Curious about studying Biomedical Science - BSc (Hons)at Birmingham City University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
City South Campus, Edgbaston
Full Time
Sep 2026
3 Year
Gain a fascinating insight into human life processes and the health of the human population with our practice-based IBMS-accredited degree in Biomedical Science, designed to provide you with the knowledge, and practical and analytical skills needed to pursue a variety of Biomedical Science careers.
OverviewAccredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), our practice-led degree offers a fascinating insight into human life processes, as well as disease and health within the human population. You will develop a range of practical and analytical skills using our state-of-the-art life sciences labs. Our aim is to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to progress into a variety of Biomedical Science careers. If your goal is to work within the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist, completion of an IBMS-accredited degree will mean you can apply for trainee Biomedical Scientist roles. You could then go on to complete the IBMS registration training portfolio, which is a pre-requisite for full qualification in this role and potential registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
What is covered in this course?Biomedical Science embraces a range of disciplines, including clinical biochemistry, human molecular genetics, cell biology, infection and immunity, and blood science. These subjects are of immense importance in healthcare provision and medical research, as well as underpinning the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. On this course you will learn how the human body functions during health and disease, and develop an understanding of the diagnosis, management, and treatment of a range of diseases. Throughout the programme you will gain important practical and scientific skills, developed by learning in our state-of-the-art life sciences laboratories where you will use industry standard equipment. In the final year you will complete an independent research project under the guidance of one of our academic staff, providing you with the opportunity to consolidate your learning on the course. When you graduate, a range of careers are open to you as well as the option for further postgraduate training and study. These careers include medical laboratory assistant, trainee biomedical scientist, conducting clinical trials for drug companies, research assistant and research technician, marketing assistant and medical and scientific sales representative. You could also use your qualification to progress into teaching, or undertake postgraduate study to obtain Master’s, Physician Associate/Assistant or PhD qualifications. Exceptional graduates may be able to progress into postgraduate entry Medicine or Dentistry courses. You will be taught by our team of specialist academic staff who have a wealth of industry, clinical and research experience and will provide the expertise to support your learning throughout the course. We encourage a collaborative culture, so students feel able to seek support and guidance from academic and support staff and you will have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of the course as part of the biomedical science community at the University.
In this module you will be taught a range of fundamental scientific skills that you will apply and develop across the course. You will embark on a range of instructional and investigative laboratory practicals, designed to introduce you to scientific instruments that are commonly used in biology labs. During these experiments you will generate your own data, which you will be shown how to analyse appropriately.
Biochemistry is the study of the fundamental chemical and molecular reactions that occur within living organisms. The aim of this module is to introduce you to structure/function relationships of key biological molecules, as well as the fundamental biochemical reactions that occur within the human body.
Cell and molecular biology are key disciplines within the biosciences. This module will introduce you to the ‘cell’ as a fundamental unit of life. You will learn about cell structure and function in the context of the tissue that cells belong to, protein synthesis and trafficking, cell communication and cell signalling, the cell cycle and programmed cell-death, and the significance of stem cells.
This module introduces you to the world of microbiology. The diversity of microorganisms, their habitats and relationships with humans will be explored. This module examines the properties of microorganisms, their structures and compositions and their interactions with the human body in health and disease. You will learn about how we grow different microorganisms, their classification and identification.
This module will introduce you to the structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the adult human body. It aims to provide you with a solid grounding into the cells, tissues and organs that allow the different organ systems to function effectively, so that you can understand the pathophysiology resulting from dysfunction.
Pharmacology is the science of drugs and their effect on living systems. First defined in the 19th century, pharmacology began with studies of the biological effects of naturally occurring compounds. In more recent times, advancements in synthetic chemistry led to a revolution in the pharmaceutical industry, and in the science of pharmacology itself. These advancements have allowed the pharmaceutical industry to grow into a major contributor to the world’s economy, with estimates the industry is worth over £1000 billion annually, and employs over 70,000 people in the UK alone.
This module will cover key professional skills that Biomedical Scientists are expected to demonstrate in the workplace. Quality assurance is an essential function of any medical laboratory, and you will be introduced to Quality Assurance in Biomedical Science. You will learn about accreditation of medical laboratories, the role of UKAS and the application of relevant ISO standards. You will be taught about quality management systems, roles and responsibilities, audits, SOPS, competency, and training records, CPD, non-compliance reporting and root cause analysis.
This module will build upon the level 4 Microbiology module and introduce you to the anatomy and function of the immune system and immunopathology. In the medical microbiology section, we will introduce you to key pathogenic microorganisms and how they cause disease. Indicative topics will include epidemiology, virology, skin infections, GI tract infections, CNS infections, respiratory tract infections, UTI and STD infections.
This module will introduce you to the underlying biochemistry of a range of different diseases, and the biochemical methods that can be used to investigate them. The module will include new point of care testing methods, and you will learn about the importance of quality assurance in the clinical biochemistry laboratory. You will also explore the role of clinical laboratories in therapeutic drug monitoring, and in detecting drugs of abuse.
You will learn aspects of immunology and antibody production, inflammation, haemoglobin disorders, and blood cancers (leukaemia’s and lymphomas). In addition, you will learn about blood transfusion science and organ transplantation, and the safety measures associated with the storage of blood products.
The module will start with an understanding of the global burden of disease. Then you will be taught pathophysiology at the cellular level, including cell injury, aging and death, and inflammation. There will then be a focus on alterations caused by diseases and conditions in cardiac function, respiratory function, kidney function, gastro-intestinal tract, and neurological function.
In this module you will explore the various types of research that are conducted in the Biosciences. You will learn how to find, read, and interpret scientific publications, and how to use existing research to form new and exciting research hypothesis. You will also learn about the legal, ethical and safety issues that surround different types of research in biomedical sciences too. We will introduce you to bioinformatics and other forms of big data that drive many new advances in healthcare and policy.
In this module you will complete a substantial piece of independent research, with the guidance and supervision of an academic member of staff. The module will provide you with an authentic experience of how scientific information is reviewed, and how novel information is acquired, analysed, and presented. You will be involved in the initial planning of the project, the continual project development, and be responsible for the communication of the research findings.
In this module you will explore a range of human diseases through the interdisciplinary study of cellular pathology, clinical biochemistry, clinical immunology, haematology and transfusion science, clinical genetics, and medical microbiology. The module will provide you with a holistic understanding of the biomedical sciences by integrating and applying these various disciplines to analyse and solve complex clinical case studies.
In this module you will develop an in depth understanding how genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics have contributed to our understanding of a range of diseases and is transforming the diagnosis and clinical management of disease. You will explore the principles and applications of personalised medicine, emphasising the role of human molecular genetics in tailoring medical treatments to individual patients. This will be supported with recent case studies, providing insightful illustrations of real-world scenarios, and offering recommendations for both diagnosis and treatment of disease
This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of a broad range of advanced immunology topics. The module will build on the foundation of immunology knowledge provided in the 2nd year of the course, layering over clinical elements including the dysfunctional immune system and the aetiology of immune-mediated disease. You will review the ‘bench-to-bedside’ approach that underpins advancements in immune-biotechnology, and will evaluate the principles of antibody engineering, vaccine development, and immunotherapeutic strategies.
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