Are you interested in science? Are you interested in the ways that one protects against infection? How do microbes impact both positively and negatively on health? Would you like to learn more about the inner workings of cells, how they are built, communicate and divide? Are you interested in using this knowledge to develop new strategies for new drugs? If so, the Biosciences degree at UL might be for you.

The Biosciences degree combines studies of cell biology, molecular biology and immunology with a focus on molecular medicine. Ireland is one of the leading international locations for the life sciences industry, spanning biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices and biotechnology, and the degree is designed to align with these areas. The course includes specialized lectures by members of the external Biofarma community that provide students with a more advanced insight into this exciting field. Modules in Law or Computer Science. In your final year you will undertake a project on a topic related to an aspect of sport and exercise science.

The main modules include:

Microbiology and Immunology: An introduction to the components of microorganisms and the host immune system and how they interact.

Cell communication and regulation: covers the basic cell structure, the principles of the cell cycle and cell division, the control of living processes through genetic mechanisms, and cellular communication systems.

Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Immune System: Examines the principles of self-recognition and non-self-recognition and how these mechanisms are involved in immunity and how aberrant self-regulation contributes to allergy and autoimmunity.

Current trends in biotechnology and regenerative medicine: presents concepts such as ‘cell-on-a-chip’ technologies, tissue regeneration, new drugs, and new molecular analysis techniques.

Pharmacology and Drug Development – Introduces the biology behind drug targeting, drug detection techniques, and different classes of drugs, including protein-based drugs.

Mechanisms of Cancer, Therapeutics, and Molecular Medicine – Examines cell cycle controls in relation to cancer biology and the use of modern molecular technologies to combat cancer and other diseases.

Advanced Cellular and Molecular Biology: Examination of cellular structures (organelles, cytoskeleton, molecular motors), key cellular processes (trafficking, motility, apoptosis), organism systems biology, and extraction of significant data from large data sets.

Host Microbe Interactions – Presents the key strategies that microbes use to establish both beneficial and non-beneficial interactions with the host and the impact of these on health.