International Study Centre

Life sciences at the Heriot-Watt University International Study Centre

Life Sciences Undergraduate Certificate

Leading to degrees in subjects including:

  • Biology
  • Brewing and Distilling
  • Chemistry
  • Food Science, Technology and Management
  • Marine Biology
  • Sport and Exercise Science
See a full list of degrees to which Undergraduate Certificate students can progress.

Academic Structure

Core Subjects

Academic English Skills 1

Study skills for science

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.

Pure Mathematics 1

Understand and interpret straight lines and linear equations, set theory and probability, statistics, linear programming, indices and logarithms and experimental laws.

Specific Route Modules

Cell Biology

Biology and chemistry courses

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.

Key Facts

Tuition price  See fees page
Course length Three terms
Entry points  September or Janaury
Term dates

September 2008 start
Term 1 – 8 September to 5 December 2008
Term 2 – 12 January to 27 March 2009
Term 3 – 14 April to 19 June 2009

January 2009 start
Term 1 – 12 January to 27 March 2009
Term 2 – 14 April to 19 June 2009
Term 3 – 22 June to 28 August 2009

Entry requirements See admissions section for academic and English Language entrance 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.