Ever wondered who the scientists were behind the statistical data that informed governments’ decisions during the Covid-19 pandemic? As a biomedical scientist, you’ll research and understand how the human body works, both in health and disease. You’ll learn about genetics, genomics, pathology, cellular biology, and immunity, among other things.
It could lead to a career as a biomedical scientist, medical laboratory assistant, research technician, or marketing assistant. You could progress to teaching, postgraduate study, or even into medicine or dentistry. It’s a relatively stable industry, with 3.31% job growth predicted over the next eight years.
- Be the team that tests and analyses samples from the next global pandemic and reduces its impact worldwide.
- Explore further into the causes, prevention, and treatment of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.
- Work on clinical trials and help bring the next life-changing drug to market.
- Biochemistry
- Molecular biology
- Laboratory science
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Cells of the nervous system
- Pharmacology
Chat to a current biomedical sciences student
Chat to a current biomedical sciences student using UniBuddy.
Some conversation starters for you:
- Ask which modules they really enjoyed.
- Find out how easy it was for them to make friends on their course.
- Do they have any tips on your personal statement?
- Did they do anything to prep for uni before they went?
- Are there books, podcasts or YouTube channels they would recommend?
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Project management
- Data analysis
- Microbiology
- Research
- Communications
- Management
- Planning
- Innovation
What is a… toxicologist?
Getting in: Entry requirements
Find out more about what you'll need to study biomedical sciences at university or as an apprenticeship.
Average requirements for undergraduate degrees
Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from biomedical sciences applicants.
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IBMS podcast
Podcast hosted by the Institute of Biomedical Science, which interviews award-winning scientists about their careers, and discusses things like testing strategies for future pandemics, and how digital pathology is changing the way scientists share specimens. -
Health & Care Professions Council
Show you understand how biomedical scientists are regulated by reading the Health & Care Professions Council’s web page about the requirements for this career. -
Biomeducated on YouTube
Run by a PhD student with five years’ biotech experience, this channel has guides on what you might cover when studying biomedical sciences. A bitesize, accessible way to discover more about this subject.
- Show you know what you’re applying for by mentioning what you’ve been reading or listening to that tells you more about this subject or career. Think critically about what you’ve learned and which areas intrigue you.
- Demonstrate your practical skills and your enthusiasm for this subject. Have you got experience in lab work and experiments, perhaps at your school or college in science lessons? Maybe you’ve been doing some sort of science experiments at home?
- Biomedical scientists will need to use their initiative, conduct their own experiments and solve problems independently. Try to give examples of when you’ve carried out your own work – at school, during work experience or as part of your part-time job – and explain what you learned from those experiences.
- Don’t be afraid of talking about your hobbies or extracurricular activities too. Often there are attributes you’ll have picked up from these interests that will be relevant to studying this subject, as well as getting as much as possible out of university life too.