Core modules
Important information
We are currently undertaking a curriculum review of our BSc Health and Medical Sciences degree for 2025/26 entry. We continually review our curricula to reflect developments in the relevant disciplines to deliver the best educational experience, integrating transferable and employability skills through our degrees to improve our graduate outcomes. The core and optional modules will undergo approval through the University's rigorous academic processes. As modules are approved we will update the course information on these webpages. It is therefore very important that you check these pages for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer. Sign up to receive updates.
The course is delivered over three years and largely conforms to University standard terms (approx. 25 weeks), holiday and assessment periods. The course addresses current local and global problems in health through the integrated perspectives of health and medical science, covering six thematic areas, which are interwoven through the curriculum:
- Non-communicable diseases
- Infectious disease
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Nutrition
- Civil strife and displacement
Year One
Concepts in Health and Medical Sciences
This module will give you a basic grounding in key topics, theories, principles, language, nomenclature and learning activities which will underpin ongoing study in the health and medical sciences. You will develop knowledge and understanding of the different skills, techniques and perspectives that will frame ongoing study. As part of your study in medical sciences, you’ll be introduced to core anatomical concepts and in health sciences, core concepts in health and illness.
Read more about the Concepts in Health and Medical Sciences moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Systems: Cell to Society
As part of this module, you’ll unpack the challenges of curable and incurable diseases and conditions, considering that problem solving in health might not mean problem eradication, but the management of problems in the short and long terms. From a medical sciences perspective, you’ll be introduced to cell cycle regulation, cell division and communication, principals of genetics and epigenetics, elements of developmental biology and parental transfer of information, and anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, bones and muscles in health and disease. In the health sciences, you’ll explore core concepts such as health behaviour, different health belief models and the interrelationships of population health and health and gender.
Read more about the Systems: Cell to Society moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Illness: Susceptibility and Inequality
This module will give you a broad base of understanding of illness and how it relates to susceptibility and inequality. As part of the medical sciences, you’ll cover the anatomy and physiology of reproductive and endocrine systems, investigating the challenges associated with reproductive ageing and fertility. You’ll also explore the field of oncology, covering topics including the molecular basis of cancer, diagnosis, treatment and management. In health sciences, you’ll consider how the systems of governance, decision-making in health and economics impact the availability of life extending drugs.
Read more about the Illness: Susceptibility and Inequality moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Wellbeing: Mental Health and Neurobiology
This module will help you understand how wellbeing can have an impact on mental health and neurobiology. From a medical sciences perspective, you’ll be introduced to the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system in health and disease, and circadian rhythm as these relate to wellbeing and mental health. Revisiting genetics and epigenetics, you’ll consider the relationships between environment, genome and epigenome. In health sciences, you’ll investigate the states of stress, anxiety and depression at a societal level with a focus on systems of care, the law and the balance between autonomy and best interest.
Read more about the Wellbeing: Mental Health and Neurobiology moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Methods of Enquiry
This module will provide you with an introduction to research in health and medical sciences. It will cover why and how we do research (evidence, study design, research methods) and specific methods of enquiry (including interpretation of results and bias). You will acquire skills in data acquisition and management, analysis and interpretation, and communication of findings to different audiences.
Read more about the Methods of Enquiry moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Year Two
Food: Nutrition and Malnutrition
This module will provide you with an in-depth understanding of food as it relates to nutrition and malnutrition. In medical sciences, you will cover the anatomy and physiology of the renal and gastrointestinal systems. We will underpin your knowledge and understanding needed for the study of nutrition, metabolism and disease, covering topics such as digestion, absorption of macronutrients, nutritional principles and energy, impact of malnutrition, obesity and diabetes. You will also consider multigenerational effects of malnutrition on reproduction and health. From the health sciences perspective, you will be introduced to the role of the World Health Organisation and Public Health England as it relates to the global health problems of hunger, malnutrition, obesity and diabetes. You will consider the role of the food industry, dietary choices, food safety and media. The lens of responsibility and influence will be used to view many of the discussions taking place in this module.
Read more about the Food: Nutrition and Malnutrition moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Infection: Prevention and Outbreaks
As part of this module, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of infection and how it relates to prevention and outbreaks. In medical sciences, you will cover the areas of immunology in response to pathogens. You will learn about organisation and development of the immune system, its activation upon stimulation, microbiology and the defence mechanisms against different pathogens. Resistance to drugs and antibiotics and the use of technology in these fields will also be explored. Patient safety, occupational health and wellbeing, and work risk assessments will underpin many of the topics covered in Health Sciences. You’ll also consider how different expectations and work environments can highlight the complexities in epidemiology.
Read more about the Infection: Prevention and Outbreaks moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Interactions: Environment and Genes
In this module, you will draw on key elements covered in previous module content to understand the importance of how the environment (both internal and external) can impact the body in the context of health and disease. From a medial sciences perspective, you will revisit the interactions between epigenome, genome, environment and health. Pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical trials will provide the basis for topic areas and you will revisit circadian rhythm and sleep. From a health sciences perspective, topics of planetary health will be introduced. You will also consider the interactions between politics, policies and the law and how medical ethics and decision making can impact clinical trials as an example.
Read more about the Interactions: Environment and Genes moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Year Three
Project Planning
This module will provide you with the basic skills and knowledge required to successfully undertake your dissertation project. You will be introduced to project planning, research methods and statistical analysis and you will learn what constitutes a good plan and the important considerations. You will understand how to define technical goals and milestones and appreciate the importance of monitoring progress and adapting the project objectives as in light of progress made and learning gained including risk and contingency planning.
Read more about the Project Planning moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Advanced Cases in Health and Medical Sciences
In this module you will investigate three advanced contemporary cases, spending two weeks per case. The three cases will cover authentic and complex global and local health problems. The cases will integrate and expand on the areas covered in years one and two. This module will further engage you in a transdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, providing unique opportunities to practice your holistic approach to investigating problems in health and go deeper in your analysis of the issues that arise from the cases to explore issues including health policy.
Read more about the Advanced cases in Health and Medical Sciences moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
From Bench to Beside: Impact through Scientific Research
In this module you will explore how scientific discoveries are moved along a virtual path from the laboratory/data collection stage into real-world practice, leading to improved human health and health promotion. During this module, you will learn important concepts such as what is scientific communication and how to successfully disseminate scientific findings from a variety of perspectives and for a variety of purposes. Furthermore, you will be introduced to the concept of innovation and how innovation is needed to address some of the challenges faced by healthcare systems.
Read more about the From Bench to Beside: Impact through Scientific ResearchLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Digital Technology and Health
During this module, you are introduced to the varied uses of technologies in health and care settings. Furthermore, challenges associated with big data and artificial intelligence will be explored as well as their benefits for managing local and global health problems.
Read more about the Digital Technology and Health moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Dissertation Project
This module offers you the opportunity to work independently, under limited supervision, on an area of health and medical science of your choice. You will learn to take responsibility for the direction and management of a research project through to completion and submission. There is no specific syllabus for this module. The topic of the dissertation will depend on the mutual interests of the student and the student's chosen supervisor.
Read more about the Dissertation Project moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Transdisciplinary Perspectives
In this module you will experience practice sessions utilising transdisciplinary perspectives to answer questions about local and global problems in health using sustained thought, planning and writing. The focus will be on extending existing knowledge into new and different contexts.
Read more about the Transdisciplinary Perspectives moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Optional modules
In Year Two you will choose two optional modules. These may be WMS Pathways options, which have previously included ‘introduction to clinical skills, health psychology and clinical pharmacology and drug safety’, or any other University-approved optional module. For example, you could choose a module from the Institute of Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL) or a module from WBS.