Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Course overview

This programme is intended to serve as a pre-undergraduate course for students intending to study medicine, biomedical or biological sciences or pharmacy at undergraduate level at NUMed, in Newcastle UK or in another higher education institution, depending on the final grades achieved.

Modules

The curriculum is arranged with eight (180 UK credits) modules being studied over three semesters as follows:

Semester 1

English for Academic Purposes
Foundation Biology 1
Foundation Chemistry
Foundation Mathematics and Statistics
Study Skills and ICT for Science and Medicine

Semester 2

English for Academic Purposes
Foundation Biology 1
Foundation Biology 2
Foundation Chemistry
Foundation Mathematics and Statistics
Study Skills and ICT for Science and Medicine

Semester 3

English for Academic Purposes
Foundation Biology 2
Foundation of Medical Studies
Foundation Physics

Learning outcomes

On completing the programme, students should:

have acquired a basic knowledge and understanding of topics and concepts in biological science, physics, chemistry, mathematics and statistics needed (depending on the degree programme to be studied subsequently) to sustain successful study in medicine and the biological and biomedical sciences
have developed the necessary practical skills to enable specified laboratory or field experiments to be carried out effectively and safely
be able to apply appropriate quantitative methods to experimental data and to interpret experimental results
have an appreciation of the culture of UK higher education and its expectations of students
have knowledge and understanding of academic English in order to successfully start a degree programme at undergraduate level
understand the basic requirements for writing a competent essay/case study report or laboratory report.

Teaching and assessment

The teaching and learning strategy encourages students to gain gradual knowledge and understanding. You will gain this knowledge and understanding through lectures and practical laboratory sessions. This is further supported by reading, seminar discussion and tutorials. English is taught in smaller classes and reinforced through practice. Case studies and project work will involve an element of student research.

Induction

During the first week of the first semester, you will attend an induction programme. New students will receive a general introduction to campus life and the university’s principal support services. You will also receive general information about EduCity. New students will receive detailed programme information and their programme timetable.

Assessment

The foundation programme at NUMed Malaysia mirrors the foundation programme offered at Newcastle University in the UK. The components of the programme fall into four broad areas:

knowledge and understanding of the subject covered in the programme
intellectual skills that are used in your future studies
practical skills in the laboratory
transferrable skills for your future career and life

Knowledge and understanding

Knowledge and understanding are assessed by:

examinations
written coursework (such as numerical exercises, essays, case studies, project reports and laboratory reports)
in-course tests
observation of ability to carry out specific practical experiments.

Intellectual skills

Intellectual skills are assessed as part of the overall assessment of case study and project reports and/or oral presentations, calculation class exercises, laboratory work and laboratory reports. In particular, intellectual skills are assessed by the Study Skills module and unseen examinations.

Practical laboratory and scientific skills

Practical laboratory and scientific skills are assessed through observation of experimental technique and laboratory reports, and seminar and tutorial exercises. They are also assessed in some tests and exams. English language competency is tested directly in the English for Academic Purposes module, using a mixture of tests and coursework. This module covers reading, writing, speaking and listening. Other modules indirectly assess English language competence and the ability to take notes and use sources.

Transferrable skills

Transferrable skills are addressed through:

group work
oral presentations
case studies
essays
laboratory reports

You are also encouraged to prepare a reflective log.

Quality and ranking

Reputation

Newcastle University Medical School is a world-leading collaboration of research scientists, medical doctors and teaching professionals with a reputation for innovation and excellence for both research and teaching.

Our MBBS and BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences programmes are consistently two of the most highly regarded courses of their type in the UK.

Ranking

Medicine at Newcastle is consistently one of the most highly regarded medical programmes in the UK. The excellence of our programmes has been confirmed by the General Medical Council. We are ranked:

Global Top 130 University - QS World University Rankings 2025
19th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2023 (Medicine category)
17th in the UK – The Guardian University Guide 2023 (Medicine category)
Top 80 for Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Top 100 for Pre-Clinical, Clinical and Health - Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024 (published 2023)

Your future

Progression on to programmes at NUMed Malaysia

Students who successfully complete the Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences to the required level, will be offered a place on either our MBBS programme (subject to interview) or our 2 + 1 BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences programme.

To qualify for admission to the MBBS programme at NUMed Malaysia you must achieve an overall average grade of 75% with 70% in English for Academic Purposes, 75% in Biology 1, Biology 2 and Chemistry and 70% in Foundation Medical Studies.

To qualify for admission to the 2+1 BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences programme offered at NUMed Malaysia you must achieve an overall average grade of 65% with 65% in English for Academic Purposes and 70% in Biology 1 and 2 and 55% in Chemistry.

Progression on to programmes at Newcastle University, UK

Students who successfully complete the Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences to the required level will be able to apply for a place on a wide variety of programmes at Newcastle University, UK, in both the Faculty of Medical Sciences – including Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Pharmacy (MPharm), Biomedical Sciences (BSc or MSci), Biochemistry (BSc or MSci), Biomedical Genetics (BSc or MSci), Physiological Sciences (BSc), Pharmacology (BSc), Sports and Exercise (BSc), Food and Human Nutrition (BSc), Psychology (BSc) – and the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering – including Biology (BSc), Animal Science (BSc), Environmental Science (BSc), Agriculture (BSc), Agri-Business Management (BSc), Marine Biology (BSc), Chemistry (BSc and MChem) and Speech and Language Science (BSc).

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are specific to the NUMed Malaysia Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

Examinations and grades

In order to enrol for the Foundation programme, students must have 5Bs in each of the following subjects at O-Level, SPM, IGCSE, Local High School Curriculum Grade 12 or equivalent:

Biology and
Chemistry and
Physics and
Mathematics or Additional Mathematics and
another subject

English requirements

Please refer to the table below on the English Requirements for Foundation programme:

Test	Examination Board	Malaysian Students	International Students
CEFR English	Cambridge International Examinations	C2, C1, B2	N/A
O-Level English 1119	Cambridge International Examinations	B	N/A
IGCSE English - First Language	Cambridge International Examinations	C	N/A
IGCSE English - Second Language	Cambridge International Examinations	B	N/A
MUET	Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia	3	N/A
IELTS	Cambridge English Language Assessment / British Council	5.5	5.5
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)	Educational Testing Service	79	79

*IELTS 5.0 in each of the four elements of the test is required.

Please also refer to the English Requirements for Undergraduate Programme.

Age requirements

You must be at least 16 years old at the time of enrolment or shortly thereafter.

Fees and funding

The overall tuition costs of obtaining the Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences programme with NUMed Malaysia is significantly less than the cost of studying for the same programme in the UK.

A single inclusive fee is charged to cover the costs of tuition, library, laboratory, placements, examination, administration fees and all other academic-related charges for the programme.

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

Malaysian students: RM 27,580 for the 12-month programme.

International students: RM 32,318 for the 12-month programme.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

Malaysian students: RM 27,580 for the 12-month programme.

International students: RM 33,787 for the 12-month programme.

Other expenses

You should note that the fees do not include the cost of your living accommodation in Malaysia.

Students studying on our Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Science programme are strongly advised to stay at the NUMed Malaysia-managed student accommodation. You will be advised on how to book this once you have been offered a place on the programme.

Funding, loans and scholarships