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Biomedical Science

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-B,B,C

At least a Grade C or above in a Science-based subject including Biology, Human Biology or Applied Science.

Access to HE Diploma

D:15,M:24,P:6

Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits with 45 at Level 3. Must include passes in compulsory L3 subjects

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification

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

DMM

T Level

M

T-Level in Science

UCAS Tariff

112-120

We encourage you to outline all your qualifications and achievements in your application to provide us a full picture. Your offer will typically be based on your predicted and/or achieved grades from full level 3 qualifications or above e.g. A levels, BTEC Ext Diploma, Access to HE, etc. Any subject specifics are outlined below in the Further Information section, and these specifics are applicable across all equivalent qualifications. A strong application/performance and appropriate experience will be taken into account where typical criteria is not met.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Biomedical sciences

**Place yourself at the forefront of medical research advances. Your knowledge of human disease, diagnosis and treatment will equip you for roles in the NHS, health charities and the biomedical sector.**

**KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE:**

- **ACCREDITATION:** The course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science. This degree will fast-track your journey towards registration as a biomedical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council.

- **IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE:** This course focuses on the latest advances in medical research aimed at preventing ill-health and prolonging life. We will provide you with a firm grounding in biomedical science, human anatomy and physiology, the chemistry of life, microbiology, and diagnostic molecular biology, helping you to understand the basis of human disease, diagnosis and treatment.

- **BROAD UNDERSTANDING:** As well as exploring human health and the diseases that affect the normal processes in the human body, including their diagnosis. You'll gain the skills and knowledge to understand the operation of human organisms through subjects like clinical biochemistry, clinical immunology, microbiology, clinical genetics, and cell signalling in health and disease.

- **RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:** There's a strong focus on laboratory research and you will gain first-hand experience of this from year one. You will have access to a student research laboratory and regularly get the chance to conduct scientific investigations. In your final year, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate the research skills you have amassed, with an independent study into an area of your choice.

- **FACILITIES:** Develop vital scientific skills in our newly-upgraded learning facilities. They include high-specification laboratories with modern instrumentation and specialist containment facilities for the growth and manipulation of bacteria and viruses, as well as the sequencing and characterisation of DNA. You'll use a range of analytical and biomedical equipment such as Scanning Electron Microscope, Gas Chromatography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). A Biomedical Super Lab is opening in 2025, which will give students the chance to study in an innovative, inspiring and interdisciplinary facility. The Super Lab will focus on core elements of Biomedical Science including haematology, immunology and histopathology.

- **EXPERT TEACHING:** All of our Biomedical Science teaching team are active human health researchers as well as experienced teachers, so your studies will be informed by the latest developments and innovative thinking.

**WHAT YOU'LL COVER:**
- As the course progresses, we place greater emphasis on relating the knowledge you have gained to scientific research. You will gain first-hand experience of laboratory research on the course, conducting and reporting on substantial scientific investigations. You'll be taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and laboratory practical experience.

**HOW YOU'RE ASSESSED:**

- You’re assessed using a range of written assignments, including laboratory reports on experiments, essays, case studies, independent research, as well as computer-based assessments, presentations and practical assessments and seminar presentations.

**YOUR CAREER:**

- As one of our graduates, you’ll be equipped with skills which put you at the forefront of advances in medical science. You’ll be well prepared for careers in medical research, health charities, medical and biotechnology industries and the government health sector. Your knowledge will also be invaluable in areas such as analytical consultancy, biological sales and scientific writing. This course is an excellent foundation if you want to progress to postgraduate degrees in subjects such as medicine and dentistry.

**STUDY OPTIONS:**

- This course is also available with a Foundation Year option.

- This course is available with an Industrial Placement Year.

Tuition fees

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

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£14,900
per year
International
£14,900
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Derby

Department:

Life 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.

61%
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

70%
Staff make the subject interesting
85%
Staff are good at explaining things
78%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
75%
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

82%
Library resources
84%
IT resources
82%
Course specific equipment and facilities
70%
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?

92%
UK students
8%
International students
32%
Male students
68%
Female students
66%
2:1 or above
20%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
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.

£22,000
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

49%
Nursing and midwifery professionals
20%
Therapy professionals
13%
Health professionals

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Biomedical sciences (non-specific)

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£28k

£28k

£30k

£30k

£32k

£32k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
Kingston University | Kingston upon Thames
Biomedical Science
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-128
Nearby University
Staffordshire University | Stoke-on-Trent
Biomedical Science
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-120

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

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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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here