Biomedical Science with Foundation Year

Biomedical science applies the methods of biology and chemistry to the understanding and diagnosis of human disease. Biomedical scientists work in hospital laboratories and research institutions, analysing biological samples to provide the diagnostic results that clinicians depend on. The discipline encompasses haematology, clinical biochemistry, medical microbiology, immunology, histopathology, and molecular diagnostics, each contributing to the detection, characterisation, and monitoring of disease in ways that are central to modern healthcare.

This four-year, full-time programme at the University of Salford includes a foundation year designed to build the foundational knowledge of the biological and chemical principles that underpin biomedicine before students progress to the main degree. This makes the programme accessible to students who have a genuine interest in the field but who need additional preparation. The programme also includes a placement year, giving you professional experience in a biomedical science or healthcare environment before you graduate, which is particularly valuable in a profession where practical competence and NHS familiarity are important to employers.

Successful completion provides a strong foundation for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a biomedical scientist, the qualification required to practise in the profession. Most graduates go on to work as NHS biomedical scientists, contributing to the diagnosis and monitoring of disease across clinical specialisms. The foundation year makes the programme accessible from a wider range of starting points, and the placement year builds professional readiness.

Further study in specific diagnostic specialisms, clinical science, or research is available to graduates who wish to develop advanced expertise, and many continue to postgraduate study in biomedical sciences or related disciplines.