Human Biology with a Foundation Year

Human Biology is the scientific study of the human organism in all its complexity, examining the structure, function, development, genetics, and evolution of the human body and the biological systems that sustain life. It is a discipline that sits between the broader biological sciences and the more clinically focused health sciences, drawing on anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology to build an integrated understanding of what it means to be human at the biological level. This broad scientific grounding prepares graduates for careers at the intersection of biological science, healthcare, and research.

At Loughborough University, this four-year full-time programme with a foundation year is designed primarily for students who have not studied the prerequisite subjects for direct entry into the first year of the degree, including mature students returning to education, care leavers, and students whose circumstances, including sporting commitments, have affected their academic preparation. The foundation year provides the biological, chemical, and mathematical foundations needed for degree-level human biology study, after which you engage with the full honours curriculum covering physiology, genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience, developmental biology, and human disease. Loughborough's strong research environment and its tradition of producing employable graduates ensure that the programme is closely connected to professional and scientific practice.

Graduates of Human Biology programmes work in healthcare science, biomedical research, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, public health, science education, clinical research, and the life sciences sector more broadly. Many pursue postgraduate study in medicine, physiotherapy, physician associate training, pharmacy, or specialist areas of biological science. The breadth of biological knowledge the degree provides makes it a genuinely flexible foundation for a wide range of further training and professional development.