Biomedical Science / Applied Biomedical Science BSc (Hons)

Key contributors to modern healthcare, biomedical scientists play a vital role in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease, monitoring treatments and developing advanced diagnostic tools or novel therapeutic strategies.

Accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), which is required for practice within the National Health Service (NHS), this broad-based Biomedical Science degree integrates a wide range of subjects to promote the understanding of how the human body works and the biology of disease. You will also have the opportunity to develop essential skills and knowledge in laboratory management.

The academic content of both the Biomedical Science and Applied Biomedical Science BSc degrees is the same. All students are initially enrolled onto the IBMS accredited Biomedical Science degree. However if you complete a one year placement* in an approved laboratory between years 2 and 3 you will transfer to Applied Biomedical Science. On the Applied Biomedical Science degree you will have the opportunity to complete all the necessary requirements for registration during your course and will be eligible to apply for HCPC registration as soon as you graduate and hence will be eligible to immediately apply for Biomedical Science posts.

Our state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building features a suite of analytical and biological laboratories where you can gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge industry techniques.

*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

A Level	BBB to include Biology. Excludes General Studies.
BTEC	DDM in the BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in a Biology or Science related subject.
IB Diploma	30-32 points to include a minimum of grade 5 in Biology at Higher Level.
GCSE requirement	Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 9-4 / A*-C including English Language, Mathematics and two Sciences.

IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area). If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

These courses aim to prepare you for professional practice within the National Health Service (NHS) or private sector as registered Biomedical Scientists and a range of other careers including research. It is also possible to use your qualifications to help you further your studies and progress into teaching in schools, colleges or universities.

We have excellent links with local employers and are actively involved in liaison with laboratory managers, training officers and other universities via the West Midlands Biomedical Science Training and Workforce Planning Group and the West Midlands regional training committee (South).

On successful completion of the Biomedical Science Degree, without a training placement, you can apply for Trainee Biomedical Science posts to enter into NHS Health Care Scientist registration training programmes, for which you will typically undergo one to two years of further training to obtain an IBMS certificate of competence so that you can apply for HCPC registration, a legal requirement for anyone who wishes to practice using a title protected by the HCPC.

Successful completion of the NHS Placement year however allows you to have an Applied Biomedical Science Degree. There is also the route for a sandwich placement where the IBMS Competence portfolio is managed externally by an approved laboratory. These too can lead directly to HCPC registration. In this situation the degree will be named as a BSc Biomedical Science with a Sandwich Placement, not Applied Biomedical Science.

The scientific knowledge and skills you acquire during the course can be a useful basis for a career in: teaching; technical and scientific writing (such as medical writing or writing for the media); clinical trials; drug registration, patenting or monitoring; medical publishing or other information services; regulatory affairs or sales and marketing. The course is also an excellent foundation for further postgraduate studies leading to a Master’s or PhD.