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Life Sciences Undergraduate Certificate

Undergraduate Certificate in Life Sciences

The undergraduate certificate in Life Sciences prepares students for degrees in:

  • Biology
  • Brewing and Distilling
  • Chemistry
  • Food Science, Technology and Management
  • Marine Biology
  • Sport and Exercise Science  

See a full list of degrees available to Engineering and Computing Undergraduate Certificate students and the grades needed to progress.  

Academic structure

Core modules

These modules are compulsory for all undergraduate certificate students, regardless of their chosen subject route.  

Academic English skills 1

Develop your ability to read academic texts, write extended texts, write subjective notes, listen effectively and participate in classroom discourse.

Academic English Skills 2

Improve all your abilities developed in AES1 with greater accuracy, speed, coherence, organisation and presentation.

Study skills in the British Environment

Use your study time more effectively, improve your use of, and range of, information sources and develop your research skills in preparation for producing an extended, referenced, academic essay.

Project study

Complete a self-study project on a topic that you will take, in consultation with your tutor, from the academic discipline that you will subsequently study at degree level. This will also include computer (word processing) skills.

Core Mathematics

This module contains both algebra and statistics. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of mathematical terms and techniques and apply these to solving problems, frequently drawn from practical and real-life situations.  

Route modules

These modules are only available to students studying the Undergraduate Certificate in Life Sciences.  

Cell Biology

Learn about biological molecules, cellular structure, cell division, movement through cell membranes, enzymes and metabolic pathways.

Physiology

Study the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, osmo-regulation, control and co-ordination and reproduction.

Chemistry 1

Learn formulae, equations and moles, atomic structure, introduction to redox systems, thermodynamics and bonding.

Chemistry 2

Study equilibria, acid-base equilibria, kinetics and organic chemistry. Further Studies in Biology and Chemistry Further studies in Genetics, Ecology and Plant Biology plus Inorganic chemistry, oxidation/ Reduction Reactions and Transition Element Chemistry.

Fast-track to the second year of a top 10 ranking degree

The Food Science, Technology and Management programme at Heriot-Watt was ranked 9th in the UK in the 2011 Times Good University rankings. Study the Undergraduate Certificate in Life Sciences to fast-track to the second year of this degree!

Key information

Tuition price £6,850
Course length Three terms
Start and end points January to June or April to August
Term dates September 2010 start
Term 1 – 13 September to 10 December 2010
Term 2 – 10 January to 25 March 2011
Term 3 – 11 April to 17 June 2011
January 2011 start
Term 1 – 10 January to 25 March 2011
Term 2 – 11 April to 17 June 2011
Term 3 – 20 June to 26 August 2011
Entry requirements See entry requirements page for academic and English language requirements.
Course structure The programme is modular and comprises five core subjects and five route modules. You take three modules in term 1, three in term 2, four in term 3.
Assessment End of module/term: a combination of examinations, coursework, presentations and extended essays.
Continuous: a mixture of lecture classes, small-group seminar work and directed self-study.
Progression On successful completion of the foundation course students can progress to the second year of a Heriot-Watt University undergraduate degree in selected subject areas.

See also

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Heriot-Watt University International Study Centre
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