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Biomedical Science BSc (Hons)

This IBMS accredited course focusses on training students in one of the fastest developing areas of science, which underpins much of modern medicine. Students are prepared with a detailed understanding of science in healthcare, covering the application and understanding of techniques used to diagnose complex diseases in clinical and research laboratories.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Douglas Gray, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader, talks about the benefits of studying Biomedical Science at 51Âþ»­.

Biomedical Science staff are key members of healthcare – 70% of diagnoses in the NHS are based on pathology results provided by scientists in the lab. As a Biomedical Science student, you will explore the cutting-edge application of scientific investigation to human health.

A rapidly evolving and growing field, you will study and research a range of biomedical topics from organs systems and disease, right down to molecular biology. Throughout the course, you will explore the analytical skills needed for research and investigation, develop an understanding of the role biomedical science plays in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, and apply your knowledge and practical skills to a variety of clinical lab settings.

You will study key healthcare topics, such as infectious disease, cancer, and heart disease, building towards the final year, where we focus on clinical laboratory specialists, informed by current working professionals. Students also complete independent research projects in areas they are interested in, supported by leading academics in topics ranging from Alzheimer’s to Zika virus.

Students also have the option to undertake an additional placement year in a clinical or industry laboratory. As we are an IBMS accredited course, completing a clinical lab placement enables students to gain the necessary registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is a requirement to become an NHS Biomedical Scientist.

A Biomedical Science degree is highly sought after in NHS clinical laboratories, research institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, as well as an ever-expanding range of healthcare related professions. 

Key features

  • This course is professionally accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
  • You can become eligible to apply to the HCPC Register, by completing an HCPC approved Certificate of Competence portfolio with the IBMS, (this can be completed as part of your optional placement year).
  • You will study a wide range of current and cutting-edge topics in Biomedical Science, including anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology and the analytical skills of modern biomedical science.
  • Gain industry experience during an optional placement year. Our students have worked in a number of NHS laboratories, as well as in research laboratories at organisations including the London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine and Public Health England, even working internationally.
  • Our Health and Life Sciences facilities have received substantial investment – Biomedical Science students will benefit greatly from recently refurbished teaching laboratory space, with attached cell culture facilities.
  • Our students benefit from an international experience through our  programme, which has seen students conducting Biomedical Science workshops on topics including malaria, sickle cell disease, and diabetes to school students in Zimbabwe and Bermuda.
  • Our graduates have gone on to work in diagnostic laboratories in both the public and private sectors, NHS laboratories, research institutions and the biotechnology industry, in roles as biomedical scientists, laboratory assistants, associate practitioners, pharmacology technicians and more.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.
  • The Biomedical Science BSc programme has a large and diversely skilled teaching team. Specialist areas of research expertise include cancer, immunology, genetics, toxicology, microbiology, chemical synthesis and drug design, musculoskeletal biology and medical physics. 

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: B940

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement. 

Location: 51Âþ»­ Leicester UK

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Additional costs: You may incur  for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

 

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: B940

Start date: September

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement.

Location: 51Âþ»­ Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

 

Additional costs: You may incur  for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Biomedical Science news

Entry criteria

GCSE

  • Five GSCEs at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English

Plus, one of the following: 

A-Level 

  • A minimum of 120 UCAS points from at least two A levels. One A level must be at grade C or above in either Biology, Chemistry or Human Biology

T Levels

Merit in Science (with optional module in Laboratory Science only)

BTEC

  • BTEC National Diploma Science - Distinction/ Distinction/ Merit
  • BTEC Extended Diploma Science - Distinction/ Distinction/ Merit

Alternative qualifications include:

Access to HE Diploma

  • 122 UCAS Tariff Access to HE Diploma ‘Science’ with Distinctions in science specific modules not in generic learning modules.

English and Maths GCSE required at grade 4 (C) or above as separate qualifications

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

International Baccalaureate: 28+ with six higher level points in Chemistry or Biology

Interview: No

Work experience: No 

Personal statement selection criteria

  • Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
  • Information relevant to the course applied for
  • Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence
  • If relevant for the course - work and life experience

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

 

UCAS Tariff changes

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

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Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise and accreditation 

 

 

Year 1

Year 1 provides students with the fundamental framework of biomedical science in human health.

  • Block 1: Professional & Practical Skills
  • Block 2: Chemistry & Biochemistry
  • Block 3: Anatomy & Physiology
  • Block 4: Microbiology

Year 2

Building on the topics from first year, in second year students start to appreciate the deeper complexities of biomedical science, exploring state-of-the-art research techniques and the role of biomedical science in diagnosis, preventing, and treating disease.

  • Block 1: Genetics & Molecular Pathology
  • Block 2: Emerging Techniques
  • Block 3: Organ Systems Physiology
  • Block 4: Human Health & Immunity

Optional Sandwich Placement Year

Students may apply for a supervised placement in a clinical, industry, or research laboratory, to gain valuable work experience, or (clinical labs only) to complete their IBMS training portfolio to become eligible for later HCPC registration.

Third Year

In third year, modules are designed in line with the clinical specialties of biomedical science laboratories, allowing students to combine and apply their knowledge with real-world relevance.

  • Block 1: Research Projects
  • Block 2: Blood Science
  • Block 3: Infection & Immunity Sciences
  • Block 4: Cell Sciences

See detailed module information  


Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching

You will benefit from teaching methods including:

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Seminars
  • Computer-based learning
  • Extensive laboratory-based work

Each module will be taught over a 7-week period, allowing you to focus on one topic at a time, before building on the next topic sequentially.

Each module will include its own schedule of taught sessions including lectures, tutorials, and workshops, practical sessions in the lab, and time for your own independent study.

Assessment

Each topic or module will have a main assessment at the end of the module block. Assessments are based on real-world application of your skills, to try and best prepare you for the world of work, and include portfolios, presentations, case studies, lab reports, research papers, as well as quizzes and exams.

Programme Study

The accredited programme of study is usually taken over three years with an opportunity to spend an additional year (between years 2 and 3) either in industry or in an NHS laboratory.

Students pursue their own research interests in a final year project working closely with staff at the university, or out on project placements, for example in local hospital laboratories.

A subsequent MSc in Advanced Biomedical Science programme is available for BSc graduates or for experienced biomedical scientists covering major pathology specialities who require a postgraduate qualification for career advancement.

Teaching Hours

Contact hours in a typical week will depend to some extent on the optional modules you choose to study. However, typically you will have up to 20 contact hours of teaching and this will break down as:

Personal tutorial/small group teaching: approx. 6 hours of tutorials (or later in the year, project supervision) each week.

Medium group teaching: approx. 6 hours of practical classes, workshops or seminars each week.

Large group teaching: approx. 8 hours of lectures each week.

Personal study: approx. 15 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using hand-outs, online activities, etc.

Academic expertise 

The Biomedical Science BSc programme has a large and diversely skilled teaching team, whose expertise spans all areas of biomedical science. Specialist areas of research expertise include cancer, immunology, genetics, toxicology, microbiology, chemical synthesis and drug design, musculoskeletal biology and medical physics. Staff are very research active, which directly informs many aspects of your teaching at UG and PG level. 

Accreditation 

The Biomedical Science BSc programme is accredited by the .

IBMSlogo

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Hawthorn Building

The Hawthorn Building's teaching and learning facilities have had substantial investment to help students gain practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom. 

Biomedical Science students benefit from recently refurbished teaching laboratory space, including attached cell culture facilities. Later in the course, students will also access research laboratory spaces when conducting their final year research projects. 

 

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our , e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, 51Âþ»­ Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live , online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our , and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘51Âþ»­ Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

51Âþ»­'s award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities 51Âþ»­ Careers Team
Biomedical Placements

Placements

Students on the course benefit from a dedicated placements team, as well as having the opportunity to apply for funded summer projects and work experience.

You will have the opportunity to complete a paid placement which offers invaluable professional experience. Placements are typically provided by the NHS at an approved NHS pathology centre, or a research or industrial laboratory.

Previous opportunities have included placements with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Public Health England, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London

Our Careers Team can help you secure a placement through activities such as mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and you will be assigned a personal tutor to support you throughout your placement.

Biomedical Graduate

Graduate careers

Our graduates are highly sought-after by NHS pathology centres and have gone on to work in diagnostic laboratories in both the public and private sectors, as well as research institutions for a research career or PhD study, and the biotechnology industry in roles such as biomedical scientist, laboratory assistant, associate practitioner and pharmacology technician.

Vivian Nwagboso landed a role as a biomedical scientist at Hull Royal Infirmary after graduating. She credits the course’s professional accreditation with helping her land a placement, which in turn contributed to her securing a full-time job.

She said: “I am very grateful to 51Âþ»­ for opportunities to develop so many transferable skills. It was unbelievable that I got a job even before writing my final exams.”

You can also pursue a range of postgraduate courses which offer opportunities to build your skills and enhance your knowledge, including our Advanced Biomedical Science MSc and Physician Associate Studies MSc courses.

To help students prepare for specific careers choices, not only do we have a professional careers team, careers conferences, and employment talks, but an initiative where alumni give their advice for students following in their footsteps, including students who have gone on to postgraduate medicine and dentistry, research, and clinical laboratory careers.

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51Âþ»­ Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through , we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Students on this course have previosuly undertaken 51Âþ»­ Global trips to places such as Kentucky in American, where they helped to raise awareness of type 2 diabetes, and Bermuda, where they taught science to schoolchildren.

 

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