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Applied Science (Biomedical Science)

Course Code: FDAS
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: BTEC, Diploma
  • Awarding body: Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC)
  • Duration: One - two years
  • Course type: Full-time
  • Time of day: Daytime

What's it all about?

Be an innovator, inventor or world changer! In the UK and worldwide, we need paramedics, inventors, engineers, chemists and scientists and this a great route into science, engineering and health careers. The Foundation Diploma in Applied Science at City College Plymouth is a practical, hands-on one year course that is equivalent to one and a half A Levels. You can choose to combine it with another course or carry on to complete a second year, giving you a qualification accepted by universities and equivalent to three A Levels. Throughout the year, you?ll study aspects of all the sciences – chemistry, physics and biology. You?ll also benefit from the College?s many links with local employers including the NHS, Plymouth University and the Naval Service Recovery Centre based at HMS Drake. When you successfully complete the course, you?ll be part of our community of successful former students progressing to degree courses at City College Plymouth or studying degrees such as biomedical science, nursing, paramedicine, chemistry and forensic science throughout the UK.

Course information

Mandatory units include:

  • principles and applications of science
  • practical scientific procedures and techniques
  • science investigation skills
  • laboratory techniques and their application.You will choose two optional units from the following list:
  • physiology of human body systems
  • human regulation and reproduction
  • biological molecules and metabolic pathways
  • genetics and genetic engineering
  • diseases and infections
  • applications of inorganic chemistry
  • applications of organic chemistry
  • electrical circuits and their application
  • astronomy and spacer science
  • microbiology and microbiological techniques
  • industrial chemical reactions
  • practical chemical analysis.

In our experience, in order to be successful on this level of course you will need to have gained five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above to include maths, English language and science.

You will be assessed via assignments (marked by your lecturers), an exam and a controlled assessment task, which is marked by the awarding body, Pearson.

Upon successful completion, you will be able to progress on to the second year of study which will allow you to specialise in a range of extended diploma subject areas that are the equivalent of studying three A Levels, including:

  • applied science
  • biomedical science
  • analytical and forensic science
  • physical science

Successful completion of the extended diploma will equate directly into UCAS points and allow for progression onto a wide range of higher education courses, including the Forensic Science Foundation Degrees at City College. Many past students have progressed to degrees in biomedical science, nursing, paramedicine and chemistry.

You may also be able to gain an Apprenticeship within the industry.

Please note fees are quoted for one year only.

Download course PDF

Future careers

What you could earn:

Chemical Scientists

£52,081.73

Potential salary

£20,506.20

Entry level salary

£31,224.20

Average salary

2

Annual openings in Plymouth

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