Medical Science

Medical science is a degree rooted in the biological and biomedical foundations of human health. It provides a rigorous scientific education that spans the structure and function of the human body, the mechanisms by which disease develops, and the scientific principles underlying diagnosis and treatment. Where medicine trains you to treat patients directly, medical science trains you to understand the science behind clinical practice, making it an excellent preparation for careers in research, the biomedical industries, healthcare science and a range of clinical professions accessible via postgraduate routes.

At Anglia Ruskin University, the three-year full-time BSc programme develops your knowledge across the core biomedical disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, immunology and pharmacology. You will learn how the body works at every level of organisation, from molecular pathways to organ systems, and how pathological processes disrupt normal function. Laboratory work is central to the degree, and you will develop practical skills in techniques used across clinical and research settings.

The programme also engages with the scientific evidence base that underpins healthcare decision-making, developing your ability to evaluate research critically.

Anglia Ruskin has strong links with the NHS in the Cambridge and Chelmsford regions, and the university's health sciences programmes benefit from those connections. The broader Cambridge biomedical cluster, one of Europe's largest concentrations of life sciences research and industry, provides a stimulating backdrop to the degree.

Graduates of medical science degrees work in clinical laboratory roles, pharmaceutical research and development, biotechnology, public health, health services research and science communication. Many go on to further professional training in areas including medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, optometry or clinical science. Postgraduate study at masters or doctoral level in biomedical science, biochemistry, pharmacology or a related field is a common route for those who want to specialise in research.