Biological Laboratory Sciences, FdSc
Biological Laboratory Sciences, FdSc
Biological Laboratory Sciences, FdSc
Biological Laboratory Sciences, FdSc

This diverse course explores all aspects of biological life, from genes and cells to populations and ecosystems, and will prepare you for laboratory roles or further study on a research career pathway.

Discover the biological principles that govern the world today. Within this programme you will explore the molecular basis of cell structure and biochemistry, human physiology and pathogenesis, and current ecological aspects that impact society.

The course provides both the academic and practical skills needed for working within the industry; including cloning, PCR, forensic analysis of substances and immunological essays.

You will also undertake nutritional, chemical and microbiological analysis of food, air, soil and water, as well as carrying out DNA and protein analysis and other molecular biology and microbiological techniques.

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Duration:
Full-time: 2 years (2 days per week)
Part-time: 3 years (1.5 days per week)
Start date:
September 2023
Location:
Knightstone Campus
Course codes:
Institution: W47
Course: BLS1
Campus: -
Course fees:
Full-time: £8,500 per year
Part-time: £5,700 in year 1, £5,650 in years 2 and 3
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Click here to apply for this course part time

Delivered in partnership

This course is delivered in partnership with...
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The course has employability at its heart and will set you up for various roles within a laboratory setting. You will be taught in the laboratories and classrooms in our Knightstone Campus, and you will also be able to take advantage of all of everything on offer in our new University Centre in the redeveloped Winter Gardens.

Students on this course are also offered the opportunity to go on visits relevant to their studies at an additional expense. Students recently visited Hinkley Point and Thatchers Cider, for example.

Please click on the next tab to find out more about what you’ll learn on this programme and how it is delivered. The information below deal with our partnership with UWE Bristol and what is and isn’t included in the cost of tuition.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the course leader Beth Norman or UCW’s HEART student services team. It would also be great to meet you and show you around at our next Open Day.

Quick Stats

This diverse course explores all aspects of biological life, from genes and cells to populations and ecosystems, and will prepare you for laboratory roles or further study on a research career pathway.
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Full-Time

Part-Time

Meet our Team
Student - Beth Normans image
Beth Norman
Programme Co-ordinator - Biological Laboratory Sciences
Beth Norman graduated from Cardiff University in 2011 with a BSc. in Zoology and immediately progressed onto Cardiff University's PGCE (Post-16 PCET) post-graduate degree to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. During this PGCE year, Beth was placed at Coleg Sir Gar, a further education college in South West Wales, where she was offered a permanent lecturing position once qualified. During this time, Beth taught on the Access to Higher Education course and immediately fell in love with this life-changing qualification. Beth spent the next six years within Coleg Sir Gar and became a key figure in the coordination of the course. Over two successive years, Beth had a learner win the Access to Higher Education Learner of the Year Award for the whole of Wales, with the winner of 2016/2017 going on to be runner up for the prestigious Keith Fletcher Award for Access Learner of the Year for the whole of the UK; where she delivered a speech at the Houses of Parliament. Beth's commitment to Access to Higher Education was identified by the awarding body for Access in Wales, Agored Cymru, where she became a key part of their external verification team in 2016 and later became a lead external verifier in 2017. In September 2018, Beth joined the lecturing team at Weston College to deliver
Student - Alison Haymans image
Alison Hayman
Lecturer
Alison Hayman graduated with a BSc degree in Biochemistry and Biology from the University of London (Westfield College). She undertook a CASE studentship between Queen Mary College and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and was awarded a PhD in Biochemistry in 1986. She then undertook three consecutive positions as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at 1) St George’s Hospital Medical School, London (research - purification and characterisation of the enzyme tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) from human bone tumours); 2) The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich (research – genomic cloning of chicken collagen genes); 3) The University of Cambridge (research – gene expression of TRAP using baculovirus in insect cells and the subsequent purification and crystallisation of the recombinant protein). In 1993 Alison was awarded a research fellowship from the Arthritis Research Campaign and was made a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Medicine at Cambridge. In a collaborative project she demonstrated that TRAP had an important role in the growth and development of bones and in the maintenance of the adult skeleton. In 2000 Alison was appointed Lecturer in Connective Tissue Biology in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at the University of Bris
Student - Sarah Leaneys image
Sarah Leaney
Lecturer
Coming soon.
Student - Vicki Moths image
Vicki Moth
Technical Demonstrator in Science
I have a BSc Hons degree in Food Technology from Reading University. I went to work for Yeo Valley as a graduate and stayed for 19 years. I worked in lots of different roles at Yeo Valley: Packing Hall Supervisor, Product Development Technologist, Technical Projects Technologist, and finally as the company Packaging Technologist . After unfortunately being made redundant had to have a career rethink so decided to go into education as a Design & Technology Technician at Broadoak Academy supporting Food Technology and Textiles Technology, I did that for 6 years before getting current role as Higher Education Science Technician at UCW in 2018. I was promoted to the role of Technical Demonstrator in 2022.
    Student Spotlight
    Meet our team
    Student - Beth Normans image
    Beth Norman
    Programme Co-ordinator - Biological Laboratory Sciences
    Read more...
    Student - Alison Haymans image
    Alison Hayman
    Lecturer
    Read more...
    Student - Sarah Leaneys image
    Sarah Leaney
    Lecturer
    Read more...
    Student - Vicki Moths image
    Vicki Moth
    Technical Demonstrator in Science
    Read more...
      Input your text here! The text element is intended for longform copy that could potentially include multiple paragraphs.
      Student - Beth Normans image
      Beth Norman
      Programme Co-ordinator - Biological Laboratory Sciences
      Beth Norman graduated from Cardiff University in 2011 with a BSc. in Zoology and immediately progressed onto Cardiff University's PGCE (Post-16 PCET) post-graduate degree to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. During this PGCE year, Beth was placed at Coleg Sir Gar, a further education college in South West Wales, where she was offered a permanent lecturing position once qualified. During this time, Beth taught on the Access to Higher Education course and immediately fell in love with this life-changing qualification. Beth spent the next six years within Coleg Sir Gar and became a key figure in the coordination of the course. Over two successive years, Beth had a learner win the Access to Higher Education Learner of the Year Award for the whole of Wales, with the winner of 2016/2017 going on to be runner up for the prestigious Keith Fletcher Award for Access Learner of the Year for the whole of the UK; where she delivered a speech at the Houses of Parliament. Beth's commitment to Access to Higher Education was identified by the awarding body for Access in Wales, Agored Cymru, where she became a key part of their external verification team in 2016 and later became a lead external verifier in 2017. In September 2018, Beth joined the lecturing team at Weston College to deliver
      Student - Alison Haymans image
      Alison Hayman
      Lecturer
      Alison Hayman graduated with a BSc degree in Biochemistry and Biology from the University of London (Westfield College). She undertook a CASE studentship between Queen Mary College and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and was awarded a PhD in Biochemistry in 1986. She then undertook three consecutive positions as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at 1) St George’s Hospital Medical School, London (research - purification and characterisation of the enzyme tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) from human bone tumours); 2) The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich (research – genomic cloning of chicken collagen genes); 3) The University of Cambridge (research – gene expression of TRAP using baculovirus in insect cells and the subsequent purification and crystallisation of the recombinant protein). In 1993 Alison was awarded a research fellowship from the Arthritis Research Campaign and was made a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Medicine at Cambridge. In a collaborative project she demonstrated that TRAP had an important role in the growth and development of bones and in the maintenance of the adult skeleton. In 2000 Alison was appointed Lecturer in Connective Tissue Biology in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at the University of Bris
      Student - Sarah Leaneys image
      Sarah Leaney
      Lecturer
      Coming soon.
      Student - Vicki Moths image
      Vicki Moth
      Technical Demonstrator in Science
      I have a BSc Hons degree in Food Technology from Reading University. I went to work for Yeo Valley as a graduate and stayed for 19 years. I worked in lots of different roles at Yeo Valley: Packing Hall Supervisor, Product Development Technologist, Technical Projects Technologist, and finally as the company Packaging Technologist . After unfortunately being made redundant had to have a career rethink so decided to go into education as a Design & Technology Technician at Broadoak Academy supporting Food Technology and Textiles Technology, I did that for 6 years before getting current role as Higher Education Science Technician at UCW in 2018. I was promoted to the role of Technical Demonstrator in 2022.
        Meet our Team

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        This diverse course explores all aspects of biological life, from genes and cells to populations and ecosystems, and will prepare you for laboratory roles or further study on a research career pathway.

        Discover the biological principles that govern the world today. Within this programme you will explore the molecular basis of cell structure and biochemistry, human physiology and pathogenesis, and current ecological aspects that impact society.

        The course provides both the academic and practical skills needed for working within the industry; including cloning, PCR, forensic analysis of substances and immunological essays.

        You will also undertake nutritional, chemical and microbiological analysis of food, air, soil and water, as well as carrying out DNA and protein analysis and other molecular biology and microbiological techniques.

        Available courses