Neuroscience in Relation to Medicine BSc

Course overview

Topics covered include Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, neuronal networks, psychopharmacology, and many more. You'll gain an understanding of these topics from a pharmacological, neuroanatomical, physiological and molecular viewpoint.

The course will:

• provide you with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the major areas of neuroscience, with a detailed appreciation of some specialist areas
• develop your knowledge of current neuroscience techniques and methodologies
• enable you to undertake an individual research project
• provide opportunities to develop competency in transferable skills, including the ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate data; acquire and integrate information, and use information to solve problems
• offer appropriate support and guidance
• provide high-quality learning resources to support the objectives of the course.

Research Project

Students can apply for one of our neuroscience focused projects. Titles of projects recently offered by members of the Neuroscience programme team undertaken by neuroscience students (intercalating or otherwise) include:

• Mechanisms of respiratory rhythm generation
• Mechanisms of acute/chronic pain and analgesia
• Trigeminal system and chronic oro-facial pain
• The genetic basis of neurological disorders
• Does diet during early life influence brain development?
• Properties of neuronal circuits underlying control of heart rate and blood pressure
• Regulation of ion channels by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in sensory neurons
• Recording ion channel activity in Alzheimer’s disease brains
• Stem cell differentiation and development

Course details

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Compulsory modules

Research Skills and Professional Development (20 credits) – This module will develop the competencies – knowledge, skills, and behaviours – needed to succeed beyond your undergraduate degree. You'll be given ownership and responsibility for your professional development, allowing you to tailor your learning to support your capstone experience and address your specific professional developmental needs. It will facilitate your transition into the workplace, career or further study, thereby setting you up for success in your lifelong learning journey.

Capstone Research Project (40 credits) – You'll undertake a research, workplace, or social justice capstone experience, collaborating on a project to co-create a solution or output to a problem relevant to the Biomedical Sciences. Project-based experiential learning is a key feature of the module, as you'll “learn by doing”. You'll be given ownership and responsibility for your education, developing new experiences and competencies that will be highly beneficial to your future career.

Optional modules

Candidates study 20-40 credits from the following list of optional modules:

Research Topics in Neuroscience 1 (20 credits) – You’ll be introduced to a range of research topics in the field of neuroscience and the broader biomedical sciences. You’ll develop your ability to collate, critically analyse and describe scientific information. Topics covered will reflect current research interests of the School and may include, for example, autism or Alzheimer’s Disease.

Research Topics in Neuroscience 2 (20 credits) – You’ll be introduced to a range of research topics in the broad field of biomedical sciences and develop your ability to collate, critically analyse, and describe scientific information. Topics covered will reflect current research interests of the School, and may include, for example, neuroplasticity or neuronal ion channels in health and disease.

Candidates study 20-40 credits from the following list of optional modules:

Inherited Disorders (20 credits) – You'll cover a general introduction to the study of inherited disorders and the general principles involved in the study of inherited disorders. Highlights on this module include the exploratory approach to learning about different inherited disorders in team presentations.

Neurophysiology (20 credits) – This module aims to provide understanding of the complexity of neural circuits controlling physiological systems (including cardiorespiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and motor systems) and explore how the integration of sensory information from the body controls homeostatic functions. We will also investigate how activity in these networks may contribute to disease states and potential treatment for some diseases based on manipulations of these networks and/or their targets.

Candidates can select 0-20 credits from the following list of optional modules:

Reproductive Medical Science (20 credits)

Cancer Biology (20 credits)

Food and Cancer (10 credits)

Diet and Cardiovascular Health (10 credits)

Candidates may also select 0-20 credits worth of Discovery modules.

Learning and teaching

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Teaching will be through workshops, seminars, tutorials and a research project. Assessment is similarly varied, including in-course assessment (formative and summative) and written examinations. Depending on the optional modules chosen, the in-course assessment exercises can include essay writing, data analysis and problem solving. The research project will be assessed throughout the project and on the final written report. Degree classification will be based upon the marks obtained in each of the component modules, with the appropriate credit weighting applied.

Entry requirements

Other course specific tests:

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: To be confirmed

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
The fee for UK undergraduate students is decided by the Government and may vary if policy changes. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 will be £9,535.

The tuition fee for the following programmes with an integrated foundation year is £5,760 for the foundation year, and £9,535 for subsequent years of study:
•    Business Studies with Foundation Year BSC
•    Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year BA
•    Interdisciplinary Studies with Preparation for Higher Education BA
•    Social Science (foundation year) BA
 

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2025/26 are available on individual course pages.
 

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Read about applying for intercalation on the School of Medicine website.

This course is taught by

Faculty of Biological Sciences

Contact us

Faculty of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office

Email: fbsadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

The course is designed to give you a challenging, enjoyable and rewarding year which will add significantly to your skills, knowledge, and enhance your career opportunities on graduation.

The course allows full integration with existing science-based BSc courses and the chance of a substantive research project.

In addition to providing subject-specific knowledge, we equip you with the best possible skills for future careers. There is a strong emphasis on practical based teaching, small group teaching, online learning and problem solving. You will gain a wide range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. You will be ideally placed to focus on your personal development and make the most of your intercalating year.