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SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES
Human Sciences Why study Human Sciences at King’s? There are very few UK university degree programmes that offer this fully integrated approach to the study of the human being. The Department of Anatomy & Human Sciences has an excellent reputation for both teaching and research. The department’s anatomy programmes were ranked sixth in the UK by the Times Good University Guide 2009.
‘I feel extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to do human dissection – even medical students at many other UK universities aren’t given this opportunity.’ Shahvana Hussain Human Sciences BSc
Situated in the well-equipped and attractive Guy’s Campus, the department houses a number of world-renowned research groups, and attracts substantial grant income. Research effort is being directed into aspects of human development, including control of cell proliferation and regulation of the cell cycle (which is especially important in cancer research). Other areas under investigation include mechanisms that underlie development and differentiation in the limbs. Research is also contributing to our understanding of the nervous system including memory, learning, stress, reproduction, circadian rhythms and social behaviour, and the nature of the central nervous clock. Staff expertise is reflected in the variety of modules offered.
Teaching style A mixture of teaching styles is used, including lectures, tutorials and practical classes. Staff research strengths lie particularly in developmental biology and neuroscience, and this emphasis is reflected in our teaching.
Structure of programme and assessment
CONTACTS ADDRESS Student Admissions Office King’s College London, Hodgkin Building Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL CONTACT Student Admissions Office EMAIL guysadmissions@kcl.ac.uk TEL 020 7848 6511 FAX 020 7848 6510 WEBSITE www.kcl.ac.uk/biohealth PROFILE Students admitted: 45 Applicants per place: 4 Teaching staff: 22 Find full descriptions of the structure and content of all our programmes at www.kcl.ac.uk/ugp
Our degree programme encourages students to explore and to integrate the biological and behavioural sciences; the aim being to appreciate how they contribute to our understanding of the evolution, structure, function, development and behaviour of our own species. To achieve this aim, our programme involves study of the core biological and medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, genetics, biochemistry, pharmacology, evolutionary and developmental biology). After studying the core subjects in the first year, students can opt for a wider range of options in the second and third years. Second-year compulsory subjects include Structural Basis of Human Function, a chance to learn human anatomy by dissection (an opportunity which is not available at all universities which teach human sciences, even those with medical schools). Students can also choose from a wide variety of optional modules. In the third year, students
complete a compulsory library or experimental project, and choose from a further range of optional modules, dependent on the pathway selected.
Selection procedure Applicants who receive a conditional or unconditional offer are invited to attend an open day in the spring to find out more about the programme, the campus and the College.
Career prospects and graduate destinations The career market for our graduates is buoyant, with an extraordinary range of final destinations, ranging from PhD and MSc programmes, management training, scientific journalism and publishing, forensic science, the scientific civil service as well as health service administration. Each year a substantial number of our graduates are also accepted onto five-year or accelerated programmes for medicine and dentistry.
Recent graduates have found employment as…. • Researcher (NHS) • Emergency Medical Dispatcher (London Ambulance Service) • Management Analyst (Corporate Executive Board) • Production Editor (Independent publishing company) • Laboratory Attendant (Forensic Science Service)
Degree programme SINGLE HONOURS Human Sciences BSc UCAS Code B150 Study mode Full time Duration Three years Location Guy’s Campus Entry requirements See box The common first year provides a foundation for subsequent years. In year two, students take three core modules including Structural Basis of Human Function – human anatomy by dissection. In addition, students choose module options from the School of Biomedical & Health Sciences. All final year students must do a library and/or a laboratory-based experimental project.