Biomedical Science

Biomedical science is concerned with understanding the biological processes that underlie human health and disease, drawing on biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, and physiology to examine how the body works and what happens when it goes wrong. It is the scientific foundation for modern medicine, and the laboratories in which biomedical scientists work provide the diagnostic information that guides a significant proportion of clinical decisions in the NHS. The field is also central to the development of new treatments, as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies build on biomedical research to create the medicines and therapies of the future.

At Edge Hill, this three-year full-time programme develops both theoretical understanding and practical laboratory skills across the core areas of biomedical science, asking how diseases develop, how they are diagnosed, and how new therapeutic approaches might be created. A sandwich year in industry and a year abroad are incorporated alongside a work placement, giving you extensive professional experience in relevant settings before you graduate. The combination of academic biomedical science with professional practice and international exposure is a significant advantage in a competitive graduate market.

Graduates are sought after across NHS clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, clinical trials, public health laboratories, and academic research. Many who qualify with an eligible degree go on to register as Biomedical Scientists with the Health and Care Professions Council, working in hospital departments including haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, and histopathology. Others build careers in pharmaceutical quality assurance, regulatory affairs, medical devices, and science communication.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in biomedical science, molecular medicine, or related fields, and some pursue doctoral research.