The Newcastle BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences 2+1 curriculum

The study of Biomedical Sciences covers the diverse range of subjects relating to medicine and the understanding of life processes at all levels, from the molecular and cellular to the whole organism. New discoveries in Biomedical Sciences provide us with the prospect of finding new ways to prevent and treat a wide range of diseases that affect humankind. Biomedical Sciences considers the molecular and cellular processes that underlie the functioning of both the healthy human body and disease states arising from metabolic and genetic causes and infectious diseases.  The molecular basis of cancer, its diagnosis and its therapy are also discussed along with issues such as stem cell therapy, animal cloning and gene therapy. 

The BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences echoes the research strengths of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University and as such you will be exposed to the very latest ideas in medical research and you will learn how new scientific knowledge is formed and developed.

Outline of the Structure of 3-year BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences 2+1 Programme offered at NUMed Malaysia and Newcastle University UK

Our Biomedical Sciences programme is divided into two phases:

  • Phase 1 (Stage 1 and semester 1 of Stage 2)
  • Phase 2 (semester 2 of Stage 2 and Stage 3)

Note that the first 2 years of the programme (stage 1 and stage 2) will be taught at NUMed Malaysia and the third year (stage 3) of the programme will only be taught at Newcastle UK.

In order for you to progress to the third year of the programme in the UK, you must have successfully completed the first two years of the programme in Malaysia and have obtained the relevant visa for you to enter the UK. Please note that although Newcastle University and NUMed will make every effort to assist you with your application to obtain a visa to enter the UK, this cannot be guaranteed and you are advised to read carefully the guidance for obtaining a visa.

NUMed Malaysia

Phase 1 (Stage 1 and stage 2 semester 1)

Phase I extends over the first 1 ½ years of the programme and is divided into two Stages. Phase 1 provides a broad introduction to biomolecular sciences and therefore gives you the chance to try a broad range of topics, helping you to see where your interests lie before you study your specialist optional biomedical sciences modules in Phase 2. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and you need to complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage to progress to the next year.
Phase 1 consists of the study of the following modules:

Stage 1
  • Biochemistry (15 credits) examines the structures of macromolecular components of the cell, including proteins and nucleic acids, with emphasis on the diseases arising from defects in these components
  • Cell biology (15) covers the roles of membranes, cellular interactions, particularly in nerves and muscles, hormones and other forms of intercellular communication that integrate cellular function
  • Genetics (15) explains the basis of heredity and shows how genetic analysis can be accomplished in a range of organisms but with emphasis on human genes
  • Microbiology and Immunology (15) emphasises the role played by microorganisms in diseaseand describes the range of recognition and effector systems employed to defend the body against infection
  • Pharmacology (15) introduces the principles underlying the rational use of drugs in the treatment of a wide range of medical conditions, explaining what drugs do to the body and what the body does to drugs
  • Physiology (15) involves the study of body function with emphasis on how organs and tissues work, on control mechanisms, and on how the body responds to changes in the environment
  • Practical skills in biomedical and biomolecular sciences 1 and 2 (15 credits each) introduces practical laboratory skills and generic skills including scientific writing, IT and presentation skills

Stage 2 Semester 1
  • Molecular medicine (20) covers recombinant DNA technology and its application to medicine, and cell membrane transport processes in cell function and in relation to disease
  • Cell and molecular biosciences (20) covers cell signalling and gene expression
  • Cell and molecular biology of the immune system (10) covering cell and molecular biology
    of the immune system and chemotherapy of infectious diseases
  • Practical skills in biomedical and biomolecular sciences 3 (10) covers laboratory skills,
    bioinformatics and statistics
Phase 2

In Phase 2, you study a range of topics relating to health and disease. In Stage 2, semester 2, you cover the immune system in relation to various types of human disease, the nervous system, respiratory diseases including bacterial and viral infection, and human anatomy. In Stage 3, you choose from modules offered by our research institutes that cover disease-related topics including cancer, diseases of the nervous system, the genetics of common disease, chronic and nutritional-related disease, medical biotechnology and biology of ageing.

You also undertake an individual research project in an area of Biomedical Sciences that particularly interests you. This may be a laboratory project in one of our internationally rated research institutes, a clinical study under the supervision of one of the medically qualified staff, a project working with a local scholl or college or an IT-based project. Finally you may also choose a vocational module, such as research in biomedical sciences, business for the bioscientist or healthcare organisation and practice.

NUMed Malaysia

Stage 2 semester 2
  • The nervous system and respiratory diseases (20) covers two strands. The neuroscience strand builds an understanding from basic cellular neuroscience through to behaviorally relevant function of network activity in the central nervous system (CNS). The respiratory strand develops a students’ understanding of the physiology of the lung, the molecular pathology and pathogenesis of a range of lung diseases and the diagnostic tools and treatments available for these diseases
  • Clinical immunology and viral pathogens (20) covers two strands. The clinical immunology stand considers the role of the immune system in human disease. And the virology strand considers the ways in which viruses cause human disease
  • Human anatomy (10) develops a core knowledge and understanding of human anatomy
  • Practical and presentational skills in biomedical sciences (10) enhances a students’ practical skills in immunology and bacterial pathogenicity and develops a students’ written, oral and presentation skills

Newcastle UK

Stage 3 semester 1

You will study three modules, one from each of the following lists:

List A
  • Cancer biology and therapy (20) provides a background to the molecular basis of cancer and its therapy. The various causes, cellular and genetic processes central to the development of cancer will be discussed, alongside how this understanding is being exploited for disease detection, diagnosis and therapy
    or
  • Disease of the human nervous system (20) provides firstly an overview of the cellular anatomy, biochemistry and function of the human CNS, providing a framework to help understand the second part of the module where preclinical and clinical lectures together with molecular pathology will highlight the various diseases associated with the CNS
List B
  • Clinical ageing and health (20) considers firstly how and why older people become ill and discusses the epidemiology and pathology of a range of chronic diseases of the elderly. Further to this the module will consider issues around the care of the elderly and the impact of an ageing population on the UK and developing countries.
    or
  • Chronic disease (20) considers a number of classes of disease and will highlight the underlying
    molecular physiology/biochemistry and/or behavioural factors that lead to these
    diseases.
List C
  • Genetics of common diseases (20) address one of the major areas of current medical research and provides students with an understanding of the strengths and weakness of both the current subject knowledge in this area and the practical approaches to it. Understanding the genetics of common (complex) disease has been identified as a major post-genome challenge
    or
  • Medical biotechnology (20) informs students of the range of therapeutic molecules and diagnostic tools developed by the biotechnology industry over the last few years and identifies and explores new and novel areas of research in the biotechnology industry
Stage 3 Semester 2
  • Research Project (40) provides an opportunity to undertake a piece of original research in a top-rated research laboratory in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, to write a dissertation based on the latest developments in a particular area of research or to undertake an education or business-related project
    or
  • Experimental design and the process of research (40) is aimed at students who are interested in pursuing a laboratory based career. At the core of the module is a hypothetical workplace scenario, which forms the basis of an extended practical project.
  • Integrated biomedical sciences (10) develops a students' ability to design experiments and interpret scientific data
  • Vocational module (10) This can be any one of the following modules – Research in Biomedical Sciences, Business for the Bioscientist, Healthcare Organisation and Practice or Science Communication