This course reflects aspects of employment within professional science
organisations such as quality control laboratories, research and development,
biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry. It includes components of each of
the three science disciplines and as such enables students to progress onto
further study, high-level apprenticeships, or employment in any of these
sectors. Studying Level 3 Applied Science will provide you with many
transferrable skills and enhance your ability to be analytical, work practically
and communicate effectively.
Successful completion of this course will result in the awarding of a BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science, equivalent in UCAS points to 3 A
level qualifications. Thus, this qualification provides a platform for entry on
to a wide variety of university courses.
The course builds on knowledge and skills gained at GCSE level, extending
them to Level 3, enabling you to develop practical scientific skills in the
context of a variety of scientific investigations. Students of Level 3 Applied
Science develop wide-ranging skills such as report writing, research methods,
planning and risk assessing practical activities. The course is taught using
real-world contexts, making the content both relevant and interesting to study.
Assessment is achieved via a mixture of on-going portfolio-based assignment work
and formal examinations to test your knowledge and understanding of the topic
areas.
A great variety of opportunities are on offer in conjunction with this
course. You will get to work with experts and professionals in different fields
of Science and Medicine to produce resources used in ‘real life science’. You
will have opportunities to go on trips and visits to laboratory and
industry-based settings to see how the science and skills you are learning is
applied in these environments.
You will have the opportunity to partake in a diverse range of investigative
techniques including dissections and microbiological techniques, and you will
devise a project of your choice. In Chemistry, you will undertake analytical
chemistry techniques and organic synthesis and Physics will give you experience
in a wide range of specialist investigations. There is also the opportunity to
steer your course down the Biomedical Science route by selecting optional units
in the second year which focus on physiology, endocrinology and reproductive
biology.
