Course Structure

Introduction

Biomedical Science comprises the sciences related to medicine and in particular these specialist disciplines of diagnostic Biomedical Science as practised in Health Service Laboratories:

• Clinical Bacteriology and Immunology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Haematology and Transfusion Science
• Histopathology and Cytology
• Clinical Genetics

Further modules provide a sound background to other fundamental areas of Biomedical Sciences (including Anatomy and Physiology) along with cutting-edge subject areas of relevance to Life Science careers.

Stage 1 Modules

Students must take the following compulsory modules:

• Human Structure and Function (integrated anatomy and physiology)
• The World of Microorganisms (biology of microbes in food, health and the environment).
• Fundamentals of Microbiology (biology of bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, protozoa and parasites)
• Genetics and the Molecular Toolbox (genetics, genomics, and associated molecular tools)
• Molecular Basis of Life (nature of biomolecules with emphasis on amino acids, proteins, DNA structure and basic experimental techniques).
• Professional Skills for Scientists 1 (develops academic skills to enhance employability prospects)

Stage 2 Modules

Students must take the following compulsory modules:

• Principles of Cell Biology (basic introduction to the molecular basis of cell structure and function)
• Clinical Genetics (genetic information processing and disease inheritance).
• Sciences of Disease (basic introduction to immunology, human disease and the laboratory clinical sciences of pathology, microbiology and haematology).
• Professional Practice in Biomedical Sciences (basic introduction to the practical aspects of laboratory work in hospitals and research methods and statistics)
• Professional Skills for Scientists 2 (develops further key academic practical and generic skills).

Stage 3 Modules

Students must take the following compulsory modules:

• Research Project
• Molecular Markers of Disease (molecular histology, cell and molecular biology of haematological disorders with particular emphasis on current diagnosis and treatment)
• Biology of Human Infection (microbial existence in epidemiology and spread of infection, the molecular basis of virulence and the pathogenesis of disease.
• Clinical Biochemistry (biochemistry, endocrinology and specialised investigations).

Contact Teaching Hours

Medium Group Teaching

12 (hours maximum)
Practical/Tutorial

Personal Study

24 (hours maximum)

Large Group Teaching

14 (hours maximum)
Lectures

Learning and Teaching

The Biomedical Science course at Queen's is designed to equip our students with the knowledge and skills base required for life-long learning in one of the most rapidly expanding areas of modern science. To do this we provide a range of learning experiences:

Adviser of Studies

Acts as a first point of contact for students with academic or personal issues that they may require guidance and/or support with.

E-Learning technologies

Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. Lecture materials, videos, quizzes, and more may be embedded in this platform.

Induction

A formalised induction for all undergraduate students. Induction activities allow students to familiarise themselves with the campus, the degree programme, and their fellow classmates.

Lectures

These introduce foundation information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. As the module progresses this information becomes more complex. Lectures, which are normally delivered in large groups to all year-group peers, also provide opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification on key issues as well as gain feedback and advice on assessments. Additional guest lectures are also delivered by researchers or experts in their fields.

Peer Mentoring Scheme

Whereby students in second and third year of their degree programme volunteer to mentor Stage 1 students. This informal interaction helps with transition from School to University.

Practical laboratory

Biomedical Science has practical classes contributing to most modules, and the hands-on experience is hugely popular with our students. In the first year this includes extensive work in physiology, anatomy, molecular biology and microbiology. Further advanced and clinical experience is offered in second and third year and includes visits to NHS laboratories.

Self-directed study

This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out. Through this, students become independent learners.

Seminars/tutorials

In these sessions, the class is split into small groups (typically 4-5 students). These sessions are designed to explore, in more depth, the information that has been presented in the lectures. This provides students with the opportunity to engage closely with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of their peers.

Summer Studentships

Competitively available to students (usually 4-8) about to move into second or third year, these studentships provide additional hands on laboratory experience in one of our research laboratories over the summer breaks, and are useful for general laboratory experience as well as for skills to be employed in 3rd year projects.

Third year Supervised Projects

Based on choices made from the list of projects available each year, students are assigned their third year project, usually carried out as a valued member of a research group in one of our research centres within the faculty, over the course of two semesters. This will often involve designing and conducting experiments, and presenting and analysing data. In addition to the submitted write-up, our students regularly get the opportunity to present their results at scientific meetings or are included as part of a paper publication.

Assessment

Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

• Assessment will vary according to the learning outcomes of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Students are assigned an Advisor of Studies who can advise on personal and academic matters.

Feedback

As you progress through your course you will receive general and specific feedback about your work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, personal tutors, Advisors of Study and your peers. As a university student, you will be expected to reflect on feedback and take the initiative in continuously improving the quality of your work.

• • Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group have submitted.
  • Face-to-face comment. This may include occasions when you talk to your lecturers to address a specific query.
  • On-line e-mailed comment.
  • General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
  • Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
  • Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
  • Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.
  • Once you have reviewed your feedback, you are encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Modules

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Entrance requirements

A level requirements

AB (in any order in Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry) B + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4
OR
A (Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry) AB including a second science subject + GCSE Biology and Chemistry grade C/4 or GCSE Double Award Science grades CC/4,4 + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to a grade A at A-level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.

Irish leaving certificate requirements

H2H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H2 and H3 in any order in Biology and Chemistry + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O4 in Mathematics.

Access Course

Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 80% with no less than 70% in any module normally including two Biology modules (Level 3) and two Chemistry modules (Level 3). GCSE Mathematics grade C/4 or equivalent in Access Course.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

33 points overall including 6,5,5 at Higher Level to include Higher Level grades 6,5 (in any order) in Biology and Chemistry + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4
OR
34 points overall including 6,6,5 at Higher Level to include Higher Level grade 6 in Biology or Chemistry and Higher Level grade 5 in a second Science subject + GCSE Biology and Chemistry grade C/4 or GCSE Double Award Science grades CC/4,4 + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

Standard Level grade 4 would be acceptable in lieu of the GCSE requirement.

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma

QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma - not accepted

RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Applied Science (Biomedical Science route only)

1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH), with overall grade D*DD + GCSE Biology and Chemistry grade C/4 or GCSE Double Award Science grades CC/4,4 + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

Applicants must have Distinction grades in four specified units:

Science Investigation Skills
Physiology of Human Body Systems
Biological Molecules & Metabolic Pathways
Biomedical Science

Graduate

A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirements are also met.

All applicants

Acceptable second Science subjects:
Computer Science, ICT, Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Geography, Geology, Home Economics, Mathematics, Nutrition & Food Science, Physics, Physical Education, Psychology, Technology & Design. Other subjects considered on an individual basis.

Note

All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

How we choose our students

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS. These decisions can only be made on the basis of the information given and applicants must show due care and diligence when completing their applications. In particular, full details must be included about qualifications completed or still to be completed.

For entry last year, applicants offering A-level/BTEC Level 3 qualifications must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language and Mathematics), though this profile may change from year to year depending on the demand for places. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

For applicants offering Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Junior Certificate is taken into account. For last year’s entry applicants for this degree must have had, a minimum of 5 IJC grades C/Merit, though this profile may change from year to year depending on the demand for places. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of Leaving Certificate subjects can be satisfied.

Offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat candidates is normally one grade higher than for first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking four A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants offering other qualifications, such as relevant BTEC Higher National Certificates (HNC) and BTEC Higher National Diplomas (HND), will also be considered. A relevant HNC/HND is defined as a course with substantial relevant Biology and/or Chemistry content (eg HNC/HND Science (Applied Biology), HNC/HND Applied Biology, HNC/HND Applied Biological Sciences, etc).

Those offering a relevant HNC/HND are considered individually on their own merits for entry to Stage 1. For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits. For those offering a HND, at least half of the units completed in the first year of the HND must be at Merit level. Where offers are made students would be expected to achieve Merits in all units assessed in final year. For those offering a HNC/HND, some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile but all normal GCSE subject requirements must be satisfied.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of this degree, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Visit Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions and Access Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

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English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

Career Prospects

Introduction

The BSc in Biomedical Science at Queens is aimed at students wishing to pursue a career in:


• Diagnostic laboratory science as Biomedical Scientists within the National Health Service.
• Clinical trials relating to drug registration and patents.
• Government or Charity-funded research laboratories
• Management careers in the Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology Industries
• Academic Research and Development.
• Postgraduate entry to Medicine, Dentistry and allied health Professions after gaining a strong scientific
training at undergraduate level

In addition to graduates in Biomedical Science being interested in pursuing a career in the field, the degree also affords opportunities for careers in the broad field of medicine and medically-related subjects such as medical sales and science writing. The degree also provides access to graduate jobs open to other disciplines due to the many transferable skills gained on the course.

Many students go into further study after their degree, completing Master’s and PhDs and a significant proportion of graduates gain entry to a Medical or Dental degree both at Queen's University Belfast or in another university in the UK.
www.prospects.ac.uk

Employment after the Course

Recent and frequent employment opportunities have been taken by our graduates in Life Science/Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology industries in a wide range of roles, including Laboratory Technician, Scientific Officer, Sales and Marketing, and Clinical Trials Supervision, in leading local, national and international industries, including Randox, Norbrook, Almac and Galen.

Employment Links

Many of our students go on to further study, predominantly within Queen’s or in other universities in the UK or abroad.

Graduates have gone into areas such as Medicine, Dentistry, Computational Biology, Teaching, and PhDs in various research areas often in research laboratories in which they completed their 3rd year projects.

Prizes and Awards

A number of professional bodies, including the Institute of Biomedical Science, sponsor prizes on an annual basis for best students in their level, module or category.

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1	£4,855
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2	£4,855
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1	£9,535
EU Other 3	£25,300
International	£25,300

¹EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

² EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.

Additional course costs

Year 1 students are required to buy a laboratory coat at a cost of £10.

Students undertaking placements are responsible for funding travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. These costs vary depending on the location and duration of the placement. Students may receive payment from their placement provider during their placement year.

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Scholarships

Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.

How to Apply

Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply

UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2025 from early September 2024.

The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications for entry in 2025 is still to be confirmed by UCAS but is normally in late January (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.

Applications from UK and EU (Republic of Ireland) students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2025) subject to the availability of places. If you apply for 2025 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

Applications from International and EU (Other) students are normally considered by Queen's for entry to this course until 30 June 2025. If you apply for 2025 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Further information on applying to study at Queen's is available at: www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/How-to-apply/

Apply via UCAS 

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

1. Applying through UCAS
   Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2025.
2. Applying direct
   The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. Find out more.
3. Applying through agents and partners
   The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult the Agent List to find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.

Download Undergraduate Prospectus