Course description

The highlights

• The course focuses on developing your practical laboratory skills, so you'll gain first-hand experience of lab work from year one
• You'll also spend time honing your interpersonal skills and general employability, so you can move on to a diverse range of careers in clinical and public health laboratories, industry and research settings
• The course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science. This degree will fast-track your journey towards registration as a biomedical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council
• All of our teaching team are active researchers as well as teachers, so they will be able to share some of the latest findings and innovative thinking from the human health field

This is a progressive, challenging course which focuses on the latest advances in medical research aimed at preventing ill health and prolonging life. The devastating COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for skills in this area, so this degree is highly relevant right now and you can expect to have strong career prospects.

Biomedical Science is a broad discipline of modern medical science. It is all about understanding human health and the diseases that affect the normal processes in the human body, including their diagnosis. On this degree you'll gain the skills and knowledge to understand the operation of human organisms through subjects like clinical chemistry, immunology, microbiology, histology, clinical genetics, molecular biology, pathology and cancer biology.

Accredited course

The prestigious Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accreditation sets a quality benchmark which ensures that the course is delivered to a high standard, includes content relevant to current medical and research practice and is future ready.

This degree meets the academic and professional requirements for registration as a Biomedical Scientist. The course will provide comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of core subjects, and offers the most recent developments in research and analytical methods.

Studying biomedical science at Derby will enhance your knowledge of science, its practical application to biomedical practice and related research. You will develop skills that are at the forefront of advances in healthcare, pharmaceutical research, and diagnostics, as well as transferable skills valued by a wide range of employers. We work closely with our local NHS pathology labs where you will get opportunity to develop your understanding of the profession.

Overall, an IBMS accredited degree will enhance your employability by offering hands-on experience in the field of biomedical science.

Biomedical Science and Human Biology - your questions answered

In the below video, Head of Discipline for Biomedical and Forensic Science, Dr Shivadas Sivasubramaniam, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about subject at the University of Derby.

How you will learn

We use a good variety of teaching methods including:

• Lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars, which are interactive — these are sometimes led by external speakers from the NHS and other medical organisations
• Laboratory sessions to develop your technical skills and ability to design experiments
• Computer sessions to introduce you to the latest software for data analysis, genetic analysis and protein databases
• Private study with online materials to support

You will also learn through work placements, internships or your year in industry, if you choose to do one.

How you are assessed

Assessments vary depending on the module but we use a range of assessment methods, including:

• Coursework, such as:
  • Laboratory reports on experiments
  • Essays
  • Multiple-choice questions
  • Case studies
  • Oral presentations
  • An independent research study
  • Presentations and practical assessments
  • Unseen written or computer-based exams