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Science Extended Degree leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree

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    Overview

    This programme is not available to international students. Instead, international students should apply for our international foundation programmes delivered by our International Study Centre on campus. For more information, please visit International Study Centre.

    Ready to jumpstart your education in the sciences? Our Science Extended Degree leading to a BSc(Hons) degree aims to provide you with a solid foundational understanding of the four main disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics and maths. Throughout the one-year duration of this course, you’ll complete five modules in the following:

    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Maths and Physics
    • Science Skills
    • Scientific Investigations

    On successful completion of this year (you must pass all five modules), you'll be able to continue onto the first year of your degree in the following science subject areas: 

    • Biological Sciences *
    • Chemistry and Chemical Engineering **
    • Forensic Science * 
    • Optometry ***
    • Pharmacy ***

    Please note, many of the courses offered by the School of Applied Sciences are offered ‘with a research placement’. If you wish to progress on to a ‘with research placement’ degree, you will be required to achieve an overall pass of at least 50 per cent. 

    You may also be able to progress on to the first year of courses in health sciences, including Diagnostic Radiography, Midwifery and Physiotherapy, or onto professional courses elsewhere in the University such as Accounting or Law.****

    * Progression onto Biological Science related courses, and Forensic Science related courses is subject to a pass of 40% in all modules, with the exception of Biomedical Science BSc(Hons) which is subject to a pass in all modules with an overall pass mark of at least 50 per cent. 

    **Progression onto Chemical Engineering BEng(Hons) is dependent on achieving a minimum pass mark of 60 per cent in the Maths and Physics module. Progression onto Chemical Engineering MEng is also dependent on achieving a minimum pass mark of 60 per cent in the Maths and Physics module, plus an overall pass mark of at least 70 per cent. 

    ***Progression onto Optometry and Pharmacy is dependent on meeting stringent performance levels in the Science Extended Degree. You must pass all modules with an overall pass mark of at least 70 per cent. Plus at least 70 per cent in the Chemistry module and 70 per cent in the Maths and Physics module. You may also undertake an interview with the Optometry or Pharmacy admissions staff. 

    ****Progression onto these courses is subject to candidates meeting appropriate entry requirements.

    Why study Science Extended Degree Leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree

    You’ll be taught by academic and industry experts through lectures, tutorials and laboratory practicals in our modern facilities and state-of-the-art labs. This course will challenge you, open your mind to potentially new learning techniques and equip you with the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed to prepare you for your further studies.

    Should you need any support throughout your educational journey, our team of professional, dedicated and friendly staff are available to assist you. You’ll even find support outside the classroom with the help of our academic skills tutors and your very own personal tutor. These tutors will aid you in developing your writing style, understanding the material, and preparing for exams.

    Entry requirements

    To find out if you’re eligible to start this course in September 2025 and get more information on how to apply, please see our Clearing pages or call our Clearing Helpline on 0333 987 9000.

    If you’re interested in studying this course in September 2026, please view the 2026-27 course information.

    Course Detail

    Biology

    This module seeks to provide a framework of knowledge of living systems for students with little or no advanced biological education. An introduction to cellular biology explains cell structure and function on the basis of the information stored in DNA and how it is used to produce active proteins. On the basis of this knowledge, inheritance of information through cell division and reproduction is considered together with evolution as a core to our understanding of life. Finally the major ways in which cells in a body communicate with each other - the nervous, transport and exchange and immune systems - are dealt with. The module is delivered by a combination of lectures with practical work to give experience in the laboratory and illustrate some of the lecture material.

    Chemistry

    This module will provide you with an appreciation of what chemistry is and why it is important. It will concentrate on the basic concepts underpinning chemistry and consider the wide variety of chemical processes that influence our daily lives.

    Maths and Physics

    This module introduces you to some of the basic concepts of science, mainly mathematical and physical concepts. The module will be delivered by a combination of lectures, self-paced online videos, tutorials, practicals and online quizzes. The tutorials and quizzes will reinforce the lecture and video content, and the practicals will develop data analysis and experimental skills.

    Science Skills

    This module will help develop the skills required to successfully complete a scientific degree. You'll have the opportunity to learn what is expected of you at university, how to get the best out of lectures and tutorials and how to find and use information effectively. The material covered will have an employability theme running through it. Successful completion of the module will permit you to take greater control of your own learning and how to apply it to your future careers. This module will also introduce you to the key skills required for your future employment. You'll undertake self-assessment of your existing skill set and identify areas requiring development in your skills audit. You'll map these skills to your future potential careers to identify transferable skills required. A series of 'employability challenges' will help you identify and link your transferable skills. The course is delivered through a programme of lectures and tutorials supported by on-line resources and guest speakers. You are expected to expand and develop your knowledge of the main themes through independent study and completion of an e-portfolio.

    Scientific Investigations

    This module introduces you to the scientific method, including data acquisition, experimental design, statistical analysis, interpretation and evaluation of evidence. A core component of the module focuses on the application of statistical techniques to aid in the analysis of student generated data. This module will also involve the practical application of the research skills developed in the module Science Skills.

    The course has a varied subject matter and is designed to give you the opportunity to improve your knowledge and understanding of science.

    On average 27.8%* of the study time on this year is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, tutorials etc.

    *based on 2023/2024 timetables

    You will be taught through a series of lectures, tutorials, seminars and laboratory practicals. Assessment will include coursework, eportfolio, projects and laboratory work in addition to examinations.

    Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

    Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the second term in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

    Huddersfield is the only University where 100% of the teaching staff are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.*

    *permanent staff, after probation: some recently appointed colleagues will only obtain recognition in the months after their arrival in Huddersfield, once they have started teaching.

    Further information

    The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration. As this is a full-time course you may have to attend every day of the week.

    Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits. Should you progress onto a bachelor's qualification, there are up to an additional 480 credits in total and 360 credits in total if you choose not to take the supervised work experience year. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

    1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

    2. Our teaching staff rank first in England for the proportion with higher degrees and teaching qualifications, as well as being top five for those holding doctorates (HESA 2025). So you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    3. We are second in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 24 since 2008 (2025 data).

    4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    Visit ‘Our experts’ page where you’ll find in-depth profiles of all our academic staff

    At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

    Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

    *full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

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    Important information

    When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

    Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

    Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and if you are unhappy with the change we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    Changes to option modules

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes

    We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff being unable to teach due to illness, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will consult with affected groups of students and any changes would only be made in accordance with our regulations. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you let us know before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for any additional tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so and you may be eligible for an exit award depending on how far through your course you are.

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.