Human Biology and Mathematics

Human Biology and Mathematics - BSc (Hons)

Discover the fascinating and complex fields of human genetics, nutrition, advances in medicine, and learn to mathematically model the spread of a virus and interpret medical trials. The curriculum on our carefully designed Human Biology and Mathematics BSc will provide you with set of skills flexible enough for a wide range of careers.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2024 entry see here - for 2023 entry see here

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

School of Life Sciences School of Computer Science and Mathematics

UCAS code

CG1C

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

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Why study Human Biology and Mathematics at Keele University?

Professional accreditation pathway in Human Biology is available

Top 10 in England for Mathematics (National Student Survey, 2021)

Enhance your employability by choosing to gain work experience

Personalise your degree with a variety of optional modules

Graduate with a broad range of transferable skills to succeed in a variety of careers

Course overview

Our combined honours Human Biology and Mathematics BSc provides you with the opportunity to develop your expertise in two exciting and engaging topics.

Human Biology explores the physiology of the body’s major systems, human health, disease and the relationship between the human body and the environment. From exploring how our lifestyle and genes affect our risk of disease to discovering the latest developments in cancer research, you will have the opportunity to explore a broad range of topics that are of increasing importance in medical research and underpin the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Mathematics can be related to almost every aspect of the world we live in. This is why our curriculum is carefully designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals of the discipline, so you can apply these principles to the real world and develop high level problem solving skills. In the final year you may study diverse and fascinating topics like cryptography and fluid mechanics, not to mention mathematical biology & medical statistics.

Gain practical experience in industry

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. If you're unsure which area of human biology you want to focus on, work experience can provide insight into what work is like in a specific field. From a year working in industry to summer secondment research placements in the UK or overseas, our programme offers many opportunities to gain familiarisation with the professional working environment, develop professional contacts and apply the skills and theories you have learnt.

Study abroad

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enable you to experience different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences, which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Support

We offer a multi layered support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. Our open-door policy enables you to engage with us directly, meaning you can seek support, gain feedback or discuss any matters on a regular basis. You will benefit from the support of an assigned academic mentor and a member of staff from Keele's Student Experience and Support team.

Practical support

During practical workshops in human biology you will benefit from a multi-tiered support structure. In addition to your lead lecturer you can engage with a variety of academic staff. This offers an invaluable opportunity to forge new networks and gain insight into news or research taking place within the school.

Benefit from networking opportunities with:

Senior demonstrators
Postgraduate student demonstrators
Laboratory technicians
Core skills videos and laboratory simulations
Data analysis workshops

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to your field is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded people, make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

As a university we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This means we aim to create a diverse and inclusive culture in which you can thrive. The School of Computer Science and Mathematics are proud to hold a school-level Athena SWAN Bronze Award in recognition for activities in this area.

Next Steps

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Accreditation and professional recognition

This programme is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology if you choose to specialise in Human Biology in your final year. The accreditation meets in part the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol). If you choose to specialise in Mathematics, there is no accreditation available.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Placement year International year Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer. If you are looking for the 2023 schemes please see here.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement - ABC
Maths at grade A

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DDM
You must have taken sufficient Mathematics units, please contact our admissions team for advice.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate

30 points to include Higher Level Mathematics at 6 or above

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must also have taken sufficient Maths units, please contact our admissions team for advice.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Next Steps

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Additional information

A Level requirements

A Level requirement - ABC
Maths at grade A

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DDM
You must have taken sufficient Mathematics units, please contact our admissions team for advice.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate

30 points to include Higher Level Mathematics at 6 or above

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must also have taken sufficient Maths units, please contact our admissions team for advice.

English Language Requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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"The maths programme at Keele allowed me to learn how to work through a mathematical problem applying real life context wherever possible and how to present solutions to problems in a well structured report style. This helps when displaying work to non mathematicians. Most importantly, I developed an ability to problem solve in a logical way, which I have found to be vital in a Mathematical Analyst role."

Luke, Mathematics with Integrated Master's

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Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2023/24 academic year

UK: £9250
International: Band 3

For details of our international fee bands please see our Undergraduate tuition fees web page.

Research expertise

Keele is a research-led university which means your lecturers are actively conducting research at the forefront of their areas of expertise.

Areas of research expertise within the School of Life Sciences include:

Molecular biology and ecology of parasites and vectors in tropical diseases
Sustainability in crops and control of crop pests
Glycobiology and immunology
Structural biology
Molecular cell biology of apoptosis and its dysregulation
Cancer
Autoimmune disease
X-ray crystallography
Neurobiology and neuroplasticity
Neurodegeneration and regeneration
Auditory neuroscience and deafness

Find out more about research in the School of Life Sciences.

Research specialisms within mathematics spans a wide remit and feeds into modules in the latter years of your degree. Our research work has countless applications in engineering, biology, oceanography, meteorology, medicine, finance, economics and the digital world.

Research specialisms within the mathematics department include:

Abstract algebra
Biomechanics
Computational mathematics
Financial mathematics
Fluid mechanics
Solid mechanics

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

Our Student Financial Support team offers confidential advice and guidance to help you to manage your money, so that you can make the most of your time at Keele. We can help you to resolve issues with your Student Finance, create a budget, and help you to explore your options if you’re facing financial hardship. We are also able to ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible, such as bursaries and scholarships.

For more information visit our undergraduate fees and funding section.

Next Steps

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Learn from our campus - our own 'living laboratory'

The flexible modular course structure allows you in the second and final year to tailor your programme of study to individual interests and ambitions. For example in the second year, you have the opportunity to choose environmental Biology module. In this module you will attend a summer field course where you will visit a range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats and develop fieldwork skills such as identification of specimens, surveying, and data analysis.

Our unique 600-acre campus offers a fantastic experimentation environment to perform fieldwork, test new ideas and discover solutions to real-world problems. From our lake system grasslands and woodlands to mining and industrial heritage of the local area, our local diverse range of habitats provide opportunities to study in an authentic environment whilst practicing.

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Studying Mathematics at Keele

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Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching in Human Biology

We offer a hybrid delivery of teaching. Our core content is designed for online learning and this aims to provide you with the space and flexibility to digest at your own pace and to ask questions anonymously. To complement core virtual learning, laboratory practicals, tutorials, seminars and workshops will take place on-campus.

Methods of teaching include:

Fieldwork
Laboratory practicals
Live, campus-based tutorials and seminars including case-based learning
Online lectures

Case based learning

This method of teaching is classed as a guided enquiry method.
Under the guidance of a tutor, you will work in small groups, usually over a few weeks to discuss a specific case, patient or scenario that is based upon “real life” problems. It's a great way to share ideas, debate, develop your research and communication skills and learn from and with your peers in an informal environment.

Assessments in Human Biology

From designing, packaging and marketing an assay kit to presenting scientific findings at an end of year conference -the assessment methods within our programme aim to give you experience of work-related activities you will likely undertake in graduate roles.

Methods of assessment include:

Blogs or oral presentations
Final year independent research project
Laboratory reports
Online end-of-year open-book exams
Online tests
Patient information leaflets
Portfolio or literature reviews
Scientific posters

Teaching in Mathematics

We embrace online resources to supplement in-person sessions.
By utilising gapped notes as a learning tool, you will benefit from seeing live input on calculations and interactive problem-solving in real-time. A large proportion of our academic experts are active in research. In additional to this, several staff members are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. Learning and teaching methods used on the programme vary according to the subject matter and level of the module.

Teaching methods include:

computer laboratory sessions
flipped classes
group work
online polling and quizzes
peer learning

Assessments in Mathematics

The wide variety of assessment methods used on this programme reflect the broad range of knowledge and skills that are developed as you progress through the degree programme. Teaching staff pay particular attention to specifying clear assessment criteria and providing timely, regular and constructive feedback.

Assessment methods include:

class tests
coursework
dissertations
project reports
short reports
unseen examinations
video and oral presentations

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Central Science Laboratories

Develop your practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

The information within this section is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

The Keele Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Human Biology and Mathematics degree. For example, the Foundations of Life Sciences module will look at basic cell biology in terms of structure and function and go on to examine how cells obtain their energy and raw materials. It considers how organisms interact and analyses the effects of climate change on ecosystems. In addition, the Advancing Mathematical Methods module continues to develop your understanding of the key mathematical techniques and methods used across a wide range of applied mathematics, as well in other areas of pure mathematics. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester one modules

FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits
FYO-00217	Foundations of Mathematical Methods	30 credits
FYO-00197	Foundations of Life Sciences	15 credits

Semester two modules

FYO-00199	Advancing Life Sciences	30 credits
FYO-00229	Advancing Mathematical Methods	30 credits

Entry requirements

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to apply

Students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Human Biology with Foundation Year (UCAS code CF10) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct entry students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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