Biomedical Science

Biomedical science is the discipline that connects fundamental biological knowledge to the practice of medicine and healthcare. It encompasses the cellular, molecular, and physiological processes that sustain human life, and the investigation of how disease arises when those processes go wrong. Biomedical scientists are the laboratory professionals who underpin clinical diagnosis: the blood tests, biopsies, microbiological cultures, and genetic analyses that guide medical decisions are all produced and interpreted by people trained in this discipline.

At York St John University, you will study biomedical science over three years full-time in a setting characterised by small class sizes and close working relationships with academic staff. The programme develops your knowledge across the core areas of the discipline, including haematology, clinical biochemistry, microbiology, cellular pathology, and immunology, while also building the practical laboratory skills and analytical rigour that the profession demands. You will learn to work with real biological samples, to design and evaluate experiments, and to communicate scientific findings effectively.

The programme includes a sandwich year, giving you the opportunity to gain professional experience in a healthcare or research setting before you graduate. This structured placement is a genuine advantage in the job market and helps you make an informed choice about the direction of your career. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

Graduates go on to careers in NHS laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, clinical trials, public health, and the life sciences industry. Many pursue registration as biomedical scientists with the Health and Care Professions Council, working in NHS hospital laboratories or independent pathology services. Further study options include postgraduate qualifications in specific laboratory specialisms, graduate-entry medicine, or research degrees in biomedical science or related fields.