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Biomedical Science

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B-A,B,B

A-levels must include Biology at grade B and another science from Chemistry, Computing, Design & Technology, Electronics, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Marine Science, Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Sport Science or Statistics. Also Biology combined with Life & Health Sciences (Double Award only). You will also need to pass the separate science practical assessment in Biology. If you are not able to take the science practical assessment, applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You will normally need GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and two Science subjects with grade 5 in each (or grade B).

Pass Diploma with at least 39 level 3 credits at Merit or above including 21-24 credits at Distinction. Substantial amounts of Level 3 credits in Biology and another science subject or to have taken A-level Biology alongside the Access course. You will normally need GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and two Science subjects with grade 5 in each (or grade B).

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer. We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact Admissions at [email protected]

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

30-32

This score should be from the full IB Diploma. You will need Higher Level in Biology and another Higher Level science subject (Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology) with at least grade 5 in both.

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

DDD-DDM

The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma will need to be in Applied Science and you will need to have opted for substantial numbers of modules please see the University website for more information. You will normally need GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and two Science subjects with grade 5 in each (or grade B).

Scottish Higher

A,B,B,B,B-A,A,B,B,B


Highers must include Biology and another science (from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics), with at least grade B in each. Ideally, you will have one or two sciences as an Advanced Higher. You will also need Scottish National 5 in English and Mathematics with grade B in each.

UCAS Tariff

120-147

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Medical biochemistry

**94% of our research overall in Biological Sciences was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)**

**About the course**

Biomedical Science is at the heart of medical breakthroughs. That’s why this subject is vital to the world.

From Year 1, you get hands-on practical experience in our labs. Later on in your course, you’ll have the opportunity to explore real human specimens in our anatomy laboratory classes.

The course is flexible, and you can tailor your degree to your interests and career aspirations. You’ll be inspired by our modules exploring topics such as cancer, infectious diseases and vaccine development, and genomics and bioinformatics.

Throughout your time at Sussex, you’ll develop your practical, analytical, problem-solving, communication and technical skills. You’ll learn via lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminars. Your teaching is underpinned by the research of our internationally renowned group of experts. They work at the forefront of biomedical research. You’ll be supported in a friendly community of scientists in the School of Life Sciences, as well as staff from Brighton & Sussex Medical School and NHS Trust.

Many Biomedical Science students aim to specialise in a branch of Medicine. This is why we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for Medicine at Brighton & Sussex Medical School, if you meet certain criteria.

When you graduate, you’ll have the data-handling and analytical skills for a wide range of science and science-related careers. Outside of Medicine, our graduates have taken on a variety of jobs in fields including:

- biomedical science

- biotechnology

- pharmaceutical research

- nutrition

- physiotherapy.

**MSci or BSc?**

We also offer this course as a four-year MSci.

**About Sussex**

Sussex graduates change the world. Our students become the leaders of the future, making discoveries, improving lives and changing things for the better.

Study with us to join a welcoming and inspiring community of staff and students from more than 140 countries.

**Location**

We shape the world from a fantastic campus on the UK’s beautiful south coast.

We are the only UK university surrounded by a national park, so you can step off campus to explore the hills and woodlands of the South Downs. The vibrant, colourful and creative seaside city of Brighton & Hove is just nine minutes away.

With Brighton voted the happiest city in England for students, (Student Living Survey, Sodexo, 2018) there can be few better places to study.

Modules

See the modules you will study by year by going to the 'view course details' link.

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
£25,000
per year
International
£25,000
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 Sussex

Department:

Neuroscience

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.

96%
Medical biochemistry

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.

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

Teaching and learning

88%
Staff make the subject interesting
83%
Staff are good at explaining things
75%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
67%
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

65%
Library resources
75%
IT resources
91%
Course specific equipment and facilities
75%
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?

82%
UK students
18%
International students
39%
Male students
61%
Female students
94%
2:1 or above
12%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
B

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.

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

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.

£18,500
low
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education
57%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

22%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
13%
Caring personal services
9%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals

Around 2,500 graduates got degrees in this demanding but valuable subject last year. Graduates who want a career in research usually take postgraduate qualifications - over a third of graduates in the subject took this option - but those who want to start work when they graduate have a lot to choose from. Laboratory work and other jobs in the biosciences are popular, as well as in education, but many biochemistry graduates find their way into the finance industry and as a consequence, graduates from these disciplines are particularly likely to get jobs in London and the South East.

What about your long term prospects?

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

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

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

£18k

£18k

£26k

£26k

£28k

£28k

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
University of Leicester | Leicester
Medical Biochemistry
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 128-152
Lower entry requirements
University of Huddersfield | Huddersfield
Medical Biochemistry
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 104-112
Same University
University of Sussex | Brighton and Hove
Biomedical Science
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 128-153

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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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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