Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science with Foundation Year

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 (National Student Survey 2024)
• Opportunity to undertake a year's 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, 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

About your course

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University is the ideal course if you are interested in this subject but lack the necessary qualifications to study it at degree level. The course 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.

About the Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don't have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Biomedical Sciences honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

About BSc (Hons) Biomedical 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 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 year's 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 in your final year and get copies of their free magazine which has employment information and job advertisements. 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.

Foundation Year

• Human Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)
• Fundamental Science Skills (20 credits)
• Introduction to Chemistry (20 credits)
• Introduction to Biochemistry and Cell Biology (20 credits)
• Introduction to Molecular Biology and Genetics (20 credits)
• Further Chemistry (20 credits)

Year 1

• Cell Biology (20 credits)
• Principles of Biochemistry (20 credits)
• Microbiology (20 credits)
• Fundamentals of Biomedical Science (20 credits)
• Anatomy and Physiology (20 credits)
• Genetics and molecular biology (20 credits)

Year 2

• Biomedical Research Methods (20 credits)
• Clinical Biochemistry (20 credits)
• Cellular pathology (20 credits)
• Immunology and medical microbiology (20 credits)
• Haematology and Transfusion Science (20 credits)
• Advanced cell and molecular biology (20 credits)

Year 3

• Cancer (20 credits)
• Medical and clinical genetics (20 credits)
• Clinical immunology and medical microbiology (20 credits)
• Integrated Biomedical Science (20 credits)
• Biomedical Science Honours Project (40 credits)

Professional accreditation

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 today's 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

• Teaching Support Assessment

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 and tutorials each week. In Level 6, 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.

Career paths

You will enjoy an exciting range of career opportunities after graduation.

Approximately one third of our graduates decide to pursue careers in the 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.

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Full-time per year: £9,535
• Placement year: £1,905

International

• Full-time per year: £18,250
• Placement year: £3,830

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

• Grades/points required from qualifications: CCD-CCC (88-96)

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

GCSEs and equivalents

• Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy.

GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

A levels

• CCD-CCC
• Chemistry and/or Biology or relevant science

BTECs

• Extended Diploma: MMM (96)

Access awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Pass overall with a minimum of 88 points including relevant subjects

International Baccalaureate

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

OCR Cambridge Technical

• Extended Diploma: MMM (96)

Irish awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

T levels

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.

International requirements

• IELTS: 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.