Biomedical Science

Entry criteria 2021

You will need to meet both the entry and personal statement criteria to be considered for this course. With the exception of GCSEs, all qualifications must have been completed within the previous five years, including the year of application.

To be considered for this course, you will need to:

• meet the GCSE requirement (or equivalent)

• meet the A level requirement (or equivalent)

• meet the English language requirement

• write a personal statement.

We do not accept BTEC qualifications for Biomedical Science BSc.

Entry Criteria: 2022 Entry

To be eligible for the Biomedical Science BSc programme, you must meet the requirements outlined under Entry Qualifications, Other Academic Requirements, and Non-academic Requirements below.

Entry Qualifications

With the exception of GCSEs, all qualifications must have been completed within the previous five years, including the year of application.

Other Academic Requirements

Non-academic Requirements

Biomedical Science BSc is a modular three-year degree covering the range of biological science disciplines, which underpin medicine, and more general modern developments in medicine and the biomedical field. It combines academic study and practical skills training in our specialist facilities, with the option for additional professional experience.

Years 1 and 2

In Years 1 and 2 of the course, all modules are compulsory. During these years, you build a solid knowledge and understanding of cellular, molecular and medical sciences, including normal functioning of the human body, as well as disease processes and the therapies used to treat diseases. You will gain insight and learn to appreciate the various scientific methods used in biomedical research and diagnostic laboratories, for example, molecular and cellular biology techniques, including nucleic acid and protein analysis, cellular and tissue microscopy and analysis and anatomical dissection. We will consider how these techniques have advanced scientific knowledge and improved diagnoses underpinning the detection and treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, just to mention a few.

Placement

You have the opportunity to apply to undertake a Professional Training Year between Years 2 and 3 of the course on a placement in industry, the NHS or international placements, both paid and unpaid options with means-tested loans available for Home students.

Year 3

In the final year, you will develop your knowledge in-depth on one of 10 different pathways, choosing and graduating with a named pathway degree. You will undertake a comprehensive research project under supervision on subjects as diverse as disease-causing infectious organisms and drug discovery screening in zebrafish embryos, to mention just some of those chosen by previous students.

Each Biomedical Science ‘with’ pathway comprises a group of closely-related compulsory modules. Your research project can be in a related discipline or you might choose to explore different areas.

You will choose a pathway in a specific subject area as outlined below.

Pathways

BSc Clinical Bioscience

The BSc Clinical Bioscience option is open to all students subject to specific academic achievement by the end of Year 2 (Year 1 counts for a third of your marks, Year 2 two-thirds). Up to 60 places will be available on this pathway, 25 of which are guaranteed for ‘Transfer into Medicine’ students (see below).

Where the number of qualifying students applying to the Clinical Bioscience award exceeds the number of spaces available, remaining places will be allocated based on academic performance.

On the BSc Clinical Bioscience, you study compulsory taught modules in clinical subjects (60 credits), a research project (15 credits) and a further two or three optional modules (45 credits). If you choose this pathway, you will be introduced clinical and communications skills, and develop and build on your existing anatomy knowledge.

Transfer options

MSci Biomedical Science

At the end of Year 2, you have the option to transfer to Year 3 of the four-year MSci pathway, subject to spaces and academic achievement by the end of Year 2 (Year 1 counts for a third of your marks, Year 2 two-thirds). 

Transfer into Medicine

If you are a Home student wishing to pursue a medical career, a Biomedical Sciences degree provides excellent preparation. Our exclusive Clinical Transfer programme offers the opportunity for 25 of our students to fast-track to the second year of the four-year graduate entry MBBS programme. We use Multi Mini Interviews (MMIs) to assess candidates for all medical degrees, which usually take place in July.

Places are extremely competitive, and eligibility is dependent upon academic performance at all stages of your degree study. If successful at interview, you will receive a conditional offer for a deferred place on the graduate entry MBBS. You must follow the Clinical Bioscience pathway in your third year on the BSc Biomedical Science. You must graduate with a first class or upper-second class (2:1) degree to proceed to Year 2 of the graduate entry MBBS, which acts as a transition year before what is essentially the final two years of the five-year MBBS.

* Modules listed here are indicative and the actual modules available when you enrol may vary.

Biomedical Science will give you a solid scientific grounding that prepares you for a wide range of careers in research, medicine or industry.

Practical sessions in our specialist labs will give you hands-on experience of using scientific instrumentation, developing the lab techniques required for research and scientific investigation. You’ll put theory into practice conducting research and experiments from scratch – whether you are manipulating live embryos, working with the specimens in our extensive pathology museum or contextualising your study of anatomy through experience in dissection room.

You’ll progress from basic competence in laboratory skills in Year 1 to the use of more sophisticated techniques and, by the time you graduate, the ability to confidently plan experiments and interpret the data obtained from them. You’ll also gain a range of valuable interpersonal, academic and transferrable skills include communications, data handling, group working, note taking, presentation and problem-solving exercises.

Teaching is delivered through a variety of methods, including: lectures and laboratory practical sessions; tutorials including scenario-based learning; self-directed learning; and computer-assisted learning. There is a gradual change in emphasis over the three or four years of your degree, from large group lectures, delivering core knowledge and concepts, to smaller lecture groups for specialist knowledge. Tutorials, self-directed learning, practical sessions and in-course assessments further promote knowledge and understanding.

One of the many benefits of studying at St George’s is the opportunity to study in the same environment as other healthcare-related courses, including medical, clinical pharmacology, physiotherapy, diagnostic and therapeutic radiography, to lay the foundation for future practice as part of a clinical multidisciplinary team.

While the St George’s programmes are recognised by many different countries, applicants are advised to check with their own individual national authorities if they wish to practise in their chosen country.

A relatively young field in medical science, with new developments and breakthroughs occurring all the time, Biomedical Science is an incredibly exciting, fast-paced area to work in. Combining skills and knowledge in biology and medicine, with a focus on both human and animal health, it opens up a wide range of careers in the science and medical field, as well as further study.

Careers teaching and employability are embedded in the curriculum across all year groups, following the themes of explore, plan, apply. This allows our students to understand which stage they are at so that we can support them with their career thinking and decision making.

In addition to dedicated pages on our web-based learning management system Canvas, an annual careers fair and timetabled careers sessions for each year group, we provide workshops with recruiters, drop-in clinics, one to one support from an academic lead for Biomedical Science employability, as well as appointments with careers consultants. Support offered covers career pathways, CV writing and interview skills.

Our graduates have gone on to work in academic and applied research, for a variety of pharmaceutical and bioscience companies and institutes, such as PRA Health Sciences, Barts and the London NHS Trust, University of Washington. Some are also working beyond the biomed sector for companies such as Deloitte, KPMG, Frontiers Publishing and Teach First. Others use their degree as a platform for postgraduate study, pursuing a range of MScs, PhD or graduate entry medical degree.

Transferrable skills in critical thinking, communication skills, time management, planning and logistics and data analysis make you well-equipped for a wide range of careers outside the lab, such as medical writing, biomedical marketing, health communication or teaching.

If you are interested in a career as a biomedical/healthcare scientist in the NHS, you can undertake the NHS Scientist Training Programme following graduation. To work as a biomedical scientist in the UK, you will need to gain at least one year of laboratory experience in a lab approved by the IBMS.

St George’s University of London is the only UK university, which specialises in healthcare education and is based on a hospital site, namely St George’s Hospital, where the Channel 4 television series 24 hours in A&E is filmed. We offer a unique opportunity to study and work alongside the full range of clinical professionals and their patients. Based in the thriving multi-cultural hub of Tooting in South West London, our location has the added advantage of being just a short tube ride from Central London and all the city lifestyle has to offer.

We also have a range of specialist health and academic facilities to support your learning, listed below.

Image Resource Facility (IRF)

First established in 1979, the IRF has developed to encompass Light Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, and sample preparation for both, all housed in a single department providing a range of imaging analysis options and the expertise to compliment them. Users of the IRF have the ability to image histology samples, cells and molecules of all varieties, and model organisms such as zebrafish using any of the light microscope, slide scanning, or electron microscope systems we maintain, supported by experienced staff at all stages of analysis.

Laboratories

Our teaching laboratories are fully fitted with equipment for biological, chemistry, biomedical, molecular biology and pharmacy practicals. This includes microscopes, spectrophotometers, DNA amplifiers, organ baths and specialist glassware. We also have audio visual equipment installed, so that microscope images can be projected on to large screens.

Museum of Human Disease

Our on-site museum houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens, including a number of original specimens donated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie in 1843. This space is used for small group tutorials by students across all of our courses as an educational tool to help you understand the mechanisms of disease.

Dissection room

The dissection room is where present and future healthcare professionals and scientists in the hospital and University learn or refresh their anatomy knowledge directly from the human body, through access to cadaveric material and models, and plastinated (preserved) specimens.

IT facilities

We have five computer suites housing 260 workstations. Three of these suites are accessible 24 hours a day. It’s easy to find a free space with our handy real-time computer locator. We also have 75 self-service laptops available. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole campus, including all accommodation. You can use these resources to access your course materials, discussion boards and feedback through Canvas.

Library and learning technology

Our modern health sciences library offers a wide range of books, e-books, academic journals and other resources to support you. You will also have access to online resources, such as the Canvas virtual learning environment and our Hunter discovery service to help you find the information you need. The library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and comprises silent, quiet and group learning areas, as well as four group discussion rooms.

Student support

Whether you are heading off to university straight from school or college, or returning to education as a mature student, we want to ensure your experience is positive from the outset. At St George’s, you’ll be welcomed by a multicultural student and staff body of different ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds, all with one thing in common – an interest in healthcare, science and medicine.

Students frequently tell us they greatly appreciate the diversity of our student and staff body, as well as the patients who access healthcare services in the borough of Tooting. The University attracts a substantial number – over two-thirds – of ‘mature’ students, aged 21 or over when they start; many have family and caring responsibilities.

We offer a full range of academic support and student services across all institutes, departments and faculties, some of which are listed below. We take pride in offering a transformative educational experience underpinned by cooperation and collaboration between staff and students. Our innovative Student-Staff Partnership Grants (SSPGs), for example, provide funding for small projects led jointly by students and staff, which included the co-creation by one of our students of an art exhibition inspired by the Pathology Museum collection.

Personal tutor

On arrival, you will be allocated a personal tutor – someone with whom you can have regular contact, who you ask questions and discuss problems with, both academic and personal. The main purpose of a personal tutor is to monitor your progress, pick up and help you resolve any problems, whether academic or welfare related. Even if they don’t have the answer they will point you in the right direction towards the best people to deal with specific problems.

Induction programme

Within your first week at St George’s, you’ll take part in an induction programme to help with your orientation and introduce you to various study skills, including interprofessional learning and use of the Dissecting Room. Additional sessions provide advice and guidance about the Registry, Students’ Union, personal tutor system, safety, occupational health and sexual health awareness.

Academic staff support

You’ll have access to your lecturers, usually by arrangement via email.

Mums and dads scheme

‘Mums and dads’ is a buddy scheme organised by the Students’ Union. Every fresher (first year student) has the choice of being assigned a ‘parent’ from the year above in their respective course. The returning student then acts as a ‘go to’ for advice about courses and university life, providing an additional support system during your first year, both academically and socially. They have been in your position and know the struggles of starting university; they also know all of the best pubs, clubs, restaurants, gyms and will help introduce you to your new St George’s family.

Student Life Centre

Our Student Centre team can help you with almost any aspect of student life: finances, accommodation, exams and assessment, academic procedures, admissions, international queries, careers, disability and wellbeing, even finding your way around – whatever it takes to make you feel at home.

Careers service

Our careers service works to support current students and recent graduates to find and maintain a rewarding and successful career. As well as general workshops on topics such as writing a CV and developing interview skills, the service works with the academic lead for Biomedical Science employability to ensure there are careers activities specific to your programmes and future profession. You will also be able to book a one-to-one appointment with a careers consultant to discuss all aspects of careers and employability. This might include investigating options and making career decisions, gaining advice and guidance on where to look for jobs, CV and application checking, or booking in for a practice interview.   

How to apply

Apply for this course through UCAS (the University and College Admissions Service) by 15 January in the year of entry. There are no upper age limits, so we welcome applications from mature students.

We have been working hard to find ways to teach our courses without disruption, while keeping our staff and students safe and making sure we follow government guidance on Covid-19. We won’t be making any significant changes to the content of our programmes, but there will be some changes to the way they are delivered. Please see below for further details of how this may affect this course.

If government advice changes, we may need to update our plans. If we do so, we will update this information, and will keep current students and offer holders informed by email.

We will also continue to update our frequently asked question page for applicants and offer holders and current students as more information becomes available.

Course content

We are not making any significant changes to the content of the Biomedical Science BSc programme. Overall, the course in structure and content will be similar as advertised.

There is a possibility that government advice on social distancing may change in the future and this may restrict access to the campus. Even if this were to be the case, we expect to be able to continue to deliver the core modules of the programme and the final year specialisms and pathways as planned.

There are some changes to how this course is delivered and these are outlined in the sections below.

Supporting vulnerable students

Students considered to be most at risk from Covid-19 should work at home wherever possible in line with government advice. Students who are going on placement will be required to complete an individual risk assessment and others may choose to do so. In addition, students from vulnerable groups, including care leavers, students estranged from their families and students with disabilities, are prioritised for help from the University’s Hardship Funds and for accommodation in Horton Halls. Priority for loans of laptops from the University will be given to those eligible to receive a hardship grant; those registered as disabled, care leavers or with caring responsibilities; and international students who may have difficulty sourcing an appropriate device on arrival in the UK.

We recognise the impact that the current circumstances may have on mental health and have expanded our counselling provision, offering remote appointments to any student. In addition, every student will be allocated a personal tutor to offer individual pastoral and academic support from the start of their studies. (Further information about health and wellbeing advice during Covid-19 is available here).

Priority consideration has been given to support for students with disabilities when accessing teaching and learning online, through the provision of automatic live captioning and British Sign Language within our primary technologies of Panopto, MS Teams and Big Blue Button. These can benefit a range of students, especially those who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as students with an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), memory processing issues, and for whom English is an additional language.

Human-level captioning is also available where a need has been established through the Disability Advisory team. Human-level captioning requests are processed by the Learning Technology Services (LTS) section and can be requested by email to lts@sgul.ac.uk. 

How the course will be delivered

The existing learning outcomes for our modules and courses will remain in place. From September to December 2020 all students will primarily access their learning, including learning materials, via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Canvas. Hands-on practical teaching and learning activities will be delivered on campus with appropriate social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) measures put in place, and with controls on the number of people in each location.

The online components of the course will be designed to balance interactive real-time sessions with lecturers and other students, with self-paced independent study. Students will have clear learning pathways through the activities they are expected to engage with, and there will be opportunities to check learning and progress.

Personal tutor support and all other student support, such as the Academic Success Centre, will also be online for this period, using a range of methods for staying in touch, such as telephone, email and the University’s web conferencing systems BigBlueButton and MSTeams. 

To get the most from online study, hardware requirements have been established and communicated to all existing students and offer holders. Students will need their own personal computer or laptop and an internet connection in their place of accommodation. This needs to be in place at the start of the course. Once enrolled, students will have the ability to use Office 365 as part of our institutional licence, and access software required for their modules/courses via AppsAnywhere. In addition, we offer Office for Mac via Ofice365, but only the following applications are available for Mac: Teams, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, OneNote. Web-based Office applications are available on Mac. Full details are available here. There is a provision for students who may struggle to meet the hardware requirements to contact our IT Hardship team.

For students in all years, the programme is being redesigned to be a hybrid delivery of lectures delivered online as pre-recorded sessions, ‘live’ (synchronous) online interactive small group tutorials, ‘live’ interactive weekly Q&A and discussion sessions. The majority of lab practicals and computer practicals will be delivered online.

The exceptions to this are detailed in the next section.

Risk assessment

Course length

Additional costs

Assessment methods

Award

The Biomedical Science BSc programme is not accredited and so the changes that we are making will have no bearing on the qualification.

The option for high-achieving students to transfer to Year 2 of the graduate entry MBBS programme after graduation is also unaffected.

Location of study

Consenting to these changes