Biomedical Science

Biomedical science is the scientific discipline that underlies the laboratory investigation of human disease. Biomedical scientists design and carry out the tests that diagnose illness, monitor treatment, and detect pathogens, from blood counts and tissue biopsies to microbiological cultures and genetic analyses. Without their work, the clinical decisions that shape patient care could not be made.

The discipline draws on cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry, haematology, immunology, and clinical chemistry to give practitioners both the knowledge and the practical skills that healthcare laboratory work demands.

At the University of Portsmouth, you will study biomedical science over three years full-time on an accredited programme, developing the expertise needed to contribute to medical advances and to work in the diagnostic laboratory environment. You will engage with the core areas of the discipline, including haematology, clinical biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, and cellular pathology, alongside the scientific and analytical skills that professional practice requires. The programme includes a sandwich year, giving you the opportunity to undertake a professional placement in a clinical or research laboratory setting, and a year abroad is also available.

Work placement provision is built into the course. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points, and the programme leads to eligibility for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Graduates go on to careers in NHS hospital laboratories, independent pathology services, pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, public health laboratories, and the life sciences industry. Many enter HCPC-registered training programmes in NHS settings, working towards full professional registration as biomedical scientists. Further study options include postgraduate qualifications in specialist laboratory sciences, graduate-entry medicine, or research degrees in biomedical science or molecular biology.