Biomedical Science
Biomedical science is the study of how the human body works in health and what goes wrong in disease, examined at the molecular, cellular, and physiological levels. It is the scientific discipline that underpins clinical laboratory medicine, providing the techniques and knowledge that enable the diagnosis and monitoring of disease in hospitals and health services. Biomedical scientists analyse blood, tissue, and other patient samples to detect infection, cancer, anaemia, diabetes, and many other conditions, and their work is essential to the delivery of modern healthcare.
At the University of the West of England, Bristol, this programme is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science and provides strong practical skills in the biomedical sciences field. You will develop laboratory competence across the major clinical disciplines, including haematology, clinical biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, and histopathology, alongside the theoretical understanding of the disease processes you are investigating. The programme includes both a foundation year, which supports students who need a more gradual transition into degree-level science, and a sandwich year work placement, which gives you the opportunity to gain a year's professional experience with a leading employer in the UK or abroad.
This placement is a significant advantage when it comes to HCPC registration and graduate employment, providing both clinical hours and professional context.
Graduates from accredited biomedical science programmes are eligible, following appropriate laboratory training, to register with the Health and Care Professions Council as biomedical scientists, the standard route to a career in NHS clinical laboratories. Roles exist in haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, cytology, and histopathology departments. Further study options include specialist postgraduate programmes in areas such as transfusion science, molecular pathology, and clinical biochemistry, as well as postgraduate research degrees.