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Biomedical Science

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-B,B,C

112-120 from 3 A levels, to include 40 points from Biology and 40 points from a second Science subject or Mathematics. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma (Science), with a minimum of 18 level 3 credits in Biology at Distinction and a minimum of 12 level 3 credits in Chemistry at Distinction.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 54-56. To include Principal Subjects in Biology at M2 plus a second Science subject or Mathematics at M2.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English, Mathematics and either Chemistry (if not taken to A level standard) or Double Science/5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English, Mathematics and either Chemistry (if not taken to A level standard) or Double Science.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

29

29 points from the IB Diploma. 655/754 at Higher Level, to include 6 points from a Higher Level in Biology plus 6 points from a second Science subject or Mathematics - 29 points from the IB Diploma. 664 at Higher Level to include 6 points from a Higher Level in Biology plus 6 points from a second Science subject or Mathematics. 4 points from Standard Level English and Mathematics (if not passed at GCSE grade C or above).

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3


To include Higher Level Biology at H3, plus one other Science subject or Mathematics at H3.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

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

DDM-DMM

Must be in a Science or Applied Science subject.

112-120 from Advanced Highers, to include Biology at grade C, plus one other Science subject or Mathematics at grade C.

T Level

M

Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Health, T Level in Healthcare Science, T Level in Science (Acceptable Occupational Specialisms: Laboratory sciences)

UCAS Tariff

112-120

112-120 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include 40 points from Biology and 40 points from a second Science subject or Mathematics. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels, with 40 points in A level Biology plus 40 points in a second Science subject or Mathematics, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

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 | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Biomedical sciences

**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

**Overview**
Biomedical scientists help identify rare diseases, diagnose disease, research disease processes and monitor patients’ treatment.

This course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) – a mandatory requirement if you want to work in the NHS after graduation. It's also accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

- Put your knowledge to the test in our labs and simulation facilities, which are kitted out with industry-leading microscopes, spectroscopy and chromatography equipment

- Get involved with internationally recognised biomedical research into fields like neuro-oncology (the study of brain and spinal cord cancers) at our Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences

- Take an optional work placement year at an Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) approved clinical training laboratory, which allows you to register as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) when you graduate

- Have the chance to take a summer research placement in Europe with an internationally-recognised biomedical research organisation

**Accredited by:**
This course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and the Royal Society of Biology.

**Careers and opportunities**
Whether it's processing tests for diseases such as coronavirus or providing diagnosis services to GPs, accident and emergency departments and other health services, registered Biomedical Scientists play a key role in public health.

In fact, more than 70% of NHS diagnoses are based on lab findings by biomedical scientists, so it's a profession that's always in high demand.

On this BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science degree, you’ll learn to diagnose, monitor and manage health conditions. You’ll learn from our outstanding team of biomedical scientists and researchers whose work is shaping the understanding of conditions, such as brain tumours.

**HCPC registration**
After you've graduated and completed 12 months of work-based learning within an Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) approved clinical training laboratory, you can register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and work as a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS and private settings.

**Graduate roles and destinations**
Roles recent graduates have gone on to do include:
- biomedical scientist

- clinical trial coordinator

- medical lab assistant

- science teacher

- dental nurse

- medical affairs executive

They've gone on to work for companies such as:
- Pall Europe

- Pfizer

- Roche

- Viapath

- Imperial College London

- Bristol Royal Infirmary

**Placement year**
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Placements give you the opportunity to apply what you've learnt so far in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you attractive to employers after graduation.

If you do your placement in an IBMS-approved NHS pathology laboratory, you can complete the IBMS registration portfolio. This allows you to register with the HCPC as a Biomedical Scientist when you graduate.

Our students have completed clinical placements at the following hospitals:
- University Hospital Southampton

- Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth

- Royal Bournemouth Hospital

- Poole Hospital

- Salisbury District Hospital

Whichever route you choose, you'll receive support and guidance. Our specialist team of Science and Health Careers advisors can help you with finding a work placement and improving your employability skills.

Modules

Year 1

Core modules in this year include:

Case Discussions in Biomedical Science - 20 credits
Cells to Systems - 20 credits
Key Skills for Biomedical Scientists - 40 credits
Pathological Sciences 1 - 20 credits
Principles of Neuroscience and Pharmacology - 20 credits

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 2

Core modules in this year include:

Applied Human Physiology - 20 credits
Barriers to Disease Immunity and Immune Dysfunction - 20 credits
Biomedical toolbox - 20 credits
Pathological Sciences 2 - 20 credits
Research Methods - 20 credits

Optional modules in this year include:

Business for Biosciences - 20 credits
Development How Form and Function Changes - 20 credits
Modern Foreign Language (Institute-Wide Language Programme) - 20 credits
Nutrition and Exercise for Health - 20 credits

Year 3

Core modules in this year include:

Genetic Basis of Disease - 20 credits
Integrated Pathology - 20 credits
Pathological Sciences 3 - 20 credits

Optional modules in this year include:

Biomedical Research - 20 credits
Clinical Case Studies - 20 credits
Project - 40 credits
Research Based Work Experience - 40 credits
Work Based Learning - 20 credits

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed through essays, laboratory reports, workshops, presentations, group work and practical assessment classes.

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

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
£9,250
per year
International
£19,200
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Science and Health

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.

84%
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

75%
Staff make the subject interesting
83%
Staff are good at explaining things
83%
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

91%
Library resources
94%
IT resources
93%
Course specific equipment and facilities
58%
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?

84%
UK students
16%
International students
37%
Male students
63%
Female students
87%
2:1 or above
10%
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.

£21,000
low
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

74%
Health professionals
7%
Health associate professionals
5%
Science, engineering and production technicians

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.

£26k

£26k

£31k

£31k

£33k

£33k

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.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (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