Biomedical Science with Professional Experience

Biomedical science is the study of the biological and chemical processes that underlie health, disease, and the human body's response to both. It encompasses cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and pathology, providing the scientific foundation on which clinical medicine, drug development, and medical diagnostics are built. Without biomedical scientists, hospitals could not diagnose disease from blood samples, pharmaceutical companies could not develop new treatments, and the basic research that drives medical advances would not exist.

At the University of Reading this four-year programme includes a professional experience placement, giving you the opportunity to spend time working in a relevant professional setting, whether in a hospital laboratory, a pharmaceutical company, a research institute, or another healthcare or science organisation. You will engage with world-class research throughout the degree, developing practical laboratory skills alongside theoretical knowledge of how the human body works and what goes wrong in disease. The curriculum covers the core areas of biomedical science, and you will develop the technical, analytical, and communication skills needed to work in a scientifically rigorous environment.

Graduates from biomedical science programmes with professional experience are well placed for a range of careers. Many move into the NHS as biomedical scientists, working in clinical laboratories in areas including haematology, clinical biochemistry, histopathology, and microbiology. Others work in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical devices, public health, and research.

Registration as a biomedical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council is available to graduates who complete an appropriate period of supervised practice. Postgraduate study in biomedical research, clinical science, or specialised healthcare science disciplines is also a natural next step for those wishing to advance their expertise.