Birkbeck, University of London
UCAS Code: C190 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSEs (or equivalent) required at grade C or grade 4 or above in English, mathematics and double science (or two single sciences).
UCAS Tariff
With some evidence of study in a science-related subject. The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff.
About this course
The BSc Biomedicine focuses on the vital link between basic science and advances in the understanding and treatment of human health and disease. On this course, you will complete a substantial research project in the areas of molecular, cell and integrative biology, and will be provided with in-depth knowledge of the theoretical background of these topics. You will be well equipped for a wide range of careers within the biological sciences and associated fields allied to medicine.
**Why choose this course?**
- The BSc Biomedicine is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, a status recognised by employers, bringing opportunities for paid internships.
- Taught by internationally recognised researchers, you will gain an academic grounding in modern medicine and explore biomedical research.
- You will develop the technical, intellectual and social skills needed for careers in research, medicine, teaching, and the wider application of scientific knowledge in the workplace.
- By choosing certain modules, you can finish with a BSc Biomedicine and Public Health.
**What you will learn**
The BSc Biomedicine covers a range of disciplines including biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, drugs and drug discovery, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology and physiology, with emphasis on how these relate to public health.
Whilst enabling development of knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin these key subject areas, this course enables you to gain substantial practical and analytical skills through extensive laboratory experience. Both elements are highly sought after by employers in the biomedical and health sectors.
**How you will learn**
You will be taught in live face-to-face lectures and classroom activities combined with practical sessions, tutorials and problem-solving classes. The final year of the course is dedicated to the pursuit of a laboratory-based project providing an opportunity for novel research.
You can study this course full- or part-time. You can also choose your own timetable for the core/compulsory modules **selecting whether to study them in the daytime or in the evening**.
**Foundation Year**
If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.
**Highlights**
- Birkbeck provides state-of-the-art, specialist laboratories and facilities for studying biological sciences in the heart of academic London.
- In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in a joint submission with UCL, Biological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked 11th in the UK.
- You will be taught by internationally distinguished experts who work with governments and institutions around the globe to extend the boundaries of knowledge.
- Working in close collaboration with the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, a joint institute between Birkbeck and UCL, we are recognised for the excellence and international impact of our research.
**Careers and employability**
On successfully graduating from this BSc Biomedicine, you will have developed an array of transferable skills, including:
- laboratory skills, including microscopy, DNA manipulation, protein handling, microbiology aseptic technique, developing mutagenesis and gene cloning pipelines
- the ability to analyse and critically evaluate data and complex ideas
- the ability to work independently in a laboratory environment
- team-building and creativity to drive scientific innovation
- oral and written communication skills to communicate with a wide range of audiences.
Studying this course will prepare you for roles in a range of fields, including:
- academia
- laboratory-based research
- healthcare-related roles
- microbiology
- clinical coding.
Modules
For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.
Assessment methods
This programme uses a range of assessment methods, including short-answer tests in class, computer-based tests (accessed remotely or in class), practical reports, essays, problem-solving and data analysis assignments, oral communication and poster presentations, internet surveys, and unseen, or open-book, written examinations.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Birkbeck, University of London
School of Natural Sciences
What students say
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biochemistry
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Around 2,500 graduates got degrees in this demanding but valuable subject last year. Graduates who want a career in research usually take postgraduate qualifications - over a third of graduates in the subject took this option - but those who want to start work when they graduate have a lot to choose from. Laboratory work and other jobs in the biosciences are popular, as well as in education, but many biochemistry graduates find their way into the finance industry and as a consequence, graduates from these disciplines are particularly likely to get jobs in London and the South East.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£23k
£26k
£34k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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