Biomedical sciences

Biomedical scientists endeavour to understand the inner workings of the human body so they can provide the right care for patients, and tackle some of the most serious diseases threatening mankind.

What's on this page?

• Study options
• Chat to a current biomedical sciences student
• Why IBMS accreditation matters
• Subjects it's useful to have studied first
• Careers: Where it can take you
• Getting in: Entry requirements
• Other subjects you may be interested in
• Explore further
• Application advice

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

Study options

Options to study in this field include:

• undergraduate courses
• apprenticeships