Health Sciences with Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

Course overview

If you don’t meet the requirements for an undergraduate healthcare degree, our Health Sciences with a Foundation Year BSc course could be for you.

This one-year foundation programme will help you develop your academic reading, writing, critical thinking, communication and scientific skills with modules in biosciences, body systems, digestion and nutrition to prepare you for the next level of study.

After successfully completing the foundation year, you'll receive a Foundation Certificate in Health Sciences (FCert). This will support your application to study healthcare at degree level, at the University of Nottingham or elsewhere. We offer courses in the fields of midwifery, nursing, sport rehabilitation, physiotherapy and health promotion and public health.

Please note: If you meet the entry requirements for our undergraduate courses, you are not eligible to apply for this foundation course.

This course is not open to EU/international applicants.

Course highlights

Strong progression rates: In 2024, 71% of our Foundation Year students progressed to health sciences degrees at the University of Nottingham.
Experience innovative, healthcare-specific teaching from day one, including from registered health professionals.
Discover your healthcare pathway and build a strong foundation to progress into a wide range of health science degrees and careers, from nursing to physiotherapy and beyond.

Proven results

We’re ranked 16th in the UK for health professions (The Guardian University Guide 2026).
94% of health sciences undergraduates secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2021/22-2022/23).

How you will learn

Teaching is delivered through an equal mix of in-person and online methods.

How you will be assessed

A range of assessments will be used to assess your learning throughout the year.

Contact time and study hours

The programme consists of six 20-credit modules.  As a guide, 20 credits (a typical module) is approximately 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-directed study). As well as scheduled teaching, you’ll carry out self-directed study such as:

online learning
preparing for teaching sessions
planning and completing assessments

Modules

6 modules

Foundations in Biosciences

Develop foundational knowledge in biosciences.

This module covers cell biology, biological molecules and the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. You'll cover key concepts that will support future bioscience understanding.

Biological Communications, Digestion and Nutrition

Develop understanding of the different biological communications within the body.

This module covers the nervous and endocrine systems and homeostatic control. You'll also learn about the digestive system and excretion and how nutrition and diet impact health.

Body Systems, Energy and Metabolism

Understand key body systems and metabolic processes.

This module covers the muscular, skeletal, reproductive, and immune systems, genetic principles underlying inherited conditions and cellular respiration. You'll focus on the links between the anatomy and physiology of each body system including during exercise.

Professional and Personal Development

Prepare for higher education and professional development in healthcare.

This module covers learning theory, academic writing, study skills, interpersonal skills and professionalism. You'll develop attributes needed for your chosen degree and future healthcare profession.

Foundations in Health Psychology

Explore health psychology and its application in healthcare.

This module covers the biopsychosocial model, chronic conditions, health promotion, wellbeing, health-related quality of life and behaviour change. You'll understand how psychological factors influence health and illness.

Health Science Project

Develop a greater understanding of health promotion including wider detriments of health and potential influences.

This module will focus on adaptive communication, collaborative working among colleagues and health promotion innovations. You will also undertake a project on health promotion.

Language study as part of this degree

Our Language Centre offers many languages, and you may start as a beginner or at a more advanced level and you may be able to choose to study a language as part of this degree.

Learning another language can open career opportunities around the globe and enriches your CV. It could also help you in your studies by being able to access learning materials in other languages. If you are planning to travel or work abroad it will help you to broaden your cultural understanding.

Find out more about learning a language as part of your degree.

Quick glance

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements listed apply to 2027 entry. This course is open to home applicants only.

A levels

BCC

24 points overall

A level and GCSE requirements

Excluded subjects

General studies, citizenship studies, critical thinking.

GCSEs

English and maths at grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent level 2 qualification).

We do not accept Functional Skills English and Functional Skills Maths.

IB requirements

IB score

24 points overall or 5,4,4 in three HL certificates

Additional Qualifications Offer Reduction Scheme

Applicants to this course may be eligible for our Additional Qualifications Offer Reduction Scheme. If you achieve a grade A in an EPQ, Core Maths*, IB Extended Essay or additional AS level qualification* then you will receive a one grade reduced offer for this course.

Please note that if you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer or receive an alternative offer based on taking four A levels, your additional qualification will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.

* Additional eligibility requirements apply. View further details on this scheme.

Alternative qualifications

We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.

Consequently we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:

Access to HE Diploma
Advanced Diploma
BTEC HND/HNC
BTEC Extended Diploma

This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.

Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 15 Level 3 grades credits at Distinction and 18 at Merit and 12 at Pass
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma at DMM
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Diploma at DM plus one A level at C
RQF Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma at M plus A levels at BC or D plus A levels at CC
National Foundation Dip: Sport and Exercise/Health and Social Care: D plus CC or M plus BC
RQF Level 3 National Extended Certificate at Merit plus two A levels at BC
Level 3 qualification to include one of biology, chemistry, physics, health and social care, or sport

Contextual offers

This course is suitable for:

Students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement at school or college
Students who have studied subjects which do not allow direct entry to a degree programme
Students whose predicted grades are below those needed for direct entry to a degree programme
Mature students choosing to return to higher education

If you have studied alternative qualifications (for example, BTEC and Access courses), we will consider this on an individual basis. Please contact us to make an enquiry.

Foundation progression options

After successfully completing your foundation year to the required level, you will progress onto your chosen BSc pathway course.

The foundation course is excellent preparation for:

We will contact you to confirm your chosen pathway course.

There are a limited number of places available to progress on to midwifery and physiotherapy.

Full grade requirements for health sciences progression at the University of Nottingham.

Mature students

At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.

Tuition fees

2027/28 (UK undergraduate students)

This is the UK undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 27/28. It may increase for the academic year 28/29 and we will update our information once we have received confirmation of the fee.

For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), please visit our fees page.

Careers overview

Our Foundation Certificate in Health Sciences prepares students for degree-level study at the University of Nottingham. The pathway is designed to allow progression to your desired undergraduate degree within the School of Health Sciences:

Job prospects

Average starting salary and career progression

94% of health sciences undergraduates secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £28,324 (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2021/22-2022/23).

Support every step of the way

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service will work with you to boost your employability even further – helping with job and course applications, finding relevant work experience and hosting events that connect you with a wide range of potential employers.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers.

We’re also the top UK university for the number of graduates entering highly skilled jobs (HESA Graduate Outcomes survey data 2021–2025 for full-time, UK, UG and PG graduates).

Careers and Employability

Welcome to your campus

Located at Queen’s Medical Centre, one of the UK's largest and busiest hospitals, the Medical School offers an exceptional learning environment. You’ll have access to cutting-edge facilities and learn from leading clinicians and researchers, enjoying easy access to University Park for a full campus experience.

Health Sciences with Foundation Year - U6UHESCIF

Course overview

Why choose this course?

Teaching and learning

Modules

Core modules

6 modules

Foundations in Biosciences

Biological Communications, Digestion and Nutrition

Body Systems, Energy and Metabolism

Professional and Personal Development

Foundations in Health Psychology

Health Science Project

Language study as part of this degree

Entry requirements

4 years full-time

£10,050 per year

Careers

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