Biomedical Science (with Foundation Year)

Whether it's investigating a type of cancer or understanding the cause of food poisoning, biomedical scientists play a crucial role in diagnosing disease and evaluating effective treatment.

Doctors make decisions based on the results of tests carried out by biomedical scientists in the pathology laboratory, while patients benefit from their experience and expertise. Without their skills, key hospital departments such as Accident and Emergency couldn't operate effectively.

Our course offers an in-depth understanding of the causes of disease and the practical ways in which they can be investigated in the laboratory. These are the fundamental areas of knowledge that you'll need as a biomedical scientist.

Course Leader Dr Claudio Scotti believes the popularity of the course is because it's "broad-based". It's ideal for students who want to make a career in bioscience but have not yet decided in exactly what area to specialise.

The course, which offers extensive laboratory training, shares a common first year with other bioscience degrees, so you'll have the option to switch to a similar degree course at the end of your first year if you wish.

The course is also available with a year-long work placement between years two and three. If you choose this option, you'll have the chance to spend your third year working in a laboratory, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for a BSc degree, you have the option of taking an extended, four-year version of this course. You'll take a bioscience foundation year which will prepare you for the BSc degree.

Foundation Year: Essential Skills for Higher Education (Mental Wealth) (Core), Essential Maths & ICT (Core), Career & Professional Skills (Mental Wealth) (Core), Human Biology (Core), Introduction to the Study of Cells (Core), Chemistry of Life (Core)

Year 1: Professional Practice in Science (Mental Wealth) (Core), Essential Chemistry (Core), Cell Biology (Core), Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Core), Fundamentals in Human Anatomy and Physiology (Core), Fundamentals in Microbiology (Core), Level 4 Short Work Placement (Optional)

Year 2: Human Disease and Clinical Practice (Core), Molecular Biology & Genetics (Core), Infection & Immunity (Core), Cellular Biochemistry (Core), Haematology and Transfusion Science (Core), Research & Career Development - Mental Wealth (Core), Level 5 Short Work Placement (Optional), Year Long Placement (Sandwich Year) (Optional)

Year 3: Clinical Biochemistry (Core), Medical Microbiology (Core), Cellular Pathology (Core), Clinical Immunology (Core), Clinical Genetics (Core), Research Project and Career Enhancement Portfolio (Mental Wealth) (Core), Level 6 Short Work Placement (Optional)

For more information about individual modules, please visit our course pages via the link below.

We'll assess you with a mixture of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, research reports, group and seminar presentations and a final-year project. Most of the assessment in your first year is by coursework and we'll give you as much feedback as possible.

In your third year, you'll either take five core modules or undertake a work placement. We'll assess you accordingly.

Year 1 - 58% Portfolio/Coursework, 42% Laboratory/Practical/ICT
Year 2 - 42% Written Exam/Timed Assessment, 33% Portfolio/Coursework, 25% Laboratory/Practical/ICT
Year 3 - 42% Written Exam/Timed Assessment, 33% Laboratory/Practical/ICT, 17% Portfolio/Coursework, 8% Case Study/PBL
You'll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 14 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face to face assessments.