A technician tutors an intern working in a laboratory

Placements and Internships

Opportunities in Bioscience

A high quality placement brings with it a wide range of benefits and positive impacts. It provides you with the opportunity to gain experience and specific skills in your sector of choice as well as allowing you to experience the quality of work that will be required in graduate employment. You also gain a better understanding of the sector enabling you to make a more informed choice when looking for your graduate job.

The placement year is an excellent opportunity to get 'a foot in the door' with a desired company. In 2015 over 40% of all graduate jobs went to a candidate who had previous work experience with that company and the placement year is the best way to gain this experience. Lancaster students often return from their placement having been offered a graduate job for when they complete their degree.

In 2019/20 BLS students successfully gained placement years at:

  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Covance
  • Pfizer
  • AstraZeneca

Testimonials from current placement year students:

  • 'I love the work, it's great lab experience & the people are great to work with and make you feel like part of the team' - Amy Mawson, BSc Hons Biomedicine (Placement year) student.
  • 'My placement at Johnson & Johnson has enabled me to develop invaluable skills such as communication and networking. I love my role and the team I work in and hope to use the strengths I have gained to pursue a career in clinical trials' - Jessica Avery, BSc Hons Biomedicine (Placement year) student.
The accreditation logo for the IBMS, which certifies a course meets their standards

BSc Biomedical Science (B990) - NHS placement for IBMS certificate of competence

Students on the IBMS-accredited Biomedical Science (B990) degree are eligible to apply for highly competitive placements within the NHS. If you wish to pursue a career as a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS, this is the best route for you to achieve your goal. If successful, you will begin your placement following completion of your second year of studies, finishing at the end of August the following year. You will complete a portfolio during your year which is examined by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).

On satisfactory completion, you will be awarded a certificate of competence by the IBMS allowing you, following graduation, to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), a requirement for employment in the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist.

Learn about our accredited course

Rebecca Shepard: Biomedical Science (Placement Year) BSc Hons

"Not only is the Biomedical Science course accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science, but I had the opportunity to spend a year on placement in an NHS hospital laboratory, gaining professional qualifications alongside my degree. I graduated in 2014, with first class honours and as the recipient of the Institute of Biomedical Science President’s Prize."

Internship opportunities

Tab Content: MAC clinical research

In 2016 four students gained paid internships, each lasting for a year.

In both 2018 and 2019 three students each undertook a ten-week long internship at MAC Clinical during the summer vacation period

Testimonials from recent interns:

  • 'Gained a lot of experience and skills and I feel a lot more prepared to apply for graduate jobs'
  • 'I highly recommend this internship'
  • 'The MAC team were incredible, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience'
  • 'My internship at MAC has led me to become a Locum Clinical Trials Assistant'
  • 'Compared to last year, I am so much more confident and prepared for graduation'

Tab Content: Ghana Summer School

Following a successful pilot in 2016 the 'Ghana Global Health' module was introduced. There are usually around 8 places available on this module, and students apply during Lent term of year 2. Internships are integrated into the course and students attend the LU/Boston University summer school based at the Lancaster University Ghana campus in Accra for around 7 weeks during the Summer vacation.

Previous internships included a project at Vetrgaard Fransen, a mosquito insecticide testing facility for the world's largest mosquito bed-net manufacturer.

Tab Content: Lancaster internships

Since 2016 we have been able to place Biomedical and Life Sciences undergraduates in paid summer internships at Lancaster University. Research topics have included: Alzheimer's disease, biochemistry, cancer biology, DNA replication, immunology, microbiology and tropical infectious diseases. Here's what our 2019 Summer Internship students had to say:

  • 'The internship was fantastic... I have much more confidence after completing the internship and I would highly recommend the experience'
  • 'Confirmed that I would like to pursue a career in research'
  • 'I can discuss my research experience in a lot more detail and can evidence that I have a wider array of skills than if I had just my undergraduate dissertation'
  • 'The internship allowed me to work on my own and solve problems surrounding my experiments'
  • 'I would recommend an internship for students who do not have any experience at working in a research lab, as well as students who do not have any idea/plans after graduation (it may help them decide)'
  • 'I didn't want to leave!'

Furthermore, two students gained internships in digital roles. One developed a new divisional student blog site with a focus on enhancing students’ employability, whilst the second helped develop an electronic attendance monitoring system.

Tab Content: North-west cancer research

North west cancer research logo

In 2018 & 2019 North West Cancer Research provided funding for three undergraduate summer internships for students in their penultimate year of study. These eight-week projects gave the students the opportunity to get involved with cutting edge cancer research at Lancaster, working on projects aimed at understanding the molecular changes that underpin cancer as well as new approaches for treating the disease.

Tab Content: Other internship opportunities

We regularly receive information about internships and other schemes available to students both in the UK and abroad. Placements can vary in duration from a few weeks to a year. Whilst these are competitive, BLS and the University Careers Service will support your application.

Furthermore, if you are able to arrange your own internship, we can help you implement it.

Linked icons