HUMAN BIOLOGY at Canterbury Christ Church University

This exciting area of the sciences is at the core of a rapidly expanding sector. The programme can accommodate a range of career aspirations and gives you the opportunity to participate in specialist training to meet your individual career aspirations.

You will be taught by experts who have been recognised for their high quality teaching, ensuring that you are studying up-to-date and relevant material. You will also enhance your practical skills by undertaking a significant amount of laboratory work as part of the programme.

You will explore areas including:

• human anatomy and physiology
• human health and disease
• human genetics
• sport and exercise training

Why Human Biology?

Human Biology represents a modern degree programme with strong components of Life Sciences that are underpinned by fundamental biology and integrated with aspects of Sports Science. This exciting area of the sciences is at the core of a rapidly expanding sector, making it an excellent choice for those wishing to pursue a career in scientific research or healthcare.

The programme at CCCU offers students the opportunity to receive interdisciplinary expert research informed and involved teaching in a variety of core topics specifically relevant to human form, function and disease. Students will learn how to apply a theoretical scientific knowledge base to active research areas that address contemporary challenges in society and will enhance their practical skills by undertaking a significant amount of laboratory work as part of the programme. Course content will be taught by staff that are recognised for their delivery of high quality teaching through a Team Award in the University Teaching and Excellence award scheme.

Furthermore, the course will include guest lectures and seminars delivered by professionals in the scientific and healthcare industry. Students will work alongside a number of industrial collaborators at the forefront of scientific research as part of their study through the Life Sciences Industry Liaison Laboratory at Discovery Park. This is an exciting and unique feature of the Human Biology programme that is only available to Life Sciences students at CCCU.

What will i study?

At level 4 you will study core subjects including biochemistry, evolution and genetics, human anatomy and physiology, sport and exercise physiology, microbiology and human health. These provide a firm grounding in scientific knowledge and laboratory skills in addition to analytical skills and a knowledge of statistics.

At level 5 you will deepen your knowledge of statistics and experimental analysis, and you will develop a knowledge of molecular biology. You will study nutrition, anatomy and physiology and human diseases and have the option to study human genetics or sport and exercise training. This flexibility will enable you to focus your learning in order to pursue your own individual interests and career aspirations. In addition, there is an optional work placement module that will enable you to gain valuable work experience within a relevant employment sector.

What can i do next?

Graduates can use their training to pursue a range of career opportunities including academic or industrial research, project management, scientific communication, pharmaceutical product design and manufacture, healthcare and sports healthcare.

Graduates have the option to take on further study through taught or research postgraduate training including MSc by research or MPhil/Ph.D., or a postgraduate diploma in Physician Associate Studies enabling advanced training for a career in clinical healthcare.

In addition to these, postgraduate entry into Medicine or the Scientific Training Programme (STP) is available to those who wish to pursue a career in healthcare or sport and exercise medicine.