This qualification is a new OCR Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification (AAQ). The course can be studied alongside A levels and other AAQ qualifications, especially in areas such as Psychology, Sport and Health and Social Care.

This qualification enhances studies with the application of knowledge to real-life contexts and includes:

• Fundamentals of Human Biology – covering biological principles including cells, tissues, biological molecules and how this enables organs and their systems to function. It also includes laboratory investigations in microbiology
• Diagnosis and Treatments of diseases – focusing on physiological disorders and communicable diseases, the impact that they have, how they are diagnosed and treated
• Nutrition and metabolism – Researching areas such as dietary needs of different individuals and the health issues associated with poor diet, metabolic pathways, as well as some of the techniques used to diagnose, monitor and treat nutritional disorders
• Genetics – Discovering genetics and inheritance, particularly in relation to genetic disorders. And the emerging roles of genetic testing to prevent or cure inherited disorders