Biomedical Science with Foundation Year

Biomedical science sits at the interface between fundamental biology and clinical medicine, providing the scientific understanding of human disease that underpins modern healthcare. It draws on biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, immunology, haematology, and pharmacology to explain how the body works, how disease develops, and how laboratory science can be used to diagnose and monitor illness. For students who want to engage seriously with the science of human health without following a clinical professional pathway, it offers a demanding and genuinely important area of study.

This programme at the University of Salford begins with a foundation year specifically designed to build the foundational knowledge and understanding of the biological and chemical principles that underpin biomedical science. The foundation year makes the programme accessible to students who have strong potential but may not have studied all the required sciences at A level, or who want to build their scientific confidence before tackling the full degree. This is a part-time programme, which gives you the flexibility to balance your studies with other commitments while developing the specialist knowledge the discipline requires.

Throughout the programme, you will learn to apply your scientific understanding to clinical situations, developing the analytical skills and laboratory techniques that form the basis of professional practice in NHS pathology departments and research settings. You will engage with real clinical questions, examining how laboratory findings relate to diagnosis and treatment, and you will develop the critical reading and data interpretation skills that are central to evidence-based practice.

Graduates of biomedical science programmes work in NHS clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutions, and public health organisations. Many pursue registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as biomedical scientists, while others continue to postgraduate study in specialist areas of biomedical or clinical science.