FAQs for Biochemistry & Neuroscience Degrees
Entry Requirements & Qualifications
Courses
Careers & Experience
Fees
Entry Requirements & Qualifications
Q: What are your standard entry requirements?
A: Details for the individual degrees can be found below:
Q: What is your policy on AS-levels?
A: AS-levels will not be considered as part of of a formal offer.
Q: What other qualifications do you consider?
A: Details for the individual degrees can be found below:
Q: Which international qualifications satisfy your entry requirements?
A: Details for the individual degrees can be found below:
Q: What English language qualifications are required?
A: Minimum English language entry requirements.
Q: Where can I find further information about applying to Nottingham as an international student?
A: International student application information.
Courses
Q: Can I change to another course during my studies?
A: This may be possible if you meet the prerequisites and whether the course you want to transfer into has places available. Additionally, if you wish to transfer after the first semester or later, whether you can transfer will depend on what modules you have already taken. Wherever possible we will allow you to transfer.
Q: Can I transfer into the Nottingham medical course (A100) from a biochemistry or neuroscience degree course?
A: No. The university does not allow any transfers into the medical course from any other course. If you wish to apply for medicine after starting a biochemistry, neuroscience or any other, course you would have to apply via UCAS in the normal way, or alternatively apply to a Graduate Entry Medical (GEM) course, which you would start after graduating with your biochemistry or neuroscience degree. Nottingham University has a GEM course at the Medical School situated in Derby, but you have to apply for this course via UCAS; there are no guaranteed places for Nottingham graduates. Nevertheless, a biochemistry or neuroscience degree would be excellent preparation for any medical course.
Q: Do many students drop out or fail your courses?
A: No, we have a low drop out and failure rate, less than 5% after year 1. A small number of students transfer to other courses that they feel would suit them better and some transfer in from other courses at the university into a biochemistry or neuroscience course.
Q: Where can I find details of the course?
A: Details for the individual degrees can be found below:
Q: Does the School offer access, foundation or pre-degree courses?
A: The School does not, but the University has a number of foundation courses. However, you should check with the admissions tutor for the course (Biochemistry; Neuroscience) if you are interested in prior to undertaking a foundation course.
Q: Will my application be considered if my first 4 choices are medicine?
A: Yes, provided that an interest in Biomedical Sciences appears in your personal statement.
Careers & Experience
Q: Is a career in research the only opportunity for biochemistry & neuroscience graduates?
A: Not at all! Look at our pages on career opportunities to see the wide range of science-related careers open to biochemistry and neuroscience graduates, such as clinical science, forensics, information technology (bioinformatics), science publishing and journalism, teaching and further training for medicine. And if you don’t want to work in science after graduation there are numerous employers in all fields who will be only too pleased to recruit biochemistry and neuroscience graduates from Nottingham.
Q: Do you offer a year in industry?
A: We do not have a formal arrangement to enable our students to work in a laboratory in an industrial concern. We do, however, encourage students to consider applying for one of the many industrial placements (summer vacation and year-long) that are available and we provide as much help as we can with this. These places are offered on a competitive basis, however, and it is up to the student to try and secure a place. There is no problem with taking a year out of your studies for this purpose. The industrial placement does not contribute to your degree except for the Neuroscience MSci in which a placement either in industry or a years study abroad is compulsory.
Q: Is it possible to get laboratory experience during the summer?
A: Yes, if you are motivated to seek such work, funding maybe available if interest in shown early enough. There are various sources of funds for bursaries and running costs to support students who wish to work in a university laboratory on a research project during the summer vacation. These bursaries are competitive, so we cannot guarantee a place. Every year some of our staff offer students an opportunity of this kind and together with the student apply for these funds, and are very often successful. These bursaries are available to students finishing the penultimate year of the course i.e. between years 2 and 3, or 3 and 4 (of a 4 year course). Of course you can also apply for these bursaries to support you working in a laboratory in another institution, provided you have the support of a staff member in that institution.
Fees & Support
Q: How much will the course cost?
A: Fees.
Q: What are the fees for international students?
A: International student fees.
Q: Is financial support available?
A:
Funding, scholarships and bursaries.