Biomedical Science

Highlights

Our Biomedical Science degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science(IBMS) and designed in collaboration with local NHS clinical laboratories. Completing an IBMS-accredited degree and accredited NHS placement is essential for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and often a prerequisite for many roles within the NHS. Excellent facilities include well-equipped cell and molecular research laboratories, a Category 2 pathogen lab and state-of-the-art human anatomy suite with 3D anatomy visualization and a virtual dissection tool.

Taught by scientific and clinical staff from hospitals across North Wales. Our leading researchers and practitioners include haematologists, microbiologists, immunologists and histopathologists. Wide range of career opportunities - our graduates work in NHS pathology laboratories, in medical research, the pharmaceutical industry, food science, public health, forensic science and the armed forces.

We're ranked 8th in the UK for Teaching Quality for Biomedical Sciences (NSS 2025) and our programme and teaching staff have been shortlisted for national awards (IBMS and AGCAS).

Course overview

The science at the heart of human health and disease, Biomedical Science is often the catalyst for health research breakthroughs. Recent successes in the field of Biomedical Science include the COVID-19 vaccine, the first procedure to repair a human liver, a single-dose breast cancer treatment, and an oral antibiotic for cystic fibrosis complications. Our IBMS-accredited BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science prepares you for the challenges of modern-day pathology work - from developing new treatments to detecting viral infections in patients or organising blood transfusions.

With access to innovative lab facilities, you will be taught by scientific and clinical staff from local hospitals, as well as academics at the forefront of research into the causes of cancer, autoimmune disease, antibiotic resistance, and a host of other healthcare issues. There is a growing need for graduates experienced in the advanced diagnostic and molecular techniques that are revolutionising disease diagnosis and treatment across the NHS, armed forces, industry, academia, and research. Designed with industry input, our Biomedical Science BSc aims to give you an understanding of the biology of disease, including modern concepts and applications in the research, diagnosis, and treatment of clinical disorders.

IBMS-accreditation ensures that our BSc covers the academic components of the HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists, developing the practical skills and experience that employers value. Learning is very much hands-on, grounded in the real-world experiences of lecturers and driven by the latest scientific research. Our own expertise includes, among other things, investigation into the causes of cancer and genetic aspects of birth defects, and the design of new therapies and methods to control tropical diseases.

We also work closely with North West Cancer Research, the leading cancer charity for the North West and North Wales, whose staff not only teach on the course but also support students undertaking dissertation research. In recent years students have undertaken projects exploring various cancer treatments including cancer immunotherapy, how to repair genetic defects, and to understand more about cancer/testis (CT) antigens. Competitive applications can be made for a limited number of one-year, self-funded work placements within the Pathology department at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which is designed to meet HCPC requirements for registration as a Biomedical Scientist.

Successful completion enables students to graduate with a BSc Applied Biomedical Science degree in recognition of the additional professional skills gained.