Course overview

Biomedical science is a popular and fascinating field of study concerned with a detailed understanding of the human body in health and disease. Central to biomedical science, as a profession, are the techniques and methodologies used in the diagnosis of disease, its monitoring and identification of treatment procedures. Our degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).

There is the opportunity to transfer to our applied biomedical science degree at the start of your second year (subject to availability of places). In your first year, you will take a number of core modules to allow you to develop the basic skills and laboratory experience needed for your further studies. 

In your second and third years, your studies become more specialised and you will take a number of modules that impart specific knowledge of human pathology and disease diagnosis and monitoring. During your third year, you will also carry out your own laboratory-based research project.

The specific aims of this course are:

• to enable you to acquire and demonstrate core knowledge and understanding of the scientific discipline of biomedical science and sufficient knowledge in related fields, as appropriate to QAA Biomedical Science Subject Benchmark Statements and the IBMS Specific Requirements of Programme Content;

• for you to meet local, national and International needs;

• to enable you to acquire and apply skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and application in the context of biomedical science;

• for you to originate and test ideas scientifically through experiment and critically review the results obtained;

• to give you an appreciation of the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of biomedical science;

• to develop your range of transferable skills (oral and written communication, numerical and computational) relevant to a wider range of graduate employment opportunities;

• to give you a range of practical skills, and experience biomedical science and related areas of science;

• to make you aware of the provisional nature of science;

• to enable you to meet the requirements of the Anglia Ruskin Graduate Outcomes;

• to enable you to meet relevant QAA biomedical science benchmarking standards;

• for you to meet IBMS degree accreditation criteria;

• to enable you to acquire an awareness of the wider social, economic and ethical aspects of biomedical science;

• to promote to you access to and further progression within higher education, research or professional development.

Degree Structure

Year one core modules

• Biomeasurement
• Core Biology
• Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Foundations of Cell Biology
• General Microbiology
• Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
• Human Anatomy and Physiology 2

Year two core modules

• Preparation for Research
• Metabolism and its Control
• Diagnostic Techniques in Pathology
• Principles of Genetics
• Principles of Pathology
• Physiology of Organ Systems
• Laboratory Techniques for the Biomedical Sciences

Year three core modules

• Microbial Pathogenicity
• Molecular Cell Biology
• Medical Genetics
• Immunology
• Human Pathology
• Specialist Topics in Biomedical Science
• Current Advances in Biomedical Science
• Undergraduate Research Project

Assessment

A wide range of modern, dynamic learning and teaching methods are employed. The methods used have been designed to meet the specific learning outcomes of the course. Assessment includes coursework and formal examinations.

All of our Department's programmes are underpinned by staff research, which is discussed in more detail under their individual entries. 

Research within Life Sciences:

• Animal and Environmental Research Group (AERG)
• Cellular Pathology and Molecular Genetics Group (CPMG)
• Animal Behaviour Research Unit of Mikumi National Park, Tanzania.

Our department has a number of full-time PhD students and also supports part-time post-graduate, usually PhD, students who are employed in the many life-science based organisations in the Cambridge area.

Consultancy within Life Sciences:

• Equine Reproductive Behaviour Consultancy
• Human Energetics and Performance Centre

Links with industry and professional recognition

Our biomedical science degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science www.ibms.org. A year's free IBMS Student membership is offered to all students registering on this degree course.

We have strong links with Addenbrooke's Hospital (Cambridge) and with other hospitals in the region. Biomedical scientists from local hospital pathology laboratories are part of the academic team responsible for delivery of the more specialist aspects of the curriculum.

Associated careers

Graduates in biomedical science enjoy a very high level of employment and can choose to work in a hospital pathology laboratory. Other options include; forensic science laboratories, the Blood Transfusion Service, the Medical Research Council, university laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturers, plus a wide variety of science-informed graduate careers. Significant numbers of graduates opt to further their studies at MPhil and PhD level.