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Our Biomedical Science degree offers an exciting, fast-paced learning experience, giving you a deep understanding of the science behind human health and disease.
Biomedical scientists conduct scientific tests to help diagnose and treat diseases and are key to keeping us alive and healthy. You’ll learn how the human body responds to disease, and how to use your knowledge to help identify them. Your skills and qualifications as a biomedical scientist will be recognised across the UK and worldwide.
Watch the video to find out more about this fascinating course.
Conduct vitally important scientific tests
NHS Biomedical Scientists conduct vitally important scientific tests, which underpin the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. This cutting-edge scientific analysis contributes greatly to the clinical outcomes and recovery of patients.
Practical work and training in our £3.5m science labs features throughout the course. This is combined with rigorous study of the body in health and disease at all levels - body, organ, tissue, cellular and molecular.
Our biomedical science course has consistently rated over 90% for Student Satisfaction in the National Student Survey (NSS). And in the 2023 Guardian University Guide, it ranked 1st in Scotland for Teaching Satisfaction.
Choose Standard or Applied Biomedical Science
Following a common pathway for two years, after that you’ll take either the Standard or the Applied programme route.
The Applied route includes an 18-week placement in one of our partner hospital laboratoriesand is particularly relevant if you want become a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS.
Many of our graduates take the biomedical scientist career path. This means after gaining a Specialist Skills Diploma, you could be become a Specialist Biomedical Scientist. Ultimately this can lead to a role as a Specialised Consultant.
Undergraduate Open Days
Visit our Dundee campus and find your place at Abertay University.
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As well as gaining the skills you need to start a career in the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist, you can pursue other career paths, such as scientific work in university or commercial laboratories.
Some have opted for other bioscience-related routes like secondary school teaching, medical sales, and postgraduate medicine or dentistry. Many go on to pursue Masters or PhD studies in the bioscience field.Possible roles include:
Biomedical scientist
Analytical chemist
Biology teacher
Research scientist
Choose your path
The professional accreditation means that you can apply to work as biomedical scientists/trainee biomedical scientists within the NHS. These posts are ONLY open to you if you have an Honours degree in Biomedical Science that has been accredited by the IBMS.
Many of our graduates have taken the biomedical scientist career path. This means after gaining a Specialist Skills Diploma, you could be become a Specialist Biomedical Scientist. Ultimately this can lead to a role as a Specialised Consultant.
Strong links with local hospitals
We have very strong links with local hospitals.
Particularly laboratories at Ninewells Hospital - Europe's largest teaching hospital - Kings Cross Hospital (Dundee), Perth Royal Infirmary, and Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
About your modules
All modules shown are indicative and reflect course content for the current academic year. Modules are reviewed annually and may be subject to change. If you receive an offer to study with us we will send you a Programme document that sets out exactly which modules you can expect to take as part of your Abertay University degree programme. Please see Terms and Conditions for more information.
The degree award title for the Standard route is BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science. For the Applied route, the degree award title is BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science.
The Applied route means you can apply for HCPC registration as soon as you graduate successfully.
Standard route graduates can be employed in the NHS as trainee biomedical scientists and then apply for HCPC registration after more training (typically 12-24 months).
In most years, the number of students wanting to transfer to the Applied route exceeds the number of available placements (typically around 30%). If this happens, entry to the Applied route is competitive and will be based on your Year 2 academic performance.
Learning and assessment
You’ll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical work. Enquiry-based learning (EBL) and problem-based learning (PBL) approaches are used at appropriate points in the curriculum.
Assessment is by a combination of coursework assignments, class tests, presentations and examinations.
Please note: All applicants must have passes in English and Maths - National 5 grade C or GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent. National 5 ESOL is accepted in lieu of National 5 English. Lifeskill Maths and Application of Maths at grade B accepted.
Biology or Human Biology at Higher B and Chemistry at Nat 5 C or better (OU module SXM150 considered in lieu of Nat 5 Chemistry)
Higher (minimum entry) We may make you an offer at the minimum entry grades if you meet the criteria. Find out if you're eligible for minimum entry (see below).
BBC
Biology or Human Biology at B and Chemistry at Nat 5 C or better
A-Level
CCC
Biology or Human Biology at A Level and either Chemistry, Combined Science, Additional Science or Further Science or Double Science GCSE at C or better (A Level Medical Science in lieu of Biology SB)
T Level
C or higher
in Core Component in one of the following:- Healthcare Science or Science
Irish Highers
H3H3H3H3
Biology and Irish Ordinary Chemistry at C or better
International Baccalaureate Diploma Based Programme (IBDP)
27 Points
Biology at S5 or H4 and Chemistry in Middle Year programme at 4 or better
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP)
We encourage applications with the IBCP but understand that your combination of qualifications may differ depending on where you are studying.
We accept the International Baccalaureate Careers-related Programme (IBCP). Any subject requirements must be met as per our published IB Diploma requirements.
AHEAD
Successful completion of the relevant stream of our AHEAD programme
SWAP Access
BBB
Life Sciences, Health & Life Sciences, Sciences, Biological Sciences, Science, Technology and Health
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP)
See next column
If you are taking HNC/HND with one or more Higher Levels IB subjects, your offer will be similar to our BTEC + A Level offer (see 'BTEC National Diploma / Diploma') but with an HL requirement of 6 for A, 5 for B, or 4 for C.
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP)
See next column
If you are taking HNC/HND with one or more Higher Levels IB subjects, your offer will be similar to our BTEC + A Level offer (see 'BTEC National Diploma / Diploma') but with an HL requirement of 6 for A, 5 for B, or 4 for C.
*Those gaining direct entry to year 3 are not eligible to compete for a clinical laboratory placement, and therefore will not normally be permitted to follow the Applied Route of the programme.
Not sure if you're eligible for entry?
If you have the potential and motivation to study at university, regardless of your background or personal circumstances, we welcome your application.
We understand some people have faced extra challenges before applying to university, which is why we consider the background in which your academic grades have been achieved when making an offer.
If you expect to receive passes in three Scottish Highers (grades A-C) and have...
been in care, or are a young carer yourself
attended a school or lived in an area where not many people go to university
are eligible for free school meals
are a young person estranged from your family
are a government-recognised refugee or have asylum seeker status
are a registered pupil with sustained engagement in a targeted aspiration-raising programme such as LIFT OFF, LEAPS, FOCUS West or Aspire North
... we encourage you to submit an application.
Support for Ukrainian students
We're keen to offer help to Ukrainian students who may wish to transfer from their existing institution in Ukraine or to register with us as new students for intake in September. There will be no tuition fees charged for the duration of the degree programme, as those with refugee status are treated as 'Home/Scottish' students and will also have access to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland bursary and student loans. Our Recruitment Team can help guide applicants.
The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying.
We offer a range of scholarships to help support your studies with us.
As well as specific Abertay scholarships for English, Welsh, Northern Irish and international students, there are a range of corporate and philanthropic scholarships available. Some are course specific, many are not. There are some listed below or you can visit the Undergraduate scholarship pages.
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats) is an official source of information about higher education. It collates comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study.