Biomedical Science (Study Abroad)

BSc Hons

  • UCAS code B991
  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 4 years
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We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 3

    3rd for Career after 15 months (joint 3rd)

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 3

    3rd for Biomedical Sciences

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 4

    4th for Subjects allied to Medicine

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

Choosing a degree in biomedical science opens the door to a fascinating world of medical advancements, research, and innovation.

With diverse career opportunities in labs, hospitals, and biotech companies, this IBMS-accredited degree offers you a chance to make a real impact on human health and scientific discovery.

The science of saving lives

Biomedical science is the laboratory science that underpins disease diagnosis and management, focussing on how cells, organs and systems function in the body.

Our BSc Biomedical Science (study abroad) provides rigorous research-led teaching in the theory and practical techniques associated with biomedical science. It is ideal for students with a broad interest in human life processes and disease, as the course places an emphasis on developing a detailed understanding of the molecules and mechanisms fundamental to life processes and how these are disrupted by disease.

This course is highly specialised and focuses on the key aspects of modern-day biomedicine as well as embedding the clinical specialisms of medical microbiology, clinical biochemistry, cellular pathology, haematology and transfusion science, clinical immunology and clinical genetics that are core to the work of pathology laboratories.

It is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). Students who graduate from this IBMS-accredited degree programme, train in an NHS lab and complete an IBMS registration training portfolio can register as a Biomedical Scientist and work in NHS pathology labs.

Biomedical Scientists play an essential role in disease diagnosis and monitoring the effectiveness of medical interventions and healthcare treatments.

You will be taught by our research-active academics and practising Biomedical Scientists from local hospitals, meaning you will graduate with an excellent understanding of the subject and a strong insight into life as a Biomedical Scientist.

By spending your third year studying abroad, you will have an opportunity to explore new and different perspectives on your course, while gaining experience of what it is like to live and study in a different country. During your year abroad you are only required to pay 15 per cent of the standard tuition fees.

And, by undertaking our research-led degree, you will gain practical skills and competence in experimental design; numerical skills such as statistical analysis, data recording and presentation; and interpersonal skills such as team working, communication and negotiation. These skills are highly valued by employers and are transferable to other careers both within the sciences and broader fields such as marketing, finance and management.

IBMS accreditation and Health and Care Professions Council registration

Our IBMS-accredited degree course has been designed to support you to meet the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) educational standards required to register as a Biomedical Scientist in a UK healthcare laboratory.

Core to this is completion of a training portfolio. As a graduate from our BSc Biomedical Science (Study Abroad) programme, you are eligible to apply for a post as a trainee Biomedical Scientist in an NHS pathology lab and complete an IBMS training portfolio. Completing this training portfolio will allow you to register with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Biomedical Scientist and allows you to work within the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist.

Your journey through biomedical science

The curriculum of our Biomedical Science BSc is highly structured in order to meet the requirements for IBMS accreditation.

  • You will begin, in Year 1, by studying fundamental themes that will provide you with a firm foundation for the rest of your course; topics covered include biomedical science practice, molecules of life, infection, immunity, anatomy and physiology.
  • In Year 2, you will progress on to studying the topics that are core to the discipline of biomedical science, including blood sciences, clinical biochemistry, medical microbiology and cellular pathology, as well as genetics, immunology and cell biology.
  • You will spend Year 3 with one of our overseas partner universities, immersing yourself in a different culture, meeting new people with diverse perspectives and developing a confident and well-rounded outlook for your final year back in Lancaster. By studying abroad you will be able to experience living in another country and exploring different and diverse sides of your degree subject.
  • Year 4 will see you focus in greater depth on specific aspects of human disease through themes spanning clinical immunology, cancer, medical genetics, pathobiology and also explore global health challenges. In Year 4, you will also carry out your own independent research project. This is your opportunity to make a unique contribution to increasing scientific knowledge in an area of biomedical science that fascinates you.

You will be supported throughout by our academics, whose vast biomedical research experience includes skin, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers; Alzheimer's disease; schizophrenia, chronic human conditions such as respiratory disorders, and infectious human diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Students interested in a more in-depth, research-oriented degree in this area should consider our IBMS-accredited MSci Biomedical Science degree, which involves a significant independent research project in your fourth year.

A hands-on degree

Our state-of-the-art life science teaching laboratories will be at the heart of your degree. They are where you will put the knowledge you have acquired from lectures and workshops into practice and get to know your course-mates and academics.

You will gain hands-on experience (depending upon your specialisation) of using equipment and facilities such as:

  • our bioimaging facility
  • histology suite
  • cell sorters
  • confocal microscopes
  • flow cytometers
  • PCR thermocyclers
  • cell culture facilities

In addition to laboratory practical classes and workshops, you will learn through lectures, workshops, laboratory reports, essays and case studies, presentations, tests and exams. You will also benefit from digital resources through our online learning environment which will support your independent learning.

Altogether your classroom learning and practical experience means you will graduate well-prepared for a successful career as a Biomedical Scientist or in other scientific and non-scientific fields.

Expand your horizons with a year abroad

Our four-year study abroad degree is an amazing opportunity to broaden your academic horizons, whilst experiencing a different culture and society.

You’ll spend your third year studying at one of our trusted international partner universities.

Living in another country and studying your subjects from a different perspective offers considerable benefit both in terms of your understanding of the subject and your preparation for life after university.

If you apply for a study abroad programme, we will also consider you for the standard degree programme.

If, during your first or second year, you decide you no longer wish to study abroad, you can simply switch to the standard degree programme. Destinations are given as a guide only as the availability of places at overseas partners may vary from year to year.

Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules which contribute credits to your Lancaster degree. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if suitable modules are unavailable. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster.

Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year or term abroad.

Find out more about spending a year abroad
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Course accreditation

Institute of Biomedical Science logo

Lancaster’s Biomedical Science degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)

Learn more about the Institute of Biomedical Science accreditation

Careers

Our IBMS-accredited Biomedical Science BSc (Study Abroad) is a path to employment as a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS. The degree also opens up research-based careers investigating causes and treatment of human diseases and conditions.

As well as this specific career path, you will build the skills and knowledge to open many other doors in the sciences and beyond.

Your transferable skills and analytical training will open up potential careers in other fields such as management, teaching, marketing and finance and your year abroad will help you stand out in a competitive employment world by evidencing your independence and global outlook.

Our graduates have gone on to a variety of other roles in laboratories and the pharmaceutical industry, including:
• Clinical Trials Coordinator
• Haematology Associate Practitioner
• Healthcare Science Assistant
• Histology Scientist
• Graduate-entry medical degree programmes
• Physicians Associate (after further training)

Others have looked beyond the sciences and used the transferable skills they have developed in their degree to build successful careers as:
• NHS Managers
• Finance Managers
• Roles in accountancy firms such as KPMG

You may consider roles such as:
• Analytical Chemist
• Research Scientist
• Biotechnologist
• Crime Scene Investigator
• Dental Therapist
• Environmental Engineer
• Genetic Counsellor
• Medical Chemist
• Medical Science Liaison
• Nanotechnologist
• Neuroscientist
• Science Writer
• Toxicologist
• Medical Writer
• Postgraduate study
• Clinical Scientist (with further training)

You can also apply for a paid summer internship in our department, helping you to gain additional research experience. Past interns have worked on research topics including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer biology, immunology, microbiology and tropical infectious diseases.

Employability at Lancaster: preparing you for the world of work

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring that you gain a highly-reputable degree. We are also committed to ensuring that you graduate with relevant life and work-based skills.

Because professional skills are embedded throughout our curriculum, you will develop wider expertise valued by employers including communication, teamworking and negotiation skills, project management and problem-solving skills, ethical and environmental awareness.

We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award, which offers you the opportunity to complete activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development.

Visit our employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. You may need to have qualifications in relevant subjects. In some cases we may also ask you to attend an interview or submit a portfolio. You must also meet our English language requirements.

Find more about these qualifications and others not shown here

Learn about how we will assess your application

Qualifications and typical requirements accordion

Contact Admissions

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, please complete our enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you.

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Enhancing our curriculum

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future.

We will publish more detailed information about the structure of this degree course for 2026-entry in June 2025, ahead of our summer undergraduate open days. This will include overviews of the core modules you will take and examples of optional modules which may be available to you.

Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

As a guide, our fees in 2025/26 were:

Home International
£9,535 £29,820

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for students starting in 2026 are not yet available.

You can use our scholarships for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2026/2027 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

Undergraduate open days 2025

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