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Biomedical Science BSc Honours

Taught by expert researchers and supported with placements at London's leading hospitals, you will develop vital skills for an outstanding career in laboratories and research
Code
C700
Start
September 2024
Duration
3 years full-time
Attendance
Full-time
Fees
September 2024: £9,250 (UK)*
£16,600 (INT)*
Course leader
Beata Burczynska

Our biomedical science degree allows you to gain specialist skills that can open up career opportunities in hospital laboratories and scientific research.

Why choose BSc Biomedical Science at Middlesex?

This course is designed to help you develop valuable professional expertise and attributes in the field of biomedical science.

In addition to excellent labs on campus, you will have the option to refine your skills and extend your experience in a commercial, research or NHS pathology laboratory.

What you will gain

Our biomedical science degree gives you the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience you need to succeed in the medical and healthcare sector and related industries.

You'll develop professional skills which will help you work in a variety of fields including research, laboratory work or postgraduate study.

Our course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science, which means you’ll graduate with a professional qualification that will give you a competitive edge in pursuing your career ambitions.

By spending additional placement time in a hospital laboratory (on the Applied Biomedical Science course or by working in an accredited hospital laboratory after graduation) you will gain Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration. This means you can work as a professional Biomedical Scientist.

Accreditations

Our Biomedical Science BSc is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), which is a requirement for Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration..

What you will learn

This course gives you a solid foundation in the underlying principles of biomedical science and develops your practical skills through laboratory-based experiments and problem-based learning.

Studying biomedical science in London means you’ll get plenty of opportunities to build your professional skills, knowledge and ethical values.

Within the 4-year Applied Biomedical Science course, you’ll also have the option to apply for a year-long laboratory placement in pathology labs. Past students have taken placements at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, The Doctors Laboratory, Health Services Laboratories.

You'll explore key developments in scientific research and medicine including innovative work on biomarkers, cancer treatments and rapid testing of infectious diseases.

Using real-life clinical laboratory challenges, you’ll develop a specialist knowledge of microscopy, blood typing, DNA analysis and cancer identification.

On this course, you will enjoy:

  • Practical sessions in modern laboratory facilities, with insights into the latest scientific techniques, instruments and equipment
  • Workshop sessions, with personalised support that’s tailored to your studies and your future career ambitions
  • Opportunities to explore the next generation of scientific instrumentation for molecular techniques, microbiology and proteomics

Personal support from our student learning and graduate academic assistants who are passionate about biomedical science and dedicated to helping you achieve your full potential.


Keep informed

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This course is fast-paced and hands-on and provides you with the knowledge and skills to enable you to work safely and effectively in diagnostics laboratories. You will evaluate the evidence underpinning practice and be able to develop your knowledge of the aetiology of disease diagnosis and treatment through the study of biomedical science specialist subjects.

Year 1

Your first year covers biomolecular, cells and human sciences as well as a module on professional practice in Biomedical Science.

Year 2

This year covers disciplines of blood, cellular and infectious sciences, molecular and genetic sciences as well as research methods with aspects of professional development

Year 3

In your final year, you will take specialised modules in transplantation, blood transfusion, clinical biochemistry and medical microbiology or cellular molecular pathology. You will also take a final dissertation project this year.

You may take a year-long placement either after year 2 or year 3 of your study. See our placements section for further details.

Modules

  • Year 1 - Compulsory

    • Professional Practice for Biomedical Science (15 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the biomedical profession and employment opportunities. In addition, the module facilitates development of basic laboratory skills, safe laboratory practice, and appropriate administrative, communication and practical skills required for successful academic and professional progress, and to work in a clinical laboratory environment.

    • Introduction to Biomedical Science (30 credits)

      The module is designed to provide an understanding of different areas in biomedical science used to investigate human diseases. The module encompasses theoretical knowledge and laboratory training in medical microbiology, haematology and blood transfusion, genetics, and cellular science.

    • Cell Sciences (30 credits)

      The module aims to provide you with an introduction to the classification, structure and function of cells and microbes and examples of disease that result from abnormal structure and/or function. Another key aim of this module is to enable you to acquire laboratory skills required to study cells and microbes.

    • Human Sciences (30 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and understanding of human anatomy and physiology required to underpin your future learning. The unifying theme of homeostasis is used to show how a healthy structure and function are maintained and how failures of homeostasis can result in disease.

    • Biomolecular Science (15 credits)

      This module provides you with the skill and underpinning knowledge to pursue further studies in biological and biomedical sciences. Particular emphasis is placed on the basic principles of biochemistry for life sciences and genetics.

  • Year 2 - Compulsory

    • Research Methods and Professional Development (30 credits)

      The module aims to provide you with the skills necessary to plan, implement, analyse and report project-based work, with the focus on preparation for the final year project module. The module also develops your core research skills fundamental to a scientific research design, irrespective of discipline. Specific research skills include analytical techniques appropriate to your course requirements.

    • Clinical Sciences (30 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with the knowledge and understanding of disease processes and most common diseases. It also examines the multidisciplinary nature of disease investigation, management and prevention.

    • Infection Sciences (15 credits)

      This module introduces methods that are used to investigate infections. You will become familiar with aseptic techniques and culturing, isolation, enumeration, and observation of infectious agents in microbiology laboratory. This module also aims to you with understanding of the principles and practice of microbiological test procedures used to diagnose infectious disease and the methods used to control spread of infection.

    • Blood Sciences (15 credits)

      The module aims to provide you with a working knowledge of the principles and practice of blood sciences and to gain experience in the application of commonly used techniques.

    • Cellular Sciences (15 credits)

      The module aims to provide you with a working knowledge of the principles and practice of cellular pathology and to gain experience in the application of commonly used techniques and the delivery of cellular pathology services. Emphasis is placed on the use of histological equipment, and on routine and special staining techniques for the demonstration of pathological conditions.

    • Molecular and Genetics Science (15 credits)

      The overall aim is that you understand and gain experience in the principles, practice, quality assurance and applications of commonly employed methods of molecular biology and genetics used in the investigation of disease.

  • Year 3 - Sandwich only

    • Placement for Employability (120 credits)

      The module aims to develop your employability skills by achieving the set of agreed learning outcomes in the Three Way Negotiated Learning Agreement and other skills learned in placement. This practical experience module provides the means for you to link your academic work with the 'real world' situation in order to conceptualise the meaning of theory in the wider world context. This module facilitates the embedding of transferable and graduate skills necessary for future career paths and employment. You will reflect upon areas of knowledge relevant to the placement learning experience and develop personal knowledge through a review of your learning. The placement learning experience provides you with the opportunity to enhance your skills of self-expression, communication, self-reliance and co-operation.

  • Year 3 - Compulsory

    • Transplantation Transfusion and Specialist Biochemistry (30 credits)

      This module will reinforce and expand on your year 1 and 2 modules. The overall aim is that you understand and gain experience in a range of core and specialised methods and techniques from across the blood sciences with applications to immunology and specialist biochemistry, understanding their importance in the clinical investigation of patients.

    • Dissertation (30 credits)

      This module will build on the skills you acquired when undertaking a Research Methods and Professional Practice module and from the knowledge gained throughout the course to date. Further development of analysis, critical thinking and scientific literary style will be promoted. You will pursue areas of individual interest in the subject area appropriate to your target award and have the opportunity of gaining increased theoretical and practical knowledge in a chosen specialist field. You will gain individual research experience  in an area that may provide future employment opportunities. Personal responsibility for your own learning through self-directed study and supervised preparation will be fostered. This is an integral part of the degree programme, furthering the development of skills in critical analysis and reflection.

    • Medical Microbiology (30 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of pathogenicity and emergence of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections. In addition, you will become familiar with the principles  and practice of laboratory and point-of-care test procedures used to diagnose infectious disease and monitor the effectiveness of the treatments. Youwill also gain an insight into the methods used to control infections in healthcare settings and in the community.

    • Cellular and Molecular Pathology (30 Credits)

      The aims of this module are to develop the student’s knowledge and appreciation of the principles of cellular and molecular pathology. Emphasis is placed on the range of pathologies affecting a number of organ systems, the diagnostic strategies and skills used to identify them.

  • Year 4 - Applied Biomedical only

    • Clinical Laboratory Practice (120 credits)

      The module will provide you with an opportunity to develop and then consolidate your knowledge and understanding of the day-to-day management and routines of hospital pathology laboratories. In addition, you will be able to acquire the knowledge and skills required for registration as biomedical scientists with the Health and Care Professions Council and prepare for the IBMS assessment of their Registration Portfolio.

To find out more about this highly regarded course, please download the Biomedical Science BSc specification (PDF).

We review our courses regularly to improve your experience and graduate prospects so modules may be subject to change.

  1. Teaching and independent learning
  2. Coursework and assessment

Facilities

Our new laboratories feature:

  • Mass spectrometry and electron microscope suite – housing all new Shimadzu Triple quadrupole, 8060, Bruker MALDI-ToF, Thermo Scientific Orbitrap and a scanning electron microscope Thermo Scientific Phenom FEG-SEM.
  • Biomedical Science teaching laboratories – including two fifty-students capacity facilities for hands-on laboratory skills teaching.
  • Molecular biology research laboratory housing thermocycles and real-time PCRs (Polymerase Chain Reaction -multiplication of a small part of a gene), spectrophotometers, and gene sequencing Illumina iSeq and Oxford nanopore machines as well as 2D gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE for protein separation, Li-COR Imaging equipment/software for western blotting and DNA gel analysis, BD Biosciences Flow Cytometer.
  • Tissue culture research laboratory – class II biological safety cabinets, video microscopy and full height roller bottle and standard CO2 incubators, cell counters, CAM Culture Incubator.
  • Histology research lab housing cryostats, standard microtomes and Fluorescence microscopy imaging equipment.

General biochemistry research laboratory – housing immunoassay, Chromatography (separation techniques -separating mixtures and molecules), HPLC, UPLC and general separation equipment.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability Advice and Support service.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the Biomedical Science BSc support your career?

Employment prospects for biomedical scientists are excellent. You could find yourself working in laboratories (for universities, hospitals and research centres), and also within the NHS, public health, veterinary and agricultural, pharmaceutical or forensic fields.

A number of graduates have pursued careers in education, clinical trials management, medical start-up companies, as sales representatives in biosciences companies or working within biomedical consultancy. Our graduates now work for organisations such as Anthony Nolan Trust, The Institute of Cancer Research, GSK, CEGX, Frontiers and Medical News Today.

You can also explore further academic research on PhD and MSc programmes at universities across the UK and abroad.

If you do additional placement time in a hospital laboratory (either on the Clinical Laboratory Placement programme of Biomedical Science, or by working in an accredited hospital laboratory after graduation), you'll gain Healthcare Professions Council registration, allowing you to work as a professional biomedical scientist.

Natural Sciences Academic Society

The Natural Sciences Academic Society aims to increase awareness of biosciences and their applications in jobs, research and innovation. Members organise activities and events to showcase biological sciences. They will help you become part of the next generation of leading scientists.

MDXworks

Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognized with the following awards:

The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023 
A top 10 university for producing CEOs  – Novuana, 2023.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

Work placements

Biomedical Science runs as a three-year course full-time (with a part-time option). If you are eligible you can opt to extend the course by a year, and spend the third ("sandwich" year) or fourth (final) year doing a work placement, for example in a commercial, research or NHS pathology laboratory. If you're studying Applied Biomedical Science, you'll be able to do a placement in our partner pathology diagnostics laboratories where you can complete your portfolio to become an HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist.

You'll have fantastic opportunities to go out on placement in prestigious London hospitals such as The Whittington Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex Hospital, University College London Hospitals, Northwick Park Hospital, Hemel Hempstead Hospital, as well as the laboratories at NHS Blood & Transplant and the Doctors Laboratory or Health Service Laboratories at The Halo Building.

Throughout your degree on sandwich or Applied Biomedical Science courses, you'll work in labs including NHS pathologies laboratories in London.

  • Placements will take place as a 12-month block taken between year two and year three (sandwich placement) or as a fourth year (In the case of the BSc Applied Biomedical Science BSc)
  • You'll be required to complete about 12 months of training
  • This training may make you eligible for IBMS membership and state registration with the Healthcare Professions Council as a Biomedical Scientist
  • You'll have a training officer who'll ensure that you are given the appropriate learning opportunities to meet the module outcomes and a mentor from university.

Placements and internships greatly improve graduate employment prospects, and those who take part achieve excellent academic results through applying their learning in a professional setting.

Our specialist employability service and London location ensure that every year our students and graduates gain prestigious placement opportunities.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:

UK students1

Full-time: £9,250

Part-time: £77 per taught credit

International students2

Full-time students: £16,600

Part-time students: £138 per taught credit

Additional costs

The following study tools are included in your fees:

  • Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
  • Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
  • Free printing for academic paperwork
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Scholarships and bursaries

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:

  • MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
  • Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
  • Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Britta Stordal
Associate Professor in Cancer Research

Dr Britta Stordal is the Faculty and Science and Technology Learning and Quality Lead at Middlesex.

Her research interests include biomarkers and mechanisms of platinum and taxane drug resistance in ovarian cancer, analysis of BRCA1 gene methylation, lifestyle-related risk factors of breast cancer and public awareness of the symptoms and risk factors of ovarian and cervical cancer

Helen Roberts
Associate Professor in Skeletal Cancer Research

Dr Roberts is currently Associate Professor in Skeletal Cancer Research at Middlesex University, and coordinates a research track investigating the regulation of aberrant cellular behaviour and subsequent skeletal tissue morbidity. She has a particular interest in the role of epigenetics and autophagy in the regulation of osteosarcoma metastasis and chemoresistance.

Dr Roberts is Programme Leader for the Faculty of Science and Technology Foundation Programme, and Director of Programmes (Quality Enhancement) for the Department of Natural Sciences. Dr Roberts also contributes to the teaching of epigenetics, physiology, pharmacology, molecular biology and cell biology on undergraduate and postgraduate modules, and supervises a number of undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate (MSc, MRes and PhD) research projects.

Frank Hills
Associate Professor: Cell Biology

After graduating with an honours degree in Biochemistry Dr Hills worked for several years as a Clinical Scientist at St Bartholomew's hospital in London. He was awarded his PhD in 2002 from the faculty of Medicine at Queen Mary University of London for his work on "The Role of Insulin-like Growth Factors in Disorders of Fetal Growth".

Currently, he is research interests include investigating the role of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans on the development of placental pathology and breast cancer. Dr Hills teaches a range of topics in biomedical science including clinical biochemistry, cellular and developmental biology as well as statistical analysis. He is author of over 35 peer-reviewed scientific articles and has refereed manuscripts for a variety of journals in the area of reproduction and endocrinology.

Darshna Yagnik
Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences

Darshna completed her PhD at Imperial College, London investigating the role of human monocytes in a model of cellular inflammation. She has worked at the Hammersmith Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research at the Royal Marsden Hospital in diagnostics and reserach.

Her research interests include the use of chemical derivatives or alternative medications in treating infectious diseases, combatting cancer and inflammation.

Tham Janganan
Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology

Thamarai (Tham) K Janganan is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology, Department of Natural Sciences at Middlesex University, London. He is a trained Microbiologist, having worked as a Clinical Microbiologist and Lecturer at various higher education institutions and hospitals in India since 1995. Later, he moved to the UK and received his PhD in Molecular Microbiology from Durham University in 2008.

Tham's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms contributing to antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, aiming at elucidating the mechanism of how Gram-negative bacteria expel antimicrobial compounds.

Sandra Appiah
Associate Professor in Chemistry/BiochemistryAssociate Professor in Chemistry/Biochemistry

Dr Sandra Appiah is an Associate Professor in Biochemistry and works at the Department of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University, UK.

She has a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry, a PhD in Biochemistry and a Master of Business degree in Senior Leadership.

In her role as a Faculty of Science and Technology Learning and Quality lead, she proactively works to maintain a high standard of student experience through initiatives on intentional inclusivity.

  • Zeshan Ahmed

    Biomedical Science BSc graduate

    The support you receive is really good. I found that lecturers are at hand and you can always drop them an email or find them in the office. It might take a bit of initiative, but you can always find them and get the help you need.

    A lot of the lecturers are involved in their own research if they're not teaching, so they supervise students during their dissertations through their own research. The things you're being taught and learning for your dissertation often come straight from the research they're doing that they're really passionate about and are experts in, so you're in good hands.

  • Apdesh Landa

    Biomedical Science student

    This degree is for those aspiring to be part of a very challenging and dynamic future in Biomedical Science. I chose this course because it was accredited by the IBMS and found through my own research that the facilities and academic staff were excellent. I could also stay at home in London, saving me money.

    Having been fascinated by the sheer marvel of the human architecture and mechanisms of disease I felt compelled to study this course. I would like to further myself, ultimately specialising in an area such as haematology. As I am only in my first year I am keen to discover what my strengths and weaknesses are, then choose a direction.

  • Kimberley Hassen

    Biomedical Science student

    I am really enjoying the course. The learning structure is excellent and we have things like laboratory log books and problem-based questions to answer. This helps us to put the theory into practice so we have a better understanding. I looked at a couple of other universities but I wanted to know that after three years' study I was going to be state registered.

    The teaching facilities are excellent and teaching staff are very friendly. Advice for any applicants going through the UCAS system would be to go and visit the university on an open day. This will give you the chance to speak with academics and look around the facilities for yourself.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

Other courses

Biological Sciences BSc Honours

Start: September 2024

Duration: 3 years

Code: C100

Medical Science BSc (Hons)

Start: September 2024

Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years part-time

Code: B90A

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