Biomedical Science

Biomedical science is concerned with the scientific study of human disease, its diagnosis, and the laboratory methods used to detect and monitor it. It sits at the interface between biology and clinical medicine, drawing on biochemistry, microbiology, haematology, immunology, histopathology, and genetics to understand how the body functions in health and what happens when it fails. The discipline is the backbone of diagnostic laboratory medicine: the tests that inform clinical decisions across hospitals and health services depend on the knowledge and skills that biomedical scientists bring.

At Queen's University Belfast this three-year full-time degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science, which is the professional body for the UK's biomedical science workforce. The degree covers the specialist disciplines of diagnostic biomedical science as they are practised in NHS health service laboratories, giving you a thorough grounding in the analytical techniques, quality systems, and clinical context that professional practice requires. You will study the major laboratory disciplines in depth, developing both theoretical understanding and practical laboratory competence across the degree programme.

The accreditation means the degree is a direct route into employment as a biomedical scientist in the NHS, subject to the appropriate registration process. It also provides excellent preparation for research careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and for academic research in the biomedical sciences.

Graduates move into careers as NHS biomedical scientists, working in haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, histopathology, and blood transfusion laboratories. Many go on to further professional development, including specialist portfolios leading to fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science. Others pursue careers in pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, public health laboratories, or academic science, and some continue to postgraduate study in biomedical science or related research fields.