Biomedical Sciences (Developmental Biology) with Industrial Placement

Developmental biology is the science of how a single fertilised cell transforms, through precisely orchestrated molecular and cellular processes, into a fully formed organism. It addresses some of the deepest questions in biology: how genes are switched on and off in time and space, how cells acquire their identities, how tissues and organs take shape, and what goes wrong in developmental disorders and cancers when these processes fail. It is a field at the frontier of biomedical research, with direct relevance to regenerative medicine, stem cell biology, genetics and the understanding of congenital conditions.

At Aberdeen, this five-year programme in biomedical sciences specialising in developmental biology includes an industrial placement and a year abroad, giving you both professional research experience and an international academic perspective. The programme provides a thorough grounding in cell and molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and physiology before moving into the specialist content of developmental biology, embryology, gene regulation, signalling pathways and stem cell science. The industrial placement gives you time working within a pharmaceutical company, research institute or biotech organisation, applying your knowledge in a professional setting and building the networks and experience that strengthen your readiness for a research career.

The typical entry tariff is 168 UCAS points.

Graduates move into biomedical research careers in universities, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutes and hospitals. Many continue to doctoral study in developmental biology, cell biology, genetics or related biomedical fields, pursuing academic or industry research careers. Others move into regulatory science, science communication, clinical research, medical education or NHS scientific roles.

The combination of specialist depth in developmental biology and the professional and international experience gained through the placement and year abroad makes this a rigorous and distinctive preparation for a career in biomedical science.