BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
University of Hertfordshire
Key Information
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Campus location
Hatfield, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 5 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 13,450 *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* international students full time, part time £1680 per 15 credits / UK students full time £9250, part time £1155 per 15 credits / EU students full time £13450, part time £1680 per 15 credits
Scholarships
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Introduction
"Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, examinations may be replaced by an alternative form of assessment during the academic year 2021/2022. Please refer to the Programme Specification on these pages for further details."
Why choose this course?
Ever wondered how diseases occur? How genetic disorders lead to abnormalities? Or how microbes evade our immune system? As a biomedical science undergraduate, you’ll study the causes, diagnoses, and treatments of diseases like cancer, blood disorders, and infectious disease.
Be inspired to become a biomedical scientist contributing to patient diagnosis. In the UK, the term 'biomedical scientist' is a protected title used by professionals working within the pathology department of a hospital. Our course is accredited by the professional body; the Institute of Biomedical Science. Studying for our degree is the first step to becoming a registered biomedical scientist.
How will you get there with us? You will use our newly built labs to practise microbiological techniques and do blood analyses. You’ll also have exclusive access to IT rooms for your bioinformatics analyses. You will experience the healthcare setting in our clinical simulation suite. This is equipped with adult, child and baby mannequins, a realistic ICU, an operating theatre setting and more.
You’ll be at the forefront of exploring exciting new areas in the biomedical field. Our course is designed to provide you with a solid stepping stone for your scientific career. You may choose to help save lives as a registered Biomedical Scientist. Research in pharmaceutical companies or academic environments offers exciting opportunities for our graduates. You may decide to take a new direction such as business or teaching for example. You’ll have a wide range of options with your biomedical science degree.
Rest assured; we’ll be with you all the way. You will be guided by your personal tutor in gaining subject-specific skills in scientific writing, data interpretation and communication. In short, everything you need to know to succeed during your time at Herts. Lastly, you can take advantage of peer support in group workshops.
What's the course about?
A big focus is how scientists use laboratory tests to support the patient diagnosis. You will learn about the structure and function of tissues and organs in normal and disease states. You’ll link your expert knowledge of biology and chemistry to understand biochemical pathways and their influence on disease development. You’ll explore haematology, microbiology and blood transfusion techniques that form the basis of modern medical diagnostics. In other words, you will literally learn how to save lives.
We are proud of our TEF Gold rating, which recognises our excellent teaching and support. You have 20 hours of contact time, with lectures and workshops taking up about 6-10 hours per week.
In your first year, you’ll gain a solid foundation in topics such as genetics, how drugs work inside our bodies and how viruses and fungi are formed. Your first year is shared with other degrees in biosciences. You may find you enjoy subjects explored further on the Molecular Biology pathway for example. Our shared first year gives you the opportunity to consider your bioscience pathway before committing. We believe in flexibility.
In your second year, you’ll specialise even more. You will study areas of Pathology; Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion, Cytology, Genetics, Haematology, Histopathology, Immunology, and Microbiology. Patient case studies allow you to apply theory from each area. You will analyse the different methods of research on diseases and treatment options. Building your skills as a researcher is developed through our Bioscience Research Methods module.
Work placement/study abroad option: Between your second and final year, you’ll have the possibility to study abroad or do a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about but will also give your CV a boost. If you’d rather go straight to your final year, that’s absolutely fine too.
In your final year, you’ll find that you have grown to love certain topics and now you have the chance to delve further. The final year is the chance to bring knowledge of subjects studied together. The final year project shows how you can answer a research question independently working with a member of our subject specialist staff.
Your main campus is College Lane
This is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based. This means you’ll share the campus with future nurses, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus pub or cafes. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.
This course includes the options of:
- Work placement
- Study abroad
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
What will I study?
Degree programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5, and 6. These correspond to your first, second, and third/final year of study. Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each.
Part-time study
If you are studying part-time you will have up to seven years to complete your course from registration. You will complete 60 credits per year and the modules you will study each year will depend on how they fit together on the timetable. For some modules, there are several sessions run for each workshop and practical. As a part-time student, you will be able to choose the slots that fit best with when you are at the University for other teaching sessions,
Level 4
- Human Physiology with Pharmacology II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Practical and Transferable Skills II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Molecular Biology and Genetics II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Core Biochemistry II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Cell and Microbiology II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Chemistry for Biologists II 15 Credits II Optional
- Molecular Structure and Reactivity II 15 Credits II Optional
Level 5
- Bioscience Research Methods II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Microbiology of Disease II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Cytology and Histopathology II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Blood Sciences II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Principles of Immunology II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Genes and Genomes II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Cell and Molecular Biology II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Bioscience Work Experience II 15 Credits II Optional
Level 6
- Clinical Microbiology II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Project II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Applied and Integrated Biomedical Science II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Year Abroad: Bioscience II 0 Credits II Optional
- Sandwich Placement; Bioscience II 0 Credits II Optional
Study abroad
An opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, the experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.
This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, and closer to home in Europe.
If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.
Work placement
Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.
This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought-after professional skills.
Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process. Current employers and job titles are listed below:
- GlaxoSmithKline: Data Management - Uxbridge,
- Guy's Hospital: Drug Research Unit - London,
- Imperial College: Toxicology Unit, Faculty of Medicine - London,
- Medical Research Council - Mill Hill,
- Medifix Adhesive Products - Luton,
- Mount Vernon hospital: Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust Institute of Reconstructive, Plastic and Burns Surgery Research - Middlesex
- MRC: Human Genome Project - Hinxton,
- National Biological Standards Board - Potter's Bar,
- Roche UK - Welwyn Garden City,
- St. Bartholomew's & The Royal London: School of Medicine - London and St.George Medical School - London,
- St.George's Hospital: Analytical Unit - London,
- Syngenta Seeds - Cambridge,
- University of Hertfordshire: Biodeterioration Centre - Hatfield.
If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.
What if I need support?
You’ll get a personal tutor to guide you through your course, all the way to graduation.
You might also want or need extra support during your time with us. Rest assured, no matter what you study, we’ve got you covered. For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing, and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions, and online tutorials. Both our Learning Resources Centres's run drop-in study skills sessions. And the best thing is, it’s all free.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
What's next for my career?
Upon graduation, you'll be eligible for employment as a biomedical scientist in the National Health Service and Public Health Service laboratories. In addition, job opportunities exist in the Blood Transfusion Service Laboratories; pharmaceutical and healthcare industries; forensic laboratories; sales and marketing in the healthcare field; education, and research. 80% of our students have gone on to work or study after graduation (Unistats, 2013).
Typical job titles of recent graduates:
- Trainee Biomedical Scientist,
- Clinical Trials Associate,
- Drug Safety Coordinator,
- Medical Representative,
- Lab Scientist,
- Microbiologist,
- Research Assistant,
- Tissue Culture Technologist,
- Donor Transplant Assistant.
Typical employers of recent graduates:
- Pfizer,
- Denfleet Pharma Ltd,
- Health Protection Agency,
- GlaxoSmithKline,
- AstraZeneca,
- NHS Trusts
- Lark Technology.
Upon graduation and completion of your IBMS portfolio, you'll be eligible to work as a biomedical scientist in the NHS and public health laboratories. Alternatively, you could pursue a career in blood transfusion laboratories, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, forensic laboratories, healthcare sales and marketing, education, and research.
English Language Requirements
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