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Global Infectious Disease BSc (Hons)

UCAS code: B911

Join the global effort in preventing, controlling and eradicating infectious diseases on the only degree in the UK to be delivered in partnership with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, a world-leader in infectious disease research.

Overview

Course length: 3 years full-time
Start dates: October 2026
Location: Edge Hill University
and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place
Example offers:

BBC – BBB (A Level) or DMM (BTEC)

View full entry criteria
Subject(s): Biology and Biosciences
Faculty: Arts and Sciences
Department: Biology

COVID-19, TB, Malaria, Ebola. You can become part of a global network of academic and industry partners working in collaboration to solve infectious disease issues. This could be through drug and vaccine development, managing health programmes or vector control.

Strive for a better future for both impoverished communities and developed nations through improving human health and well-being. Working in proximity with influential researchers, you will learn in world-class laboratories.

Develop a critical understanding of infectious disease biology, whilst contributing to reducing inequalities, economic growth and the eradication of poverty. With more than a century of being at the forefront of global disease control efforts, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine partnership allows you to make use of a global commercial and academic network.

The range of optional modules available enable you to tailor your degree to reflect your career aspirations. By the end of this degree, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to explore a multitude of career opportunities.

Course features

  • Sandwich year option available

  • Studying abroad option available

  • Professional practice placements

  • Fieldwork

  • Learn a language option available

  • International students can apply

What you'll study

Year 1 of BSc (Hons) Global Infectious Disease is designed to introduce you to cell biology, genetics and the basic skills required of a biological scientist. You’ll also have the opportunity to select modules to suit your interests and career aspirations. From modules in biodiversity and ecology to those centred around human biology and chemistry, we’ll equip you with the foundations needed to prepare you for a range of careers including drug development, investigating the impact of disease on human body systems or working on natural reservoirs of disease.

Compulsory Modules:

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Biology in Practice
Genetics and Evolution
Introduction to Cell Biology

Three of:

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Ecology
Biodiversity
Chemistry for Biologists
Anatomy and Physiology
Organic Chemistry
Language 1

In Year 2, you will learn how immune systems react and combat disease infections, before gaining more in-depth knowledge of the viruses, bacteria and parasites which cause them. You will continue your training in practical skills relevant to a future career in infectious disease biology and conduct a short research project at the laboratory facilities of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, supervised by LSTM researchers. Whether you’re interested in working with animal-or insect-reservoirs of disease-causing organisms or pursuing a laboratory-based career in drug or vaccine development, our optional modules will provide you with opportunities to pursue more advanced knowledge and skills in areas that meet your specific interests and aspirations.

Compulsory Modules:

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Research Methods in Biology
Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Applied Skills in Global Infectious Disease
Pathogens and Vectors

Two of:

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Zoo Conservation and Animal Behaviour
Invertebrate Ecology
Techniques in Biochemistry
Nutrition
Molecular Genetics
Biochemistry and Metabolism
Introduction to Biotechnology
Human Genetics

In Year 3, you will propose, plan and execute an individual research project on the theme of infectious disease. This research project will be carried out at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine laboratories and supervised by LSTM researchers. You will also study advanced topics including how to manage a public health issue related to infectious disease. Module options will provide further tuition on molecular, cellular and whole-organism biology to further deepen your knowledge and skills on advanced topics beyond infectious disease biology.

Compulsory Modules:

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Research Project in Global Infectious Disease
Global Health and Infectious Disease

Two of:

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Applications of Genetics
Genomics and Bioinformatics
Pathology
Pharmacology
Epidemiology
Advanced Tissue Applications
Applications of Biotechnology
Medical Microbiology

How you'll study

You will be taught via a combination of lectures, practical work and tutorials at the Edge Hill University main campus in Ormskirk or the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine facilities in Liverpool. A typical week of study during term will involve 12 – 16 hours of face-to-face learning sessions. You will be expected to use the combined study facilities and resources of EHU and LSTM to further develop your skills and knowledge through independent study.

How you'll be assessed

You will be assessed using a combination of coursework and exams to ensure you develop a range of skills required by future employers. You will complete independent coursework tasks including practical write-ups, essays and research log books as well as addressing a real-world public heath issue, as part of a team.

Who will be teaching you

Edge Hill University and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have a long history in delivering excellent teaching in higher education. You will be taught by research academic staff members affiliated to EHU and LSTM who are all experts in their respective fields of biology. In depth topics in infectious disease biology, and the research elements of the programme, will be taught and supervised by researchers who are highly experienced in the field, using the state-of-the-art facilities at LSTM. Weekly research seminars by invited speakers will also be held during term to further expand your horizon in research and biology.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.

Entry criteria

Typical offer 112-120 UCAS Tariff points, with the required points in at least one of the following: Biology, Chemistry or Environmental Science. You will also need GCSE Mathematics and English Language at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or equivalent.

 

 

Example offers

Qualification Requirement
A Level BBC-BBB.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB) We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma 45 credits at Level 3, for example 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit or 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

Fair Entry Criteria

Our new Fair Entry Criteria is a Contextual Admissions Policy that takes an applicant’s personal and educational background into account. This policy will allow eligible applicants to receive up to a two-grade reduction in their entry requirements for this course. Find out more and see if you qualify.

How to apply

Application links for this course will be added when available.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Did you know?

If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.

Discover our accommodation

Facilities

Our BioSciences building incorporates impressive, modern laboratories, offering exciting and highly relevant practical experience in some of the best equipped facilities in the country. Resources include fluorescence and scanning electron microscopes, DNA extraction and analysis equipment, and climate controlled insectaries.

You will benefit from our brand-new ÂŁ17.4m Life Sciences building, featuring dedicated student research labs for learning advanced cell culture and histology techniques.

Where you'll study

Classroom 360 View

Finance

Tuition fees

Fees for academic year 2026/2027 are yet to be confirmed.

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional maintenance loan funding to help with living costs.

Scholarships


We offer a range of scholarships, which celebrate the determination, commitment and achievement of our students. Many of our scholarships are awarded automatically. There are some however, where you will need to be involved in an application or nomination process. To find out more about our scholarships and check your eligibility, please visit our dedicated scholarships pages.

Money Matters


Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students, together with details of how to apply for potential funding.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

Our BSc (Hons) Global Infectious Disease degree will provide a wide range of career opportunities. You may wish to pursue a career as a laboratory and data scientist involved in drug and vaccine development efforts, antimicrobial resistance monitoring, or responding to major incidents such as pandemics. The transferable skills gained on this degree would also make our graduates ideal for careers in teaching or scientific communication.

Many of our Biology and Biosciences students have chosen to progress onto postgraduate study. This could be on a Masters by Research (MRes) degree, a PhD or a post-graduate taught degree.

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