Biomedical Sciences with Integrated Foundation Year BSc
About This Programme
The BSc Biomedical Sciences with Integrated Foundation Year is a four-year programme at the University of Birmingham Dubai: a foundation year that prepares students for Year 1 of the BSc Biomedical Sciences, followed by the three-year degree in how the human body works and what goes wrong in disease, taught by experts engaged in research. The foundation year is equivalent to Year 13 in the UK system and supports English language and study skills alongside introductory science. The degree then follows the same curriculum as the UK campus, with teaching in person and live online, optional modules to personalise the degree, and, for academically excellent students, a possible transfer to the MBChB Medicine and Surgery programme in the UK after Year 1.
Course Highlights
- A University of Birmingham degree, the same as UK-based students receive, from a global top 100 university.
- Teaching in state-of-the-art laboratories in Dubai.
- Core research and transferable skills for a wide range of careers.
- A first year that prepares students for the degree, equivalent to Year 13 in the UK system.
- A possible transfer, after Year 1 of the degree, to the MBChB Medicine and Surgery programme at the Edgbaston campus in the UK for academically excellent students.
What You'll Study
Teaching combines lectures given on campus and live online from the UK with laboratory and computer-based practicals, seminars, small-group tutorials, problem-based learning and feedback sessions. Students use Canvas, the University's virtual learning environment, to share work, reach learning materials at any time and submit assignments, and enquiry-based group activities build research skills valued by employers. A personal tutor based in Dubai supports each student throughout. Assessment varies by module and can include essays and other coursework, group and individual presentations, laboratory work and formal exams. Students are told at the start of each module how and when they will be assessed, and receive feedback on each assessment within four weeks. Teaching staff listed on the course page include Dr Laila Kudsiova, Associate Professor and Programme Director of Biomedical Sciences in Dubai.
Foundation Year
2026/27, taken at the Dubai campus. A foundation of knowledge with support for English language and study skills, preparing students for the BSc Biomedical Sciences and for university life. Both core modules run for the full term.
- History, Culture, Society and Economy in the UAE20 credits
- Introduction to Biology and Mathematics for Psychology20 credits
Students take one of the following English modules.
- Academic English and Study Skills40 credits
- Advanced Academic English and Study Skills40 credits
- Advanced Academic Skills (STEM)40 credits
Year 1
2027/28. How the human body functions and what can go wrong in disease, from the single cell to the whole body, introducing conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, arthritis and diabetes and the genetics of inherited disorders. Around 25% of time is scheduled teaching and 75% independent study.
- Fundamental Molecular Cell Biology20 credits
- Threats and Defences20 credits
- Integrated Molecular Cell Biology20 credits
- Physiology of Body Systems20 credits
- Discover: Practical, Academic and Research Skills40 credits
- Discover: Personal Academic and Professional Development in Biomedical Sciences20 credits
Year 2
2028/29. Further core knowledge plus the chance to begin specialising in a research area linked to the College's major themes, guided by a subject expert. Students can take a year out on a work placement, or opt at the end of the year for the Year in Computer Science or the Year in Civic Leadership. Around 25% of time is scheduled teaching and 75% independent study.
- Cancer Biology and Treatment20 credits
- Infection and Immunology20 credits
- Challenge: Biomedical Skills in Practice40 credits
Choose two 20-credit optional modules.
- Integrated Physiology20 credits
- Therapeutic Tissue Regeneration20 credits
- Neurobiology of Disease20 credits
- Endocrine and Reproductive Sciences20 credits
Year 3
2029/30. Optional modules to specialise, the latest findings and advanced research techniques, and in the Spring term a substantial research project, usually laboratory-based, carried out independently under supervision for ten weeks full-time. Around 15% of time is scheduled teaching and 85% independent study.
- Experimental Design and Data Interpretation20 credits
- Global challenge20 credits
- Research Project40 credits
- Personal and Academic Development0 credits
Students also take 40 credits of optional modules. Optional modules are indicative and can vary from year to year.
Entry Requirements
The foundation pathway suits students who finished high school to a high standard but would normally need a foundation year before first-year undergraduate entry to UK universities. Applicants must meet both the University's general entry requirements and the course's own criteria, and each application is reviewed by the course's Admissions Tutor, who decides whether to make an offer.
Careers
Biomedical Sciences graduates have a strong employment record. Many go into laboratory work in universities, often as PhD students, or in hospitals, become clinical scientists or join biotechnology companies; other routes include clinical trials and marketing and management roles in biotechnology. Transferable skills also lead to careers such as teaching, accountancy, law and banking, and to management roles across many sectors. The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance to identify options, build skills and reach opportunities.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
The course page describes the programme as provisionally accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; the Commission for Academic Accreditation register lists it as Active, as the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences.
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Duration
4 years (including the foundation year)
Qualification
Bachelors
Subject Area
Health Sciences
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Integrated foundation year, Single honours
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 134,922/yr
AED 134,922 for the foundation year, full-time, for September 2026 entry; each later year costs AED 156,718. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation, is charged for each year of study, and can be paid in full or in three instalments a year. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made directly through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal (not UCAS), with no application fee, and are usually decided within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form.