance Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D)2 of:
Students have the option of choosing two of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose two elective modules of their choice.
VET20180 Introduction to One Health-Bridging Human & Veterinary Medical Sciences Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - D)2 of:
Students have the option of choosing two of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose two elective modules of their choice.
MDSA30280 SSRA Research Elective I Summer  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
BMOL30040 Receptor-mediated cell signalling Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
MEIN30240 Bioinformatics Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
PATH30080 Disease Mechanisms & Pharmacological Principles Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
PHAR30020 Endocrine, Renal and Reproductive Pharmacology Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
RDGY30760 Introduction to Research BHLS Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
BIOC30030 Biochemist's Toolkit Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
BMOL30050 Genomics and Proteomics Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
GENE30030 Genetic Basis of Disease Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
GENE30040 Introduction to Programming for Biologists Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
MEMI30010 Medical Microbiology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
PHYS30040 Endocrine Physiology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
PHYS30190 Experimental Physiology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
PHYS30270 The Brain and Motor Control Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A)3 of:
Please choose one of the following modules.If you wish to take both PHYS30190 and GENE30040, please contact BHLS@ucd.ie Please note, it is not possible to select BIOC30030, GENE30030 and PHYS30190 as a combination of modules.
RDGY30520 Medical Imaging (Clin/Res) Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 2 of:
Please choose two of the following modules.
CLIP30240 Stem Cells in Medicine Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 2 of:
Please choose two of the following modules.
PHAR30010 Chemotherapeutic Agents Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - B) Min 2 of:
Please choose two of the following modules.
PHAR30060 Central Nervous Systems Diseases Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - C)2 of:
Students have the option of choosing two of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose two elective modules of their choice.
IA20010 Creative Thinking & Innovation Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 3 Options - C)2 of:
Students have the option of choosing two of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose two elective modules of their choice.
IA20160 Creative Thinking & Innovation (Online) Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 3 Options - C)2 of:
Students have the option of choosing two of the following in-programme option modules or they can choose two elective modules of their choice.
MDSA30280 SSRA Research Elective I Summer  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
PATH40240 Research Project: BSc BHLS 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  25
Stage 4 Core Modules
PATH40030 Journal and Ethical Review Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B)1 of:
Select one core module
PATH40020 Clinical Biomarkers Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B)1 of:
Select one core module
PHAR40030 Advanced cardiovascular pharmacology: mechanisms and pharmacotherapy in atherothrombotic disease Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
BIOC40060 Advanced Neurochemistry Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
BMOL40050 Advanced Cancer Biology and Pharmacology Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
GENE40030 Advanced Mechanisms of Gene Regulation Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
GENE40040 Model organism genetics: a modern experimental approach Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
GENE40050 Human Genetics & Disease Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
MEIN40230 Personalized Medicine Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
PATH30060 Genetics, Perinatal and Paediatric Diseases Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
PHAR40040 Emerging therapies: Cloning, gene therapy and stem cells Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
PHAR40050 Drug Discovery and Development I Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
PHAR40060 Advanced Renal Pharmacology: disease development and treatment Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - C)5 of:
Please note if you choose PATH30060 you cannot choose PHAR40040 or BIOC40060.
RDGY30520 Medical Imaging (Clin/Res) Spring  5

The Biomedical Health and Life Sciences (BHLS) degree at UCD offers a wide range of modules that focus on translational research in human health and disease. During my studies, I learned about the development, detection and treatment of diseases from expert researchers. I also had the opportunity to complete a research project in Lund, Sweden, where I was able to apply the skills and knowledge that I acquired, as well as experience working in a multidisciplinary team. This degree has prepared me to be able to work in many fields of biomedical science, with the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes.

Suk Mun Wan (Vivian), Graduate

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceInt BHS1
Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Closed
showAudience-audienceInt BHS1
Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU DN440
Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO Apply via CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page