BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
4 years Placement year, 3 years FullTime
Campus:
City
UCAS Code:
B940
Grades/points required:
BBC-ABB (112-128)

Why study this course with LJMU?

  • Accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science
  • 95% of students surveyed said the teaching staff were good at explaining things (NSS 2024)
  • Opportunity to undertake a years work placement
  • You may apply to study on the Applied Biomedical Science programme (which is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council) with regular NHS laboratory practice
  • Links with local organisations, such as the Roy Castle Foundation Laboratories for research into lung cancer, Transplant Immunology at the University of Liverpool, many local NHS departments, including those at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Whiston Hospital and the Liverpool Women's Hospital, plus companies such as Mast Diagnostics and Eden Bioscience
  • Lively department with excellent teaching and active research
  • International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more

About your course

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science is professionally accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science and offers you exciting placement opportunities with our industry partners. The development of advanced laboratory skills are integral to this fascinating degree, which covers the broad areas of human bioscience and diagnostic science.

As a Biomedical Science student, you will cover the broad areas of human bioscience and diagnostic science, including medical microbiology, immunology, histology, haematology, medical genetics and cancer alongside basic sciences such as biochemistry, physiology, molecular and cell biology. Laboratory work is an important part of this course, giving you the high-level skills and understanding required of a biomedical scientist by the time you graduate.

You may consider taking the more practical applied biomedical sciences route. Acceptance onto this route is by competitive application. If successful, you will spend about 1,000 hours over three years working in a local NHS laboratory and gaining academic credit for your work-based study.

This will take the form of long summer blocks in a relevant laboratory with further attendance during your final year of study. If you decide not to take this option we encourage you to undertake a years work placement or a shorter placement between your second and third years to gain experience.

One of the advantages of being accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences is that you can join the Institute as an eStudent and have access to their resources to help with your course and career development. They also award a prize to the best biomedical science graduate and to other students who have shown particular promise.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Core modules

Optional Modules

Core modules

Professional accreditation/links

This course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science. You may apply to study on the Applied Biomedical Science programme (which is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council) with regular NHS laboratory practice.

Our links with local hospitals, public health and private laboratories ensure that course content is informed by the latest research and developments in todays biomedical science industry and tailored to the needs of employers. Our connections include the Walton Centre of Excellence in Neurology and Neurosciences, the Roy Castle Foundation Laboratories for research into lung cancer, Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Glaxo/Wellcome Laboratories.

Your Learning Experience

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

The number of formal teaching hours varies from module to module. On average you will spend 12-15 hours in lectures, seminars, workshops, lab sessions, tutorials, and online each week. In your final year you will spend approximately half of your time on an independent research project.

If you take the applied biomedical science route, some of your time will be spent in supervised laboratory work with your employer, supported by one-to-one tutorials and small group meetings with your clinical placement facilitator at the university.

Work-related Learning

This course is highly vocational with a strong element of work-related learning. For those students who are successful in their application to take the applied biomedical science route, over the three years of your degree, this provides an opportunity to find out what its really like to work in an NHS lab. Alternatively the sandwich option provides a years work experience in industry, and there are opportunities for shorter periods of work experience. For those students who do not take a work experience placement, the course provides many opportunities to develop relevant skills. Whichever route you take, you will gain invaluable hands-on experience, practising skills you have learnt during the course and boosting your employability, giving you a head start when you eventually enter the competitive graduate job market.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

Being able to discuss course-related issues, particularly in your first year, is crucial and for this reason you will receive different kinds of support for specific aspects of your course. A personal tutor will provide continuous support for the duration of your time at LJMU, meeting you regularly in Levels 4 and 5 and setting up one-to-one progress review meetings to monitor and help improve your work.

In the time leading up to and during your placement, you will be allocated a tutor who will visit you in your workplace. If you go down the Applied Biomedical Science route, this role will be covered by a Clinical Placement Facilitator. Finally, once you reach your final year, a supervisor will guide you through your research project.

The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has a Disability Support Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

Assessment methods vary depending on the modules you take, but are mostly a combination of exams and coursework, though some are via coursework only. Exams may be multiple choice, short answer, interpretative, problem-based learning or essay-based. Some modules assess practical competence. Applied Biomedical Science students complete a portfolio demonstrating competence to practice.

Coursework assessments may include phase tests, practical reports, data handling, oral presentations, poster presentations, group discussions, essays, portfolios or the evaluation of your practical skills and most are based on individual assignments. Feedback is normally provided within three weeks of submitting coursework and may be via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing. We believe that constructive feedback is vital in helping you identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.

84%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for Biomedical Science (Full time) at Liverpool John Moores University

For more official course information visit Discover Uni

See course data

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Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

You will study at the Byrom Street site in the university's City Campus in the heart of Liverpool. Our state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching spaces will ensure you enjoy a first-class study environment. The Avril Robarts library is within easy walking distance and here you'll find all the information you need to support your studies.

Course tutors

While academically challenging, this course provided me with the broad range of skills required to succeed in the highly competitive scientific job market. First class teaching, first class employability, and a first class student experience.

Career paths

You will enjoy varied career opportunities both in the UK and overseas with this BSc in Biomedical Science.

Approximately one third of our graduates decide to pursue careers in NHS and public health laboratory services, providing diagnostic, prognostic, monitoring and other support for patients. Others enter the pharmaceutical industry to work in research and drug development or other laboratory-based careers. Clinical trials fieldwork is also becoming increasingly popular, as is sales and marketing for diagnostic and therapeutic products.

Graduates have entered the Health and Safety Executive, medical records and similar occupations. Some students also opt to do further qualifications, such as postgraduate medicine, teaching, specialised MSc programmes or research qualifications

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Tuition fees and funding

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

  • library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
  • access to programme-appropriate software
  • library and student IT support
  • free on-campus wifi via eduroam

Additional costs

Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

  • accommodation and living expenditure
  • books (should you wish to have your own copies)
  • printing, photocopying and stationery
  • PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
  • mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
  • field trips (travel and activity costs)
  • placements (travel expenses and living costs)
  • student visas (international students only)
  • study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
  • academic conferences (travel costs)
  • professional-body membership
  • graduation (gown hire etc)

Funding

There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.

A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available. This does not apply to the Applied Biomedical Science route.

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: BBC-ABB (112-128)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Qualification requirements

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

Your university life

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See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you're making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
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