Biomed or Biochem?

University course discussion for Biology, Biomedical science, Biochemistry, Genetics, Anatomy, Neuroscience, Pharmacology etc

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  1. annie0302's Avatar
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    Biomed or Biochem?
    I'm currently in my first year of university and studying biomedical science.
    my tutor has advised me to change to biochemistry with biomedical science but i don't really know what to do.

    I plan on doing a phd afterwards and going into HIV/AIDs or cancer research after that

    Anyone got any advice?
    Thanks
  2. TheBigI's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    Well, do you enjoy biomed? Or do you think you would enjoy biochem more?
  3. annie0302's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    I enjoy biomed (there are a few boring modules but thats the same with any subject) but i also used to enjoy chem at college.
    i just don't want to change and then not be able to get the job i want (or not change and not get the job i want)
  4. cuckoo99's Avatar
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    • Location: Brighton
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    (Original post by annie0302)
    I enjoy biomed (there are a few boring modules but thats the same with any subject) but i also used to enjoy chem at college.
    i just don't want to change and then not be able to get the job i want (or not change and not get the job i want)
    but surely you want to do a phd and not get a graduate job ? both degree's would allow you to do similar if not the same phd.
  5. TheBigI's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    (Original post by annie0302)
    I enjoy biomed (there are a few boring modules but thats the same with any subject) but i also used to enjoy chem at college.
    i just don't want to change and then not be able to get the job i want (or not change and not get the job i want)
    Are there any biochem modules on the biomed course you can take?

    Maybe you could try talking to people that do HIV/AIDS or cancer research and see if they can offer advice?
  6. annie0302's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    (Original post by cuckoo99)
    but surely you want to do a phd and not get a graduate job ? both degree's would allow you to do similar if not the same phd.
    yes i do want to do a phd but i wasn't sure if the degree would have impact :/
  7. annie0302's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    (Original post by TheBigI)
    Are there any biochem modules on the biomed course you can take?

    Maybe you could try talking to people that do HIV/AIDS or cancer research and see if they can offer advice?
    a few (right now one of them is protein biochemistry)
    it was just that my tutor said 'whilst your learning about blood films they're learning about cell signalling which is more applicable to most laboratory job outside of hospitals'

    I have emailed a few people at my uni who are involved with cancer research to see what they think
  8. Waterstorm's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    If your biomed course is accredited I'd switch to biochem if you wanna do a phd in HIV/AIDs stuff. Accredited biomed courses are very specific and restricted to becoming a biomedical scientist. Can you possibly switch to immunology if you like that area? Or maybe you can do an immunology module next year, and switch properly in third year? (that's how it's done at ucl).
  9. I'mBadAtMaths's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    (Original post by annie0302)
    ...
    Where do you study?
  10. alleycat393's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    (Original post by annie0302)
    I'm currently in my first year of university and studying biomedical science.
    my tutor has advised me to change to biochemistry with biomedical science but i don't really know what to do.

    I plan on doing a phd afterwards and going into HIV/AIDs or cancer research after that

    Anyone got any advice?
    Thanks
    Biomed course tend to be geared towards a graduate job as a biomedical scientist so I would do biochemistry for a career in research.
  11. cuckoo99's Avatar
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    • Location: Brighton
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    (Original post by alleycat393)
    Biomed course tend to be geared towards a graduate job as a biomedical scientist so I would do biochemistry for a career in research.
    indeed you dont want to end up working in a hopsital pathology lab if you want to do research
  12. annie0302's Avatar
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    • Posts: 6
    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    so all of you are saying biochem thanks for the help
  13. Waterstorm's Avatar
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    Re: Biomed or Biochem?
    Just so you know, there's very few universities offering biomedical sciences that gear people towards becoming a biomedical scientist. So anyone who says that, it's not exactly true.
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