Biomedical Science
Biomedical science is the application of biological and chemical sciences to understanding human health and disease. Biomedical scientists work in clinical laboratories, research institutions, and the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, applying their expertise to the diagnosis and monitoring of disease, the development of new treatments, and the maintenance of safe blood supplies and diagnostic services. The profession is a critical but often invisible part of healthcare: most diagnoses depend on laboratory tests analysed by biomedical scientists, and their accuracy and speed directly affects patient outcomes.
At Leeds Beckett University, this part-time programme develops the scientific knowledge and laboratory skills needed to work as a professional biomedical scientist. You will study haematology, clinical biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, histopathology, transfusion science, and the molecular techniques that are increasingly central to diagnostic and research laboratories. The programme is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science, reflecting its alignment with professional standards and supporting progression towards Health and Care Professions Council registration.
The programme is offered on a part-time basis, which suits students who are working in or near the healthcare sector, or who need the flexibility that part-time study provides. It also includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside your academic study. The placement element is particularly important in a profession where laboratory competence must be developed in real clinical or research environments.
Graduates from biomedical science degrees work as registered biomedical scientists in NHS hospital laboratories, blood transfusion services, clinical research organisations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and public health laboratories. Many go on to postgraduate study in biomedical science, clinical biochemistry, haematology, or related specialisms. Registration with the HCPC is required to practise as a biomedical scientist in the UK.