Any BioMed Scientists around please

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

I was hoping someone could give me some advice on BioMedical Science degrees. DS is Y12, and planning to apply next term. We are begining to go to open days. He is predicted AAA for Biology, Chem and History A Levels. He just took Level 3 Functional Skills Maths.

DS has been advised to look for degrees which are accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science . Looking at the IBMS website, a lot of Russell Group/more established Unis eg: Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle are not accredited, even though they offer this degree?

Why is this? Is it because these unis have medical schools and are more focused on producing doctors than standalone BioMed scientists?

DS has a good selection of open days booked, all at “accredited” unis, but I was wondering if we were missing something here. DS aspires to a career in a lab rather than at a bedside!

The accredited degrees often are with what used to be the old polys. The non- accredited ones will be redbricks. The redbricks tell you that a straight biochemistry degree will open up lots of careers in research etc or even possibly hospital work as a clinical biochemist, but they won't admit that there are far more biomedical science posts in hospital than clinical biochemistry posts (although biomedical scientist posts pay less that clinical biochemist). So, it depends on your son's end goal really. I wish I had done an accredited degree.

Thank you @RamblingAway.I had noticed that the accredited degrees were largely from exPolys , but DS rolled his eyes and told me that no one cares about exPolys anymore. It was just an observation! As poly graduate (the last year, class of 92) I just wanted to be sure that he’s not doing himself down.

He would like to broadly go into cancer research and immunological research. He realises that this is a competitive world. He’s never happier than when he’s got a pipette in his hand ! He’s not interested in the people, just the science (his nickname is Sheldon…).

He’s considering
Keele
Lancaster
Sheffield Hallam
Nottingham Trent
5th choice to be decided

It’s useful to know that you wish you’d done an accredited degree. Thank you.

My sister is a biomedical scientist - went to Liverpool John Moores - she’s had research published in virology

OK DD is in her first year of this degree so we did all the applying and looking a while ago. I can tell you that the accredited degrees are for those who want to go work in the NHS for which you need the accreditation. This means they are very prescriptive in what they study and aren't as flexible on module in the course. Doing a non accredited degree doesn't totally rule out working in the NHS but you would either then need to do the accreditation separately or DD things you could still do consulting work with the NHS.

She picked a University that did both courses because she wasn't 100% sure which way she wanted to go when she started. She initially started on the accredited course, but at the end of her first year has changed as has decided she would prefer to go into industry. This is a good option if they aren't sure what they want to do.

Dd was looking at biomedical degrees specifically similar name but some are accredited and some are not. When DD initially applied to Cardiff they did both but due to funding cut between her applying and confirming her choices they had cut the accredited course. Much to her disappointment.

She's studying at UEA and it's definitely worth a look.

Ex BMS here…. The accredited courses tend to have work experience attatched to it. I’ll be honest, if your child is predicted AAA then they should look more at becoming a biochemist(or selected field), not a biomedical scientist?

a biomedical scientist is not what a lot of students think it is and come in thinking that they swan around with the “I’m educated” tag but soon the penny drops.

if they want a carer in medical science, and have the ability, a BMS is not the right career.

Check out the careers more thoroughly - or get him to. Biomedical scientists tend to work in the NHS, they don’t do research. Research is usually PhD, then work in academia or charity. or pharma if you also like £.

Check out YouTube “a day in the life of a biomedical scientist”
As I understand it they are NHS test processors doing repetitive tasks. It sounds like he might be suited to a plain bioscience degree.

I manage a biomedical science lab at a university...if planning on being a biomed scientist needs to be accredited - accreditation from ibms means the course covers all knowledge and enough actual lab work needed. But not to put anyone off....please look at salary expectations after graduation and long term careers - and the amount of jobs nearby. While at University I would be encouraging applying for all summer internships etc and getting more lab experience even if volunteering as competition is high

And if I'm being honest if looking at AAA I would be looking at a better paid profession, science in UK after brexit is scarce, I employ people with PhDs and still on 27k a year (wish I could pay them more!)

DD2’s degree is in Biological Natural Sciences from a non-RG non former Poly uni. Due to COVID she had zero internships or lab experience beyond her Masters project. She is now a Quality Control Scientist in a company that makes bespoke cancer treatments. She graduated in July 24 and started her job in September 24. She worked in a cafe whilst putting in applications.
Her role is considerably better paid than @kshaw ’s PhD positions and her shift pattern means she enjoys a good work-life balance.
She never wanted to do BioMedical Science, preferring to keep her options open.

Glasgow isnt either.
I wanted to do hospital lab and had no idea that it wouldn't be.
I work in the private sector doing biochem now though but pay and pensions are not as good.

My niece did BioMed at non accredited university thinking she was not interested in NHS labs. However graduating in 2025 when jobs were hard to come by meant she and her classmates, could not necessarily be as selective as they would have planned about first jobs. Not having the accreditation ruled out a considerable number of entry-level roles which became frustrating.
They do all have jobs now I believe but it took some time (that’s not unique to BioMed in current environment). But yes, the pay is not great and many are short-term contracts.

This is all news to me. Could anyone explain the difference between Biomed, Bioscience, biochemistry etc and what each degree is good for and prepares students for? I assumed Biomedical Sciences was a sort of academic degree for students who failed to get into Medicine and gives an option of graduate entry, but sounds like this may be inaccurate!

It can be, some students who do biomed. But from what we gathered when looking it was only a very few and they had to have done well in their degree. DD is definitely not interested in doing medicine though.

My dd is looking at Biomedical sciences...with a view to research as well. We are actually not looking at any of the IBMS accredited ones, as we understand thats what is needed to be a Biomedical scientist within the NHS, which is not what she is currently considering. I am worried about future job prospects. We are looking at york and Edinburgh so far

This is really helpful information, thank you all. I’ll sit down with DS and digest this during the week. It’s all a lot of new stuff to take in!

As a non scientist myself, it is all a lot to take in isnt it!

DD1 did a non accredited Bachelor of Medical Science at a non Russell group uni. She wanted a good solid academic grounding in medical science as she didn’t want to work in an NHS lab but wanted to go into research, she followed it up with a Masters in Immunology and a PhD at King’s College London. She then spent two years at Harvard in Boston Mass, and is now a senior post doc at Columbia University in New York. She has published extensively including first author papers and presents her research all over the world. So the lack of accreditation has not harmed her career at all. Good luck to your DS.

IBMS accreditation is not a marker of “better” universities or higher quality degrees. It simply means the course is specifically designed to lead directly into NHS laboratory work as a Biomedical Scientist (HCPC registration pathway).

Biomed = best route into NHS lab careers (especially if IBMS-accredited)
Bioscience = broad, keeps options open, more academic/research pathway
Biochemistry = molecular science, strongest for pharma and research