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Biomedical Science

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,C

A minimum of 112 points from 3 A levels including a C in Biology or Human Biology and at least one other science subject from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology.

Access to HE Diploma

P:45

Total of 60 credits (45 credits at Level 3 and 15 credits at Level 2) from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in science-related subject. QAA accredited course required. Passes in Level 2 Maths and Communications are required in the absence of English Language and Maths GCSEs at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

English and Mathematics Grade C/Grade 4 or above only. No equivalent qualifications accepted

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

28

A minimum of 15 points at the higher level and a minimum of 4 points in English at Maths at standard level. Must include biology and chemistry.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM

DM in Applied Science.

Scottish Higher

C,C,C,C,D,D

A minimum of 112 UCAS points, including three passes at Higher level at grade C (or above).

UCAS Tariff

112

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Part-time | 2024

Subject

Biomedical sciences

**Why study this course?**

The Biomedical Science BSc is designed to help you play a key role in identifying diseases, monitoring treatment and undertaking research into infectious diseases and other pathologies. This course gives you the academic competencies required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).

A one-year sandwich placement or two single-semester work placement modules can be undertaken to give you valuable work experience.

**More about this course**

Biomedical science transforms our understanding of health and disease. This course will put you at the cutting edge of science as you study everything from healthcare issues to research-based science, learning how disease is caused, identified and treated.

The subjects covered during the course are similar to the pre-clinical components of a medical degree, with topics including the structure and function of biological fluids, cells and tissues, and the relationship between bodily systems and health, disease and the environment.

Your study programme is designed so that core modules are delivered over two whole days per week, enabling you to juggle lectures with study and other responsibilities. Your first year will include an introduction to the key principles of biomedical science and place a heavy focus on developing the necessary laboratory skills and data manipulations. In Year 2, you’ll look at core discipline areas such as blood science, infection and tissue science. You’ll also get plenty of hands-on experience in a wide range of research techniques, such as spectrophotometry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), electrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Your third year will comprise more in-depth study of the major disciplines of biomedical science and you'll have the opportunity to specialise with an independent research project on a topic of your choosing.

Throughout the course, you’ll take practical classes in our £30 million Science Centre, which is equipped with 280 workstations and is the largest of its kind in Europe. You’ll also benefit from the guidance of our knowledgeable academic staff – many of whom are active researchers – as well as a range of external speakers working in the pathology industry who will keep you up to date with the latest biomedical developments and laboratory practices.

Modules

Module details below are subject to change. Please see the university website course page for full module details.
Year 1 modules include:

Professional Studies (core, 15 credits);
Anatomy and Physiology 1 (core, 15 credits);
Anatomy and Physiology 2 (core, 15 credits);
General Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Cell Biology (core, 15 credits);
Biochemistry (core, 15 credits);
Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (core, 15 credits);
General Microbiology (core, 15 credits)

Year 2 modules include:

Tissue Science 1 (core, 15 credits);
Tissue Science 2 (core, 15 credits);
Infection Science 1 (core, 15 credits);
Infection Science 2 (core, 15 credits);
Fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Methods of Bioanalytical Analysis (core, 15 credits);
Blood Science (core, 15 credits);
Ethics for Science (core, 15 credits);
Parasitology (option, 15 credits);
Infection control (option, 15 credits);
Work placement (for Life Sciences) (option, 15 credits)

Year 3 modules include:

Project (core, 30 credits);
Clinical Biochemistry (core, 30 credits);
Advanced Tissue Science (core, 15 credits);
Systems Pathology (core, 15 credits);
Advanced Infection Science (core, 15 credits);
Advanced Blood Science (core, 15 credits);
Virology (option, 15 credits);
Applied Immunology (option, 15 credits);
Medical Genetics (option, 15 credits);
Genomics (option, 15 credits)

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through self-diagnostic testing, debates, group work, essays and cumulative exams.

Your practical skills will be assessed through coursework assignments, including those in the final project module.

Your data handling skills will be assessed through practical reports, problem-solving exercises, information abstracting and reviewing exercises, poster presentations, exams and seminar presentations.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£17,600
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£17,600
per year
International
£17,600
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£17,600
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Holloway

Department:

School of Human Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

70%
Biomedical sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biomedical sciences (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

73%
Staff make the subject interesting
77%
Staff are good at explaining things
77%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
67%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

79%
Library resources
72%
IT resources
86%
Course specific equipment and facilities
60%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

91%
UK students
9%
International students
27%
Male students
73%
Female students
76%
2:1 or above
16%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

E
D
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biomedical sciences (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£21,909
med
Average annual salary
95%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

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Post-six month graduation stats:

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It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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