Degree type: BSc (Hons)
UCAS Code: B901 BSc/BS4
Duration: 4 years (full-time)
Why choose this course?
Biomedical Science (BMS) is a highly exciting, fast-paced discipline that will give you a deep understanding of the science behind human health and disease. A key feature of our degree is the extensive training in laboratory-based skill provided in all four years of your studies.
After following a common pathway for two years, you will take either the 'Standard' or the 'Integrated' programme route. The Integrated route includes a placement, and is particularly relevant for those aspiring to the role of Biomedical Scientist in the NHS. Both routes are professionally accredited.
You will study the human body at several levels, in the context of both normal functioning and disease. Diagnostic and treatment aspects are emphasised, particularly in the more advanced stages of the course. All relevant aspects of human biology are covered, with the main subjects being cell function & pathology, medical genetics, human physiology, medical microbiology, clinical biochemistry, haematology & serology, biology of disease, toxicology and pharmacology.
Practical training runs throughout all four years. Our focused curriculum has a strong research emphasis and will equip you with valuable skills to offer prospective employers.
For those taking the Integrated route the clinical placement provides a unique training and educational experience in the setting of a modern hospital laboratory.
How you learn
A wide variety of teaching methods are used. The quantity of scheduled learning time (i.e. lectures, tutorials, practical classes, placement and project work) is viewed by many as a quality indicator for degree courses. Our BMS students receive on average over 15 hours of direct teaching per week.
How you are assessed
Assessment is carried out via a combination of coursework assignments, practical reports, class tests and examinations. Additionally, you will be assessed on a number of professional ‘competencies’ throughout the course.
Higher BBBC; A Level CCC; ILC (H) BBBC; UCAS Tariff 245 points* (gained at one sitting)
*See below for UCAS Tariff guidance
Essential subjects: Biology (or Human Biology) plus Chemistry (preferred) or Physics.
Applicants to the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences Integrated Route will be required to satisfy a Disclosure Scotland (Enhanced) check.
Applicants with equivalent non-standard qualifications and experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Hepatitis B
Although you will not be in contact with potential sources of Hepatitis in your studies, the agencies offering placements during your course and future employers are likely to require inoculation against Hepatitis. Students are therefore expected to have been vaccinated before starting the course.
Access courses
Students from such courses will be considered for entry to year 1 on an individual basis. Relevant Highers within an Access course must be passed, such as to satisfy the general entrance requirements for the programme.
Advanced Entry (year 2)
Advanced entry is possible for applicants with suitable subjects at GCE A Level or Advanced Higher and offering approximately 300 UCAS points (e.g. BBB at A Level or BBB at Scottish Advanced Higher, including Biology and Chemistry) from these qualifications. Each application will be considered on its own merits. If you would like us to consider you for advanced entry please contact the admissions tutor in the first instance to discuss your qualifications.
Applicants with an appropriate HNC (ideally Biomedical Science), gaining a minimum of 15 SCQF credits at level 7 and including at least a B in the graded unit, can apply for direct entry to year 2.
Advanced Entry (year 3)
Applicants for direct entry to year 3 of the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences are required to achieve an HND in Biomedical Science (or closely related area), gaining a minimum of 15 SCQF credits at level 8 and including at least a B in the level 8 graded unit for entry to the Standard Route only. Those gaining direct entry to year 3 are not eligible for entry to the Integrated Route.
Details of acceptable HNC programmes can be found on our Coming from college pages.
Advanced Entry (year 4)
Please note that we do not accept applicants directly to the final year of this course.
UCAS Tariff Guidance
Although there is no limit to the number of points that you can accumulate, for entry to Abertay you must have qualifications at an appropriate level (SCQF 6/NQF 3); you cannot count the same or similar qualifications twice; Standard Grades, Intermediate 2s, GCSEs and key/core skills cannot be counted; and D grades at SQA Higher and Advanced Higher are not counted.
Applicants who have taken either SQA Highers or A Levels must offer at least three Highers or two A Levels for degree entry (or two Highers or one A Level for DipHE entry). If you have studied a subject at two different levels, the most advanced will be taken into consideration; e.g. if you studied both Higher Biology and Advanced Higher Biology, then only the Advanced Higher will be counted.
If you are using the tariff remember to check for any essential subjects you must have to meet the entry criteria for a course. It is not just the number of points achieved that secures you a place.
Overseas/EU
All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language and the University's minimum requirements are:
Overseas: IELTS 7.0 (no individual test less than 7.0)
EU: IELTS 6.0 (no individual test less than 5.5)
Mature
Applications from mature students are assessed on the same criteria used for school leavers, e.g. SQA Highers or GCE A Levels, where relevant school leaving qualifications exist. For those without standard entry qualifications, consideration is given to experience gained as well as professional qualifications and other forms of learning that could provide evidence of ability to benefit from a particular course.
The successful completion of approved access courses (such as those offered by Dundee College in association with the universities of Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews) provides significant evidence of ability to benefit from study at Abertay.
For further advice please use our Ask a Question section.
What our students say
“The placement has definitely given me the motivation to do really well in fourth year so I can qualify and follow a career as a biomedical scientist.”
Steven, Scotland
“Doing the Biomedical Science course at Abertay University has been one of the most enjoyable experiences for me - ever! Everything I learned on the course seems to be fitting in very nicely, with the practical elements and theoretical knowledge I gained being applied in real life Biomedical Scientist day-to-day roles.”
Rofik, Scotland.
Your future
When he graduated, Rofik entered the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist. Approximately 60% of our past graduates have taken this career path. HPC Registration enables you to seek employment as a qualified Biomedical Scientist, with a typical starting salary of £20,225*. After gaining your Specialist Skills Diploma you would be eligible for promotion to Specialist Biomedical Scientist at which point you may expect your salary to rise in 9 annual increments to £32,653. Ultimate earnings, for those in a specialised Consultant's post, may reach £93,098. *Salary rates are subject to periodic review.
Note that only an accredited BMS degree, such as the Abertay course provides, will allow you to follow a career as a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS. Non-accredited BMS (or other) degrees do not allow entry to the profession.
The NHS needs to appoint more Biomedical Scientists due to an ageing workforce coupled with increasing demand for diagnostic tests. Nevertheless, competition for available posts is likely to be strong, and not every BMS student aims to enter the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist. Our course is also very relevant to other related career areas including scientific or technical laboratory work (e.g. in private industry or universities) and many past graduates have chosen careers in private medical or science laboratories. Several have opted for other biology careers such as school teaching, or for further study.
Professional accreditation
The course is fully accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and the Integrated degree within the overall programme is fully approved by the Health Professions Council (HPC). Accreditation means that graduates from the Standard route will be eligible to seek employment in the NHS as Trainee Biomedical Scientists. Approval means that graduates from the Integrated route will be eligible to apply to the HPC Register and (once on the Register) will be able to seek employment in the NHS as Biomedical Scientists.
It is important to note that graduates who wish to follow a career as NHS Biomedical Scientists without undertaking subsequent and extensive postgraduate education must undertake a Biomedical Sciences degree that has been professionally accredited/approved.
Specialist facilities
A range of well equipped, modern laboratories are available for use by Biomedical Science students. In addition to this, the Scottish Informatics Mathematics Biology & Statistics (SIMBIOS) research facility at Abertay provides students with access to top class researchers working in the exciting field of biology and computing.
| Fee Category | September 2012 Fees |
Scholarships & Bursaries |
| Scottish and other EU students |
£1820 per year. Apply to the Student Awards Agency |
Other forms of support |
| English, Welsh and Northern Irish students |
£7000 per year (max. amount payable You can apply for financial assistance, |
Bursaries & Scholarships |
| Overseas (non EU) students |
£9975 per year. Fees may be subject to annual increase. |
Overseas Scholarships |
Fees shown are payable annually, and may be subject to increase each year.
