BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Program Overview

---

The Biomedical Science program at Bournemouth University is a comprehensive degree that provides students with a deep understanding of the biological mechanisms of human health and disease. With a focus on practical application, the program includes a 30-week placement, offering students valuable real-world experience in the field. Graduates are highly sought after by a wide range of organizations, including medical, scientific, and technical research and development institutions.

Program Outline

---

Degree Overview:

Biomedical science is a broad-based science degree that studies the biological mechanisms of human health and disease. It forms an important component of medical science, informing, supporting, and improving human healthcare and medicine.

---

Objectives:

• Study strategies of research, new discoveries, and principles of new technologies for more effective analysis and precise interpretations of health and disease.
• Understand the theories, concepts, and principles relevant to different disciplines in biomedical sciences, as well as the wider application of these to address societal needs.
• Develop skills to evaluate scientific literature to understand how evidence-based decisions are made in biomedical sciences and how to conduct your own biomedical science research.
• Explore different techniques for developing medicines and how they are used to treat illness in the human body in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
• Complete a 30-week placement in year three to experience essential and fascinating insights for your future career.

---

Outline:

---

Foundation Year (Optional):

• Core Units:
• Academic and Professional Study Skills: Develop fundamental academic and research skills required for degree-level study, including literature searching, review, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and ethical practice.
• Applied Sciences: Gain a basic understanding of fundamental aspects of science underpinning specific disciplines and appreciate how various scientific disciplines impact human life.
• Introduction to Biology: Study plant and animal cell biology, key themes in human, environmental, and ecological sciences.
• Introduction to Psychology: Prepare for advanced coursework in psychology, covering various areas and explanations of behavior.
• Mathematics in Science: Build confidence in mathematics for scientific data analysis, including calculations, data representation, and basic statistical analysis.
• Foundation Year Project: Conduct a research task on scientific topics chosen by the unit leader, devising an investigation and producing a literature review as a final scientific report.

---

Year 1:

• Core Units:
• Exploring and Understanding Science: Develop skills to conduct independent research in biomedical sciences, formulating and communicating reasoned scientific principles.
• Introduction to Immunology: Learn about the cellular and molecular basis of innate and acquired immunity through practical lab sessions and lectures.
• Human Genetics and Molecular Biology: Explore the role of genes and their expression in cellular life processes, including basic concepts of the central dogma, gene heritability, transcription, and translation.
• Biomedical Laboratory Science: Become proficient in applying specific biomedical laboratory techniques and appreciate good laboratory practices and regulations.

---

Year 2:

• Core Units:
• Infection Sciences and Clinical Immunology: Develop a deeper understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of innate and adaptive immune responses.
• Blood Science: Gain theoretical and practical experience in cellular pathology, clinical biochemistry, medical microbiology, clinical hematology, and transfusion science.
• Biochemistry: Cover the fundamental basics of biochemistry, including macromolecules (structure and function) and their metabolism.
• Advanced Cell Biology: Examine the operation, control, development, and modification of cells in multicellular organisms.
• Mechanisms of Human Pathology: Gain an appreciation of how gene products contribute to organ function and system-level outputs.

---

Optional Placement Year:

• Students can choose to complete a minimum 30-week work placement anywhere in the world.
• Alternatively, they can undertake a short placement of at least 2 weeks.

---

Final Year:

• Core Units:
• Biomedical Research Project: Gain experience in research in a topic of choice relevant to the degree, demonstrating the ability to report research.
• Pathophysiology: Study the molecular bases of important clinical states, including cancer, inherited disease, heart disease, diabetes, infectious diseases, and organ-specific disorders.
• Advanced Topics in Genetics: Explore the role of genetics in biology, including ethical issues, bioinformatics analysis, pharmacogenomics, epigenetics, endophenotypes, and optogenetics.
• Diagnostic Medicine: Develop knowledge and understanding of diagnostics implemented in biomedical and imaging laboratories to identify different types of pathology.
• Optional Units (Choose 1):
• Advanced Systems Biology: Learn to manage and analyze big data, understand and apply computer modeling processes to test hypotheses relevant to biomedical science research.
• Advanced Pharmacology & Toxicology: Understand how different drugs affect humans, including the mechanism of action, pharmacogenetics, and personalized medicines.
• Parasitology & Epidemiology: Gain a broad overview of how parasites influence human and wildlife health, behavior, and population dynamics.

---

Assessment:

• Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.
• The programme specification is available for download.

---

Teaching:

• Students are taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit.
• This includes senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians, and research students.
• Students benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

---

Careers:

• Biomedical science is a rapidly growing area of study, and graduates are highly sought after by a diverse range of organizations, including medical, scientific, and technical research and development.
• Graduates can progress their area of interest through postgraduate study or work in diagnostic, pharmaceutical, or research organizations.
• Within 15 months of graduating, 96% of students are in employment or further study.

---

Other:

• The course receives accreditation from the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
• The course duration is 3 years full-time or 4 years full-time with one placement year.
• Students enrolled on the foundation year complete an additional year at the start.
• The course requires 104-120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent.
• The course is open to all subjects.
• The course offers a range of facilities, including specialist laboratories, the Sir Michael Cobham Library, the Student Centre, the Fusion Building, and the Poole Gateway Building.
• The course provides support for finding placements, both in the UK and overseas.
• The course provides access to Brightspace, a virtual learning environment.
• The course offers a range of discounts for students.
• The course has a repeat unit policy.
• The course has a staff team with relevant expertise and knowledge.
• The course has a programme specification that provides definitive records of the University's taught degrees.
• The course has a health and safety risk assessment process.
• The course has a mature applicant policy.
• The course has a deferred entry policy.
• The course has a direct entry policy.
• The course has a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure.
• The course has an AccessBU initiative.
• The course has an apprenticeship policy.
• The course has a selection process based on UCAS applications.
• The course has an offer making process based on academic achievements, work and other experience, reference, personal statement, and in some cases, an interview or portfolio review.
• The course has a health and safety policy.
• The course has a cost of living and other expenses section.
• The course has a fees section.
• The course has a funding section.
• The course has a scholarships and bursaries section.
• The course has a related courses section.
• The course has a science at BU section.
• The course has a chat with a student section.
• The course has a course changes section.
• The course has a staff profile section.
• The course has a vision, jobs, news, events, governance, people, research, and awards section.
• The course has a quick links section.
• The course has a contact us section.
• The course has an awards section.
• The course has an undergraduate section.
• The course has a postgraduate section.
• The course has a continuing professional development and training section.
• The course has a faculties section.
• The course has a charitable status section.
• The course has a copyright and terms of use section.
• The course has a data protection and privacy section.
• The course has an accessibility section.
• The course has a social media section.
• The course has a back to top section.
• The course has a chat to us section.