This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Biomedical Science and the useless degree in reality

Scroll to see replies

Thanks for making me imagine a giant neighing penis galloping In a field of daisies with its mane swaying in the summer breeze

I'm glad to have given you such a mental image.

Reply 301

Juichiro

Original post by SophieSmall

No need for that tone.

Fully aware my undergrad degree is not enough for that. That's why I've got my options open, I'm considering several masters and will need to do lab experience and research work over the years. With the masters I'll be able to gain more experience in better jobs and then hopefully go on to PhD.

So any particular reason you decided to storm in on your big knobhorse?

Sorry, if it came off as negative. I did not mean it in that way. I was just curious.

Original post by Brownclown

Thanks for making me imagine a giant neighing penis galloping In a field of daisies with its mane swaying in the summer breeze

Summer breeze? Now that's a hilarious metaphorical description of Sophie's nether regions. :biggrin:

She is not going to like it though. :redface:

Reply 302

Juichiro

Original post by Juichiro

Sorry, if it came off as negative. I did not mean it in that way. I was just curious.
Summer breeze? Now that's a hilarious metaphorical description of Sophie's nether regions. :biggrin:

She is not going to like it though. :redface:

Original post by SophieSmall

I'm glad to have given you such a mental image.

Awkward...

You are glad that he is fantasising about us making love? :redface:

Reply 303

SophieSmall

Original post by Juichiro

Awkward...

You are glad that he is fantasising about us making love? :redface:

Nope, since that was not mentioned in brownclowns reply. Think you made that one up for your own amusement :wink:

Reply 304

Juichiro

Original post by SophieSmall

Nope, since that was not mentioned in brownclowns reply. Think you made that one up for your own amusement :wink:

It was implied. EEG his brain and you will see it he meant it. :redface:

Cheating is not amusing. :redface:

Reply 305

Brownclown

Original post by Juichiro

Sorry, if it came off as negative. I did not mean it in that way. I was just curious.

Summer breeze? Now that's a hilarious metaphorical description of Sophie's nether regions. :biggrin:

She is not going to like it though. :redface:

I'm gay I don't particularly want to think of Sophie's nether regions

Reply 306

SophieSmall

Original post by Juichiro

It was implied. EEG his brain and you will see it he meant it. :redface:

Cheating is not amusing. :redface:

Hmmmm

Reply 307

Juichiro

Original post by SophieSmall

Hmmmm

Reply 308

Juichiro

Original post by Brownclown

I'm gay I don't particularly want to think of Sophie's nether regions

Well, you just did. You can't type something without thinking about it. :redface:

Anyway, she said she is glad that you did. :tongue:

Reply 309

Harman5

I've heard that a biomedical sciences degree is a good way of getting into doing dentistry or medicine as a postgraduate; which I hopefully end up doing after my degree!

Reply 310

Questionner

Original post by 00clarky00

Hi no accrediatiton needed for Stp. Just if want to be a biomedical scientist.

Lab work is inherently repetitive tbh as in healthcare you do same tests over and over though may be a few. As a clinical scientist however would be more interesting but not just lab work also giving advice via the phone and researching new improvements in the lab.

I really like lab work granted boring at times, but worth volunteering see what you think if not sure.

Thanks for this information.

Reply 311

eminor_

Which Msc is more useful in terms of flexibility in the industry? Msc in Clinical Microbiology or Msc in Medical Microbiology?

Reply 312

Bagsworth

Original post by Harman5

I've heard that a biomedical sciences degree is a good way of getting into doing dentistry or medicine as a postgraduate; which I hopefully end up doing after my degree!

It's the route a lot of people take but it's not guaranteed. Certain unis - Warwick, QMUL, SGUL will make you an offer of grad-entry medicine (4-year stream) if you get one of the top marks when you graduate their BMS degree. Others will guarantee to at least interview you for medicine but it's not certain.
As for just applying for graduate entry medicine (it is graduate entry, not a post-graduate degree) you still have to ace either the GAMSAT or UKCAT and then have a long track record of healthcare experience to talk about. Plus for the GEM you will be competing against people who will have MSc, PhD and a wealth of other experience you couldn't have if you're just stepping out of uni for the first time as a graduate. It's a hard road but it can be done. A biomed degree isn't any more worthwhile than a biochemistry degree in this respect though, it doesn't get you a free pass.

Reply 313

00clarky00

Original post by Crazy on you!

I'm in microbiology and paid band 5 annex u (75% of top of band 5) so I'm happy! Just hope it gets extended.

Hi sorry to bother you I know this was posted a while ago but I just got told about annex pay.So am I right thinking get paid like 21k before tax or have I got this wrong?

Thanks :smile:

Reply 314

Mi02

Hi, I want to do Biomedical Science as well in uni. But I dont know is it better to apply to universities tgat are accredited by IBMS or not? Cuz I want to apply to top univeristies which they all are not on the IBMS accredited list! Iw want to apply for medicine, PGCE Biology and master degree after. But I also want to do lab work in nhs. Im really confuse. Also if do a top up modules how long would it normally take?

Reply 315

Bagsworth

Original post by Mi02

Top unis aren't accredited by the NHS because top unis want graduates to stay in academia pursuing PhDs and MScs. There is a lot of Ire that Biomedical Science is a bad degree but it isn't. It has pretty much identical career prospects as any other biology biochemistry based degree. The difference is whether you want to work in an NHS lab in which case not only is BMS better but the 4 year degree with placement year in NHS lab is the best route you can take. BMS 3 year or other 3 year degree leads you to the precarious position of trying to obtain a trainee BMS position of which this year I've only seen one place advertised in London. You need both the BMS degree and certificate of competence gained as a trainee to register as a biomedical scientist. Top up modules take a while. The IBMS will assess your degree and see where you fall short. If you do biology then you have a big struggle as you will have to take modules in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Histology, Pathology etc and pay out your own money plus try to find a trainee BMS position.
If you want to do medicine I'd advise you to try to get in now. Graduate entry medicine is even more competitive as you're vying for a place against older people with more experience, MScs and PhDs.
If you need any more help let me know!

Reply 316

Bagsworth

I'll quickly add that Biomedical Science comes in 2 guises: a degree calling itself biomedical science that isn't accredited by the IBMS that teaches a similar course to medicine but leads to a BSc. This is what "top" unis teach and is generally useless because it doesn't lead to a specific award. You can't be a doctor and there is no guarantee you can transfer to medicine. Equally you can't practise as a Biomedical Scientist because you also need to be legally registered. It is a degree for people with an interest in going onto research degrees to do with medicine.
The other degree is the vocational IBMS accredited Biomedical Science degree with a placement year. Like medicine it teaches you not only the knowledge but also skills necessary to practise as a BMS and leads to an award that leads to registration to become a BMS. People don't realise that it's not just knowledge of science that is important you need to do the year to know about how to react when patients results get mixed up and misreported. How you know an analyser is running effectively. The year out is extremely busy and the portfolio of evidence usually takes longer than a year to produce, get examined on and verified so it is not an easy task to become a BMS and rightly take longer than just 3 years.

Reply 317

Mi02

So what's ur suggestions then? Shall I apply to accredited uni only and with a placement? Is biomedical science a good course? Is it hard to find a job? Also what's BMS?

Reply 318

Bagsworth

Original post by Mi02

So what's ur suggestions then? Shall I apply to accredited uni only and with a placement? Is biomedical science a good course? Is it hard to find a job? Also what's BMS?

BMS is Biomedical Scientist. Well that really depends on what you want to do. If you want to do a BSc degree and apply to medicine (bearing in mind what I've said) apply for any degree you want to if it's just a stepping stone.

Biomedical Science is a good course but it varies depending on what university you look at. If you want to be a biomedical scientist, then do an IBMS-accredited degree. These vary by content as well but include all basic pathology you need to practise.
Just like any job, you need to find out more about practising as a biomedical scientist to see if it would suit you. It's not just one job, after you graduate you will have to specialise in one of the disciplines: Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry, Histology, Microbiology, but this is expanding into fertility and genetics as well.
If by "is it hard to find a job?" then my friends who did the placement year in their degrees were then recruited as a registered BMS after they graduated. If it's other jobs you're looking at then it has about the same job prospects as any other subject in the area allied to medicine.
Again though, being a biomedical scientist, you always need to develop and keep up with current science, an MSc in Biomedical Science would improve your career prospects and continuing knowledge and learning is mandatory to remain registered as a biomedical scientist. I've just had to renew my license and prove I've kept up to date with my professional development.

If you want to be a biomedical scientist, then apply to an IBMS-accredited degree, otherwise it will be much harder to demonstrate equivalence and to find a job as a trainee biomedical scientist.

Reply 319

Mi02

Thank u very much, that's really helpful.
I want to ask If I apply to non accredited uni first to do biomedical science and then do an accredited MSc degree to specialise. Is there a difference or it is same as applying to accredited uni?

Also, shall I apply to do three years with an industry year and then apply to do a master degree?
If u don't mind can I ask which uni u applied? Can u give me some advise on five choices? please! Thank u