BSc Biomedical Informatics (based in China)

This programme is an exciting exploration of the application of biomedical informatics in human health and disease.

Year 1

Year 1 provides an introduction to biomedical informatics. You will develop key knowledge and skills in:

• biomedical sciences
• cell biology
• molecular biology

You will also study key topics in:

• mathematics
• statistics
• chemistry

Your Year 1 courses include opportunities to develop graduate attributes and autonomous learning skills, including:

• information gathering
• academic writing
• reflective practice
• managing and documenting computational projects

You will take the following compulsory courses:

• Integrative Biomedical Sciences 1
• Introduction to Biomedical Informatics 1
• Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology 1
• Chemistry
• Advanced Mathematics

Year 2

In Year 2, the focus is on building foundational knowledge in biomedical informatics and data science. You will also study aspects of:

• physiology
• genetics
• genomics
• proteomics

You will take the following compulsory courses:

• Integrated Function of Body Systems 2
• Biomedical Genetics 2
• Genomics and Proteomics 2
• Applied Data Science 2
• Database and Software Technology 2

Year 3

Year 3 is an exciting exploration of the application of biomedical informatics to biomedical sciences. You will further your development by learning from experiments in key areas.

You will:

• explore computational and systems biology approaches
• build an understanding of human disease through biomedical informatics approaches

You will take the following compulsory courses:

• Integrative Biomedical Sciences 3
• Biomedical Informatics 3
• Computational Biology and Systems Biology 3

Plus two optional courses from the following:

• Principles of Neuroscience 3* Molecular Biology and Epigenetics 3
• Endocrine and Reproductive Biology 3
• Infection 3

Year 4

In Year 4, you will focus on key compulsory courses and your chosen option courses in biomedical informatics.

This will include a project where you will apply biomedical informatics approaches to a research question.

You will take the following compulsory courses in Year 4:

• Integrative Biomedical Sciences 4
• Biomedical Informatics Project Preview
• Biomedical Informatics Research Project
• Future Perspectives 4

Plus two optional courses from the following:

• Biomedical Image Analysis
• Brain, Cognition and Artificial Intelligence
• Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases
• Cancer Biology
• Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

Our facilities

Your studies will take place in state-of-the-art facilities at the Zhejiang University International Campus.

Situated in Haining, China, between Hangzhou and Shanghai, the campus has students from more than 50 countries.

It features:

• newly built and well-equipped spaces for teaching and learning
• newly-built, well-equipped research and teaching laboratories
• on-site accommodation
• extensive library and sporting facilities

How will I learn?

Your development in Biomedical Informatics, and as an individual, is fostered through:

• lectures and tutorials that teach biomedical informatics knowledge and its underlying scientific principles
• problem-based learning that encourages an analytical and interpretative approach to problem-solving
• practical skills in building tools to manage and analyse biological and biomedical data
• research in practice that builds an understanding of the research methodologies governing the quantification, analysis and interpretation of scientific data

How will I be assessed?

We use in-course assessments and exams in all years.

Assessment can take the form of:

• individual or group projects
• presentations
• written submissions such as essays
• timed coding challenges
• degree examinations

Your degree classification for your University of Edinburgh degree will be based on your performance in Years 3 and 4.

Your degree classification for your Zhejiang University degree will be based on your performance over the four years of the programme.

Graduates with a Biomedical Informatics dual award from the University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University will have attributes that are valued in all biomedical disciplines.

Skills that will have a positive influence on your career development include:

• the ability to think critically about the scientific basis of bioinformatics and biomedical sciences in relation to clinical practice
• research training, with an emphasis on analytical and scientific skills

Careers for graduates include:

• laboratory research
• disease diagnosis
• the pharmaceutical industry
• scientific publishing

The skills and knowledge you will gain on this programme also equip you for employment in the non-science sector, including:

• teaching
• marketing
• accountancy
• policy research

Applications and admissions for Chinese nationals will be through the usual Chinese national university admission process.

International applicants (non-Chinese passport holders)

These are the requirements that students must have (or be predicted to attain) to be considered for entry. Each year there is a specific number of places available and where the number of applicants exceeds the number of places then a selection process based on academic achievement, personal statement and references will be used. Meeting the entry requirement does not guarantee a place on the programme.

SQA Highers: AABB by end of S5 or AAAB by end of S6, to include Biology and Chemistry at B. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Higher Mathematics or Physics and Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry are recommended. National 5s: Mathematics at B and English at C.

A levels: AAB, in one year, to include Biology and Chemistry at B. Mathematics or Physics is recommended. GCSEs: Mathematics at B or 6 and English at C or 4.

IB: 34 points with 655 at HL to include Biology and Chemistry, one at 5 and one at 6. Mathematics or Physics is recommended. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics: Analysis and approaches or Mathematics: Applications and interpretation at 5.

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.*

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

English language requirements

(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 59 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Additional costs

You will be responsible for the cost of your accommodation and living expenses on the International Campus of Zhejiang University in Haining, China.

Fees and scholarships

You can find information about fees and scholarships for this programme on the ZJU-UoE Institute website:

ZJU-UoE Institute - fees and scholarships

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• ZJE International Admissions Team
• Email: zje_apply@zju.edu.cn
• Phone: (+86) 0571-87572810
• Web: BSc Biomedical Informatics (based in China) website