Teaching & Modules
Modules
Year
Courses are divided into modules. Students take 360 credits over the course, with 120 credits per year. One credit equates to 10 hours of work, which includes, but is not limited to lecture and seminar attendance, workshops, reading, assessment writing, and independent research. Social science modules will have slightly less contact hours than biomedicine.
Social science modules broadly explore, but will not be limited to:
· a focus on globalisation and its effects on health systems around the world.
· the emergence of modern medicine, and how questions of health and disease are inextricably linked with questions of science, technology, and modernity
· mental health · theories of inequalities and inequities in health.
· the relationship of health to aspects of colonialism, capitalism, racism, humanitarianism, and the state.
· questions about resource allocation in healthcare
· ethical arguments and justice questions in global health
· social science research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative (statistics/epidemiology) research methods
· optional modules in your third year, from a broad array of subjects (see tabs below)
You will also conduct a social science research dissertation in the third year.
Required modules
You are required to take the following modules:
- Introduction to Global Health (15 credits)
- Inequalities in Global Health (15 credits)
- Social Science Perspectives on Health and Medicine (15 credits)
- Social Medicine and Intersecting Inequalities (15 credits)
- Research Practice & Design Studio (30 credits)
You are also required to select one of the below biomedical pathways to follow throughout your degree and take 30 credits from that pathway to make up 25% of your first year of study:
Neuroscience pathway
You are required to take the following modules:
- Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)
- Fundamentals of Pharmacology (15 credits)
Pharmacology pathway
You are required to take the following modules:
- Fundamentals of Pharmacology (15 credits)
- Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)
Ageing pathway
You are required to take the following modules:
- Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)
- Genetics & Molecular Biology (15 credits)
Optional modules
There are no optional modules for Year 1.
Teaching methods - what to expect
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, and small group tutorials.
Note: Biomedical science modules will be delivered alongside biomedical science students, with no overlap between the biomedical and social science modules.
The following table gives information on the percentage of teaching time per year.
|
Course stage |
Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities |
Percentage of time in guided independent study |
|
Year 1 |
16% |
84% |
|
Year 2 |
17% |
83% |
|
Final year |
10% |
90% |
You will have a personal tutor to guide and support you throughout your studies.
Assessment
- Coursework
- Written examinations
- Practical Examinations
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. While forms of assessment are subject to change, they typically include practical lab reports, scientific paper interpretation, infographics, research consultancy reports, unseen examinations, poster presentations, group projects, research essays and a dissertation.
Key Information
Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time
Required A-Levels:
ABB
Duration:
Three years full-time or four years with a year abroad
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026
Application deadline:
24 November 2025