Biomedicine

Biomedicine is the study of the biological processes that underlie human health and disease, providing the scientific foundation on which modern medicine and healthcare practice rest. It sits at the interface between basic biological science and clinical application, examining how cells, molecules, and physiological systems function normally and how they go wrong in disease. As our understanding of the molecular basis of illness has grown, biomedicine has become increasingly central to the development of new diagnostics, treatments, and therapeutic strategies.

Birkbeck College offers a part-time Biomedicine programme that focuses on the vital link between basic science and advances in the understanding and treatment of human health and disease. Part-time study at Birkbeck, a specialist in flexible evening-based higher education, allows students to pursue a degree of full academic rigour while managing work or other commitments. You will complete a substantial research project in the areas of molecular, cell, and integrative biology, developing in-depth knowledge of the theoretical background of these topics alongside the practical and analytical skills needed to work in a research or healthcare science context.

The programme develops your understanding of cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, and the pathophysiology of major diseases, giving you the scientific literacy to engage with current research literature and contribute to scientific work.

Graduates from biomedicine programmes are well equipped for a wide range of careers within the biological sciences and fields allied to medicine, including clinical laboratory science, pharmaceutical research and development, biomedical science, healthcare science, and regulatory affairs. Many also go on to postgraduate study in biomedical science, medical research, or clinical science, and some use the degree as preparation for entry into healthcare professional programmes.