Swansea University

What you'll study

This programme gives a comprehensive grounding in the principles and practice of human and medical genetics. In early years you study core biological and molecular subjects such as cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry and human physiology to build the laboratory and theoretical foundations required for genetics.

• Core genetics and genomics: fundamentals of Mendelian and non‑Mendelian inheritance, population genetics, genome structure and function, and comparative genomics.
• Molecular and laboratory techniques: practical training in PCR, DNA sequencing concepts, gel electrophoresis, basic bioinformatics, and laboratory quality and safety.
• Human disease and clinical genetics: genetic contributions to inherited disorders, cancer genetics, prenatal genetics and the integration of genomic tests into clinical pathways.
• Bioinformatics and data analysis: sequence analysis, variant interpretation, use of genomic databases and statistical approaches to genetic data.
• Advanced and specialist options: epigenetics, pharmacogenomics, population and public health genetics, and ethical, legal and social implications of genetic technologies.
• Research project or dissertation: an independent, staff‑supervised research project in the final year that typically involves laboratory or computational work and develops research skills and scientific communication.

The course is delivered through lectures, small‑group tutorials, practical laboratory sessions and supervised research. Opportunities exist for work placements or collaborative projects with NHS clinical teams and research groups within the university, and for developing transferable skills such as scientific writing, data handling and presentation.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have a strong secondary school science background. Typical entry expectations include successful completion of A‑levels (or equivalent) with science subjects emphasising Biology and Chemistry, or a recognised science access course. The university also considers applicants with BTEC, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate and other international qualifications; specific offers vary by year and applicant profile.

• Essential subjects: Biology is usually required; Chemistry is strongly preferred or required depending on the applicant’s qualification route.
• GCSEs/equivalents: passes in English and Mathematics are normally expected.
• Mature applicants and those with vocational qualifications are welcome; relevant practical experience and a personal statement demonstrating motivation for genetics study are important.
• All offers are conditional on meeting academic criteria; applicants invited to interview or assessment may be asked to demonstrate problem‑solving and numeracy skills relevant to the course.

Some course activities may require health checks or compliance with health and safety requirements for laboratory work. If you intend to work in clinical environments later in your career, additional checks such as occupational health screening and criminal record checks may be required by employers.

Career prospects

Graduates leave with practical laboratory experience, bioinformatics awareness and an understanding of how genetics is applied in healthcare and research. Career paths commonly followed by graduates include:

• Scientific or technical roles in diagnostic laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
• Research assistant positions in university, NHS or industry research groups, often leading to postgraduate study (MSc or PhD) in genomics, molecular medicine or related fields.
• Further professional training towards roles such as clinical scientist, genetic counsellor or molecular pathologist (these typically require postgraduate qualifications and statutory registration where applicable).
• Careers in public health, health data science, variant interpretation, regulatory affairs, scientific publishing, education and science communication.
• Commercial roles in sales or technical support for life‑science companies, and roles in bioinformatics and computational genomics following additional training.

The combination of laboratory skills, data handling and contextual clinical knowledge makes graduates attractive to employers in both the public and private sectors or well prepared for continued academic training.

Why study at Swansea University

Swansea offers an environment where medical and biomedical teaching is closely linked to research and clinical practice. The programme benefits from the university’s medical and health research strengths and collaborations with local NHS services, providing students with access to staff working on contemporary problems in human genetics and genomics.

• Research‑led teaching: modules are informed by current research across molecular genetics, genomics and translational medicine.
• Practical facilities: students receive hands‑on training in university laboratories and access computational resources for bioinformatics and data analysis.
• Clinical links: connections with regional healthcare services help contextualise clinical genetics and may provide opportunities for applied projects.
• Supportive campus: students benefit from personalised teaching in relatively small cohorts, academic support services and careers guidance targeted at bioscience graduates.

Together these features provide a solid foundation for students aiming to enter laboratory, clinical or research careers, or to continue into specialised postgraduate training in genetics and genomics.