2025/26 entry

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science with Foundation Year

Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
4 years FullTime, 5 years Placement year
Campus:
City
UCAS Code:
B941
Grades/points required:
CCD-CCC (88-96)

Tuition fees

Home full-time per year
£9,535
International full-time per year
£18,250
Placement year
£1,905
Placement year international
£3,830
All figures are subject to yearly increases. Tuition fees are subject to parliamentary approval.
General enquiries:
0151 231 5090
courses@ljmu.ac.uk
International admissions
international@ljmu.ac.uk

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Why study Biomedical Science with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?

  • 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 years 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 Womens 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 - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more

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.

 

  • Go on a tour of the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences

    Go on a tour of the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences

    "While academically challenging, this course provided me with the broad range of skills required to succeed in the highly competitive scientific job market. First class teaching, first class employability, and a first class student experience."
    Dr Daniel Tonge, Lecturer in Biomedical Science, Staffordshire University

    Professional accreditation/links

    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 todays 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.

    Fees and funding

    There are many ways to fund study for home and international students

    Fees

    The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

    • library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
    • access to programme-appropriate software
    • library and student IT support
    • free on-campus wifi via eduroam

    Additional costs

    Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

    • accommodation and living expenditure
    • books (should you wish to have your own copies)
    • printing, photocopying and stationery
    • PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
    • mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
    • field trips (travel and activity costs)
    • placements (travel expenses and living costs)
    • student visas (international students only)
    • study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
    • academic conferences (travel costs)
    • professional-body membership
    • graduation (gown hire etc)

    Funding

    There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.

    A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available. This does not apply to the Applied Biomedical Science route.

    Employability

    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

    Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

    A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

    Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.

    One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.

    A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.

    Go abroad

    LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.

    Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?

    Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.

    A life-changing experience 

    There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.

    The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
    Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.