Access To Higher Education Diploma: Biomedical Science

Access To Higher Education Diploma: Biomedical Science

Access To Higher Education Diploma:
Biomedical Science
When you visit a hospital and have a sample taken from you
by a doctor or nurse, a biomedical scientist would carry out
the necessary analysis in a laboratory. Without biomedical
scientists it would not be possible to diagnose illness and
evaluate the effectiveness of the necessary treatment.
Biomedical scientists learn skills and gain qualifications that
can be transferred all over the UK and are recognised
worldwide. Studying biomedical science at university
represents an opportunity to put scientific knowledge into
practical use and eventually perform a key role within
medical healthcare.
This Biomedical Science Access course will prepare you for
entry into Higher Education. This will enable you to apply to a
variety of life science degree courses. On the course you will
increase your self-confidence in your ability to learn. You will
have lessons in study skills, maths, IT, biology and chemistry.
Progression Many students chose to go on to study a Biomedical Science
degree but successful completion of the course also enables
students to progress on to courses such as Foundation Degrees
in Biological Sciences and Degrees in Molecular Biology,
Molecular Medicine, Environmental Science, Nutrition,
Genetics, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Teaching and Forensic
Science.
There are many careers such as working in National Health
Service laboratories and hospitals and the Public Health
Laboratory Service. Biomedical scientists are also employed in
a variety of roles including the veterinary service, the Health
and Safety Executive, the Medical Research Council,
university and forensic laboratories, pharmaceutical and
product manufacturers and various government departments.
Unit Information To gain the Access Diploma you must achieve all 60 credits.
45 credits are at level 3 and graded.
15 credits are at level 3 but ungraded.
Graded Units
Cell Biology
3 Credits
Genetics
3 Credits
45 Credits – Compulsory Units for your
Diploma
This unit covers the basics of cell biology
which is fundamental to all the other
biological units on the course.
This unit covers the basic mechanisms of how
genes are passed from parent to offspring.
Human
physiology and
Homeostasis
This unit covers the main body systems in
relation to structure, function and
maintenance of homeostatic mechanisms.
6 Credits
Biochemical
pathways
This unit covers the basics of photosynthesis
and the production of cellular energy.
3 Credits
Biochemistry
and Molecular
Biology
This unit covers carbohydrates, fats, proteins
and the role of enzymes in the human body
and their use in industry.
3 Credits
Microbiology
and
Immunology
This unit covers the immune system, use of
microorganisms in disease and
biotechnology.
3 Credits
Foundation
Chemistry
6 Credits
Physical
Chemistry and
Analytical
This chemistry unit covers atomic structure,
periodic table, chemical equations and
formulae, chemical bonds, energy and
chemical calculations
This unit covers redox chemistry, equilibrium
systems, acids, bases and analytical methods
Chemistry
3 Credits
Biological
Chemistry
3 Credits
This unit covers basic organic chemistry
(hydrocarbons ,functional groups, isomers,
molecular geometry) biological molecules
and development of medicines
Scientific
Investigation
Skills
In this unit you will learn how to plan, carry
out and report and experimental
investigation.
3 Credits
Extended
Independent
Academic
Study
In the second term you will undertake an
independent research project and write a
report on a topic agreed with your tutor.
9 credits
Ungraded Units 15 Credits in Total – Compulsory Units for
your Diploma
Reviewing and
Planning for
the Future
In the tutorials, we guide you through the
UCAS application process and support you to
write your personal statement.
You will also complete some pieces of work
3 Credits
to substantiate this process and meet the
criteria.
Communication For this unit you will required to present
work that demonstrates you are able to write
and
for different purposes, for example: essay,
Presentation
lab report, drafting, final copy with accurate
Skills
referencing. You will also use seminar
presentation skills with evaluation.
3 Credits
Maths for
This unit covers some of the basic skills in
number work that you will need to
Science
successfully understand science. Topics
3 Credits
include significant figures, decimals, ratio,
fractions, standard form, and percentages.
Using ICT for
For this unit you use software to present
work, design a presentation, organise data
Study
and use the internet to support your
3 Credits
academic study.
Essay Skills
For this unit you will prepare a plan, draft
and final copy of an essay with accurate
3 Credits
structure, writing, referencing and
bibliography.
GCSE Maths
If you do not have a grade C or above in
GCSE Maths and English you will
Foundation Tier automatically join one of these options for
this additional qualification if required for
entry to your chosen degree/university.*
GCSE English
*Please ensure you check the entry requirements at
universities/degrees in relation to the English and Maths prior to the
start of your course.
Additional Information The following are recommended as preparatory reading and
some will be included in the course content:
If you want to know more about the topics we cover, or want
to prepare for the course, the following books are a good
place to start:
Various GCSE text books for Chemistry
Various AS/A2 text books for Biology
Standard or Higher Level Chemistry for the IB Diploma by
Catrin Brown and Mike Ford published by Pearson Education
Ltd in 2008
Standard or Higher Level Biology for the IB Diploma by Alan
Damon, Patricia Tosto, Randy McGonegal, William Ward
published by Pearson Education Ltd in 2008
The following Journals and Newspapers are also good
preparation:
New scientist
Times at www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/
Telegraph at www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/
There is also a wealth of information available online; we
recommend the following sites:
Science news at www.sciencenews.org/view/home
Science news at www.sciencedaily.com/