Biomedical Science with Foundation Year

The highlights

• The course focuses on developing your practical laboratory skills, so you'll gain first-hand experience of lab work from year one
• You'll also spend time honing your interpersonal skills and general employability, so you can move on to a diverse range of careers in clinical and public health laboratories, industry and research settings
• The course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science. Once successfully completed, this degree will fast-track your journey towards registration as a biomedical scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council
• All of our teaching team are active researchers as well as teachers, so they will be able to share some of the latest findings and innovative thinking from the human health field

This is a progressive, challenging course which focuses on the latest advances in medical research aimed at preventing ill health and prolonging life. The devastating COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for skills in this area, so this degree is highly relevant right now and you can expect to have strong career prospects.

Biomedical Science is a broad discipline of modern medical science. It is all about understanding human health and the diseases that affect the normal processes in the human body, including their diagnosis. On this degree you'll gain the skills and knowledge to understand the operation of human organisms through subjects like clinical chemistry, immunology, microbiology, histology, clinical genetics, molecular biology, pathology and cancer biology.

Training you for research

During the programme, you will gain an understanding of biomedical investigations, diagnosis, monitoring and disease treatment. There's a strong focus on laboratory research and you will gain first-hand experience of this from year one. You will have access to a student research laboratory and regularly get the chance to conduct scientific investigations — sometimes in a group and sometimes on your own. You will also need to report your findings to others, including at a student conference attended by employers.

As well as giving you this practical experience, we will of course teach you the essential underpinning knowledge around research governance, ethics, and good scientific practice. In your final year, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate the research skills you have amassed, with an independent study into an area of your choice. This will be a lab-based study or one that uses clinical data.

Expert teaching

All of our Biomedical Science teaching team are active human health researchers as well as experienced teachers. This means that in your lectures, practicals, and seminars they will be able to draw upon and discuss some of the latest findings and innovative thinking from the field. You will also hear from NHS professionals and other external speakers.

Our tutors are currently carrying out collaborative research in areas such as:

• Infectivity and pathophysiology of COVID-19 and other viral pandemics
• Air pollution and its effects on a growing placenta
• The link between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and head and neck cancer
• Tumour biology
• Obesity
• Diabetology
• Developmental physiology
• Antibody and Aptamer research.

As a Biomedical Science student, you will be able to apply for competitive research internships and if you're successful, you'll find yourself assisting with influential studies with academic staff. This will be a valuable experience and make a great addition to your CV.

Preparing for your future career 

We’re focused just as much on your professional and career development as your academic progress. We have regular employability sessions within modules as well as events such as the annual Bioscience and Forensic Science Employability Conference, employer forums, and placement year events.

We also have strong links with employers including hospital trusts, research institutions and biomedical companies. These links will really help when you're looking for work experience or internship opportunities. Everyone is expected to complete at least 30 hours of work experience in their second year.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Accredited course

The prestigious Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accreditation sets a quality benchmark which ensures that the course is delivered to a high standard, includes content relevant to current medical and research practice and is future ready.

This degree meets the academic and professional requirements for registration as a Biomedical Scientist. The course will provide comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of core subjects, and offers the most recent developments in research and analytical methods.

Studying biomedical science at Derby will enhance your knowledge of science, its practical application to biomedical practice and related research. You will develop skills that are at the forefront of advances in healthcare, pharmaceutical research, and diagnostics, as well as transferable skills valued by a wide range of employers. We work closely with our local NHS pathology labs where you will get opportunity to develop your understanding of the profession.

Once completed, an IBMS accredited degree will enhance your employability by offering hands-on experience in the field of biomedical science.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

We use a good variety of teaching methods including:

• Lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars, which are interactive — these are sometimes led by external speakers from the NHS and other medical organisations 
• Laboratory sessions to develop your technical skills and ability to design experiments
• Computer sessions to introduce you to the latest software for data analysis, genetic analysis and protein databases
• Private study with online materials to support

You will also learn through work placements, internships or your year in industry, if you choose to do one. 

How you are assessed

Assessments vary depending on the module but we use a range of assessment methods, including:

• Coursework, such as:
  • Laboratory reports on experiments
  • Essays
  • Multiple-choice questions
  • Case studies
  • Oral presentations
  • An independent research study
  • Presentations and practical assessments
  • Unseen written or computer-based exams

You will graduate with skills that put you at the forefront of advances in medical health. Biomedical science is key to any healthcare science and allows you to pursue a career in a broad range of fields, such as clinical sciences, pharmaceutical science, and biomedical research. However, thanks to the focus on employability and interpersonal skills within this programme, you won't be limited to a clinical role.

You’ll be well prepared for jobs such as:

• Biomedical Scientist
• Research Scientist​
• Medical Professional​
• Health Care Specialist​
• Pharmaceutical Researcher​
• Lecturer​
• Teacher​
• Scientific Writer​
• Pharmaceutical Sales​ Executive
• Clinical Trials Co-ordinator

You will gain valuable transferable skills, including:

• Critical thinking
• Data retrieval and analysis
• Report writing and written communication skills
• Time management and organisation
• Presentation and verbal communication skills

These will be useful for any professional role and are sought-after by employers. 

Further study

After graduating from this course, you could gain graduate entry on to programmes like physician associate studies, medicine or dentistry, or move on to a postgraduate research degree such as an MSc/MRes or PhD. We now offer our MSc Biomedical Science programme, which will provide an in-depth understanding of biomedical regulation of the human body and how this is impacted by disease, and also our MRes Molecular Medicine programme that will help you to develop the key skills you need for a research career.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

*This is the fee for the Foundation Year. Subsequent UK fees are £9,535 per year. Subsequent International fees are £17,500 per year.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.