Biomedical Science

If you are applying on the basis of A Levels, you must meet both the A Level and GCSE requirements below.

GCSEs

If you are applying on the basis of International Baccalaureate, you need to meet both our Higher Level and Standard Level requirements, as outlined below.

If you are applying on the basis of an Access Diploma, you must meet both the Access Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

GCSEs

We welcome applications from applicants around the world. For information on the requirements for your country, please visit our International Qualifications page.

At St George’s, we want to attract students who share our mission to improve the health of society, regardless of their background. That’s why our Contextual Admissions schemes take into consideration additional information from your application, like the school you attended or the area you live in or if you have been in care, to make the admissions process fairer. Further details on Contextual Admissions are available here.

If you are applying from outside of the UK, you will need to meet the English language requirements outlined here. This is a group 2 course.

We look for able students who have a strong interest in their chosen subject. Your success in Biomedical science will be underpinned by a good understanding of biology and a thorough knowledge of the principles of chemistry.

As a guide, your personal statement should include:

• What in particular interests you about biomedical science.
• The extra activities you may have undertaken to support this interest. Any participation in extra-curricular activities relating to science may be beneficial to your application.

Due to the demanding nature of the programme, it is important that applicants can demonstrate recent engagement in education. If the qualifications that you are applying on the basis of (e.g. Level 3 or degree level qualifications) were awarded more than five years ago (e.g. before summer 2020), it may still be possible for us to consider your application. In this case, we would look at supplementary level 3 qualifications, or relevant work experience, that you have undertaken within the last five years.

These applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, following submission of a UCAS application.

The Biomedical Science MSci degree is a four-year modular programme of study, in which the first two years of the study are identical to the Biomedical Science BSc programme at St George’s.

In Years 1 and 2 of the course, all modules are compulsory. In year 1 we start with some learning activities designed to help you adjust to university-style learning We start as part of your modules. During your learning in 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. We will consider how these techniques are applicable to advancing scientific knowledge, disease diagnosis and therapy.

You will have the opportunity to undertake an optional integrated Professional Training Year between Year’s 2 and 3 to hone your professional skills and experience. These placements can be in industry, academia, the NHS or international placements., Both paid and unpaid options with means-tested loans available for Home students. All students completing this year are provided with an awarded graded certificate of their achievement.

In Year 3, you will undertake compulsory modules to the value of 45 credits which are designed to prepare you to plan, design, conduct and evaluate scientific research. For example, Experimental Design and Data Analysis will provide you with necessary analytical skills, the Structured Research Project allows you to develop a mini-research project and Biomedical Research Techniques for Drug Development provides knowledge of the process of drug discovery.

You then have flexibility to tailor your programme of study to your scientific interests by choosing from specialist pathways in cell and molecular biology; genomics; immunity and infection and physiology and pharmacology.

In Year 4, the Research Project running the full academic year, provides an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in a project aligned to your scientific interests to generate detailed high-quality research outputs. Dissertation projects will involve the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of substantial research data, primarily lab generated, although some projects may involve meta-analyses and bioinformatics. You will work in a vibrant research environment alongside teams of researchers from all levels, from established principal investigators to postgraduate students. Your project work is further supported by a compulsory 15-credit research proposal module which strengthens your understanding of research culture and values and enables you take ownership of your project by generating a project-specific research proposal. There is the opportunity to broaden your horizons by undertaking your research project in labs abroad, at our partner Universities.

Year 1

Personal & Academic Skills 1&2 (10 credits)

Fundamentals of the Living Cell (30 credits)

Fundamentals in Physiology & Pharmacology (15 credits)

Fundamentals of Pathology (10 credits)

Physiology 1 (40 credits)

Anatomy 1 (15 credits)

Year 2

Personal & Academic Skills 3&4 (25 credits)

Genomics (10 credits)

Physiology 2 (20 credits)

Anatomy 2 (15 credits)

Microbiology and Immunology (25 credits)

Molecular Basis of Disease (25 credits)

Year 3

Experimental Design and Data Analysis (15 credits)

Structured Research Project (15 credits)

Biomedical Research Techniques for Drug Development (15 credits)

Pathway choices (75 credits total):

Immunity and Infection

• Medical Microbiology
• Immunity and Infection
• Neglected Tropical Diseases

Cell and Molecular Biology

• Biology of Cancer
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Genes and Gene Expression in Eukaryotic Cells

Genomics

• Clinical Application of Genomics in Rare Diseases and Cancer
• Human Medical Genetics
• Personalised Medicine

Physiology and Pharmacology

• Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases
• Science of Reproduction
• Pharmacology and Physiology of Drugs of Abuse

Year 4

Research Proposal (15 credits)

Supporting module on understanding how to undertake research.

Research Project (105 credits)

Hands-on authentic research project investigating real-world biomedical science research questions.

Biomedical science will give you a solid scientific grounding that prepares you for a wide range of careers in biomedical research, industry medicine and healthcare sciences and beyond.

Teaching is delivered through a variety of research-informed methods, including: lectures and laboratory practical sessions; tutorials using scenario-based learning; self-directed learning; and computer-assisted learning. There is a gradual change in emphasis during your degree, from large group lectures, delivering core knowledge and concepts, to smaller lecture groups for specialist knowledge and interactive discussion.

You’ll progress from basic competence in laboratory skills in Year 1 to the use of more sophisticated techniques in years 2,3 and 4. By the time you graduate, you will gain the ability to confidently plan and execute experiments and interpret the data obtained from them and draw relevant conclusions. You’ll also gain a range of valuable interpersonal, academic and transferrable skills including written and oral communications, data handling, group working, problem-solving and time-management.

One of the many benefits of studying at St George’s is the opportunity to study socialise and network with students on other healthcare-related courses including medical, clinical pharmacology, physiotherapy, diagnostic and therapeutic radiography. You’ll be welcomed into our community by students and staff and supported in your studies and professional and personal development.

Your learning is assessed* using a variety of methods including: practical assessments, in-course assessments such as poster and oral presentations, laboratory reports, essays, objective structured practical examinations and data analysis assignments. Examinations include single-best answer questions and short and long answer questions. A major element of the programme is the final year dissertation.  

*Assessment methods may vary across modules. 

You’ll be taught by experienced staff with research expertise ranging from the earliest phase of basic discovery to the development of new diagnostics, treatment protocols and approaches to healthcare delivery and preventive medicine.

For over two centuries, St George’s has been at the forefront of developing new and innovative solutions to enhance the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease. We enjoy a global reputation as experts in population health, infection and immunity, and molecular and clinical sciences. Scientists from across our institutes work together to uncover new scientific knowledge addressing emerging health-related problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Novartis
• GSK
• Pfizer
• MSD
• UK Health Security Agency (formally PHE) 
• St George’s NHS Trust
• Clinical Research Facility & Imaging Resource Facility at St George’s
• Institute of Cancer Research. 

 *This list is subject to change and should be used as a guide of where students may be able to go.

• The Francis Crick Institute
• UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
• Division of Psychiatry at Imperial College
• King’s College London Department of Women and Children’s Health 

The Turing scheme enables placements world-wide. We have already placed students at the University of Barcelona, the University of Granada in Spain and Radboud University, the Netherlands.

You must provide:

• full details of your Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualifications with grades

• full details of your Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) qualifications with achieved/predicted grades

• a personal statement (more information about this document is available on the UCAS website). 

• an academic reference from your current or most recent institutions with predicted grades.

We will consider applications from applicants who wish to defer entry by a year, provided you plan to use the time constructively. If you are offered a place on the course and subsequently decide to defer, you must inform us by 1 June of the year of application.

Acknowledgement emails and letters are sent out as soon as we receive your application. Please make sure that your email account is able to accept communications from St George’s as we will mainly communicate with you via email.

Our teaching laboratories are fully fitted with equipment necessary to carry out practical teaching sessions covering biomedical science subjects. Specialist audio visual equipment facilitates large-group laboratory teaching in these spaces. Furthermore, students will have access to tissue culture facilities, flow cytometry, molecular biology labs and animal model research facilities.

First established in 1979, the IRF has developed to encompass light microscopy, confocal laser microscopy, and flow cytometry housed in a single department providing a range of imaging and cell analysis option with expert facility staff available for training and support. Users of the IRF can image histology samples, cells and molecules of all varieties, and model organisms such as zebrafish, using any of the light microscope, slide scanning, timelapse and confocal microscope systems we maintain, supported by experienced staff.

The anatomy suite is where present and future healthcare professionals and scientists in the hospital and University learn or expand on their anatomy knowledge directly from the human body, through access to high quality anatomy resources. These include plastinated (preserved) specimens, osteological materials, anatomical models and digital/imaging resources such as Anatomage tables and Complete Anatomy.

Our on-site museum houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens and has played an integral part in teaching at St George’s since the early 19th century. This space is used for consolidation sessions to promote student knowledge and understanding related to mechanisms of disease.

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. 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.

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.

Our Student Centre team can help you with every aspect of student life: finances, accommodation, exams and assessment, academic procedures, admissions, international queries, disability and wellbeing, even finding your way around – whatever it takes to make you feel at home. Each course has a designated contact within the student centre to link to and your personal tutor can signpost you to relevant support, including a confidential counselling service. 

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. 

The main goal of induction is to make sure that you are set up for your studies and start to feel part of the University and our community. As well as course-specific activities, we run an online ‘Get Started’ module which provides lots of information about social and enrichment activities, student safety, wellbeing and learning support, including study skills, a library induction and guidance about our careers and employability services. Additional information is provided for international students. 

You’ll have access to your lecturers, with opportunity to ask questions in live lecture and consolidation sessions or by arrangement via email.