B.Sc. Biomedical Science

Course Content

The Biomedical Science degree is structured to prepare you for a career in a hospital or research laboratory environment, but can also be a valuable passport to many other careers in biological, clinical, pharmaceutical or medical areas. The course is taught at the University by our own staff, with some aspects taught by health professionals from the local hospitals.

A feature of Year 1 is a series of tutorials with your academic adviser (a member of the teaching staff who is responsible for overseeing your academic progress while you are at university). The tutorials are designed to help you adjust to academic life at university and establish good study habits.

This lays the foundation for the advanced modules in Year 2 and your final year where these themes are further developed. The emphasis is on the interdisciplinary nature of causes and treatment of disease, so that you become aware of the many ways in which our understanding is applied to medicine and other health-related disciplines.

Year 3 can be a professional placement in a laboratory concerned with research or clinical work.
Study modules

As courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may vary from that shown below.

Year 1

• Biology of Cells (double)
• Chemistry of Cells (double)
• Human Structure and Function (double)
• Scientific Skills
• Professional and Experimental Skills

Year 2 and final year

• Biochemistry of Cell Function (double)
• Biomedical Laboratory Placement
• Cellular Pathology
• Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology (double)
• Evidence-Based Medicine and Diagnostics
• Haematology and Immunology
• Infection, Immunity and Immunology
• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology and Genetics (double)
• Molecular Biology of Cancer
• Molecular Medicine
• Project (double)
• Research Methods for Life Scientists
• Genomic Medicine

Work placements

During the second year of your course you will have the opportunity to register your interest in extending your course to four years by taking the following year as a work placement.

Field tripsWe have strong links with local employers and have organised several visits to bioscience companies for our students in the last year. As well as developing your understanding of how the theory is applied in practice, these visits also give you opportunities to identify the types of careers you might be interested in. We strive to maintain these industry relationships in order that similar opportunities exist for all our students.Study abroad

Great opportunities to study or work abroad

You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year.

Studying abroad provides an amazing opportunity to add value to your studies by:

• increasing your employability within an international market
• boosting your language skills
• building your confidence in adapting to new situations
• improving your knowledge of different cultures.

While on exchange you may be able to gain credits which count towards your degree if the course is IBMS-accredited.

The university has more than 100 partner universities around the world. Funding is available through the Erasmus scheme, and also via some international programmes such as the Santander Student Awards.There is also a European work placement programme which gives you the chance to work abroad as part of your studies.