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.

Additional course information

Upon completion of this course you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• BMS in both core and appropriate key subject areas, as defined in the QAA BMS Honours Benchmark Statements (Subject Knowledge and Understanding) and in the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) Criteria and Requirements for BSc (Hons) Degree Course Accredition;
• the role of epidemiology in the identification of risk and protective factors associated with disease development and of the latest major advances in the scientific understanding of human health and disease, together with a critical understanding of the factors and processes which contribute to human health and disease;
• a multidisciplinary approach to the study of human disease. You must have detailed knowledge of how diseases develop and how they affect the normal function of the human body. You will also have a detailed understanding of methods for diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and prevention of disease and their relevance in a diagnostic and research environment;
• the need for compliance with health and safety policies, good laboratory practice, risk and COSHH assessments and the importance of quality control and quality assurance as defined by the IBMS.

Module guide

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.

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.

UCAS Tariff points:	240
Additional Requirements:	Required subject(s): GCE A-level Biology GCSE(s) Required: 3 GCSEs at grade C including English and Maths

Entry requirements listed are for September 2013 entry. Entry requirements for other intakes may differ.

IBMS Accreditation
The Department of Life Sciences also accepts students who are required by the IBMS to do further study to bring their degrees up to accredited standards. Before we can provide more specific advice, we will first need to see a copy of the IBMS letter defining what studies you need to complete. Thereafter we will produce a list of our modules that you will need to complete to obtain accreditation. Study is on campus (Cambridge) and if you are working this can be completed by day release.

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.

• International students
• EU students
• English language requirements