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Biomedical Science and the useless degree in reality
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Original post by jam277
Yeah I did biochemistry.
Tbh just use the transferable skills, even if you became a biomedical scientist it's way too much hard work for too little money. That's if you even get a job. You need to realistically know somebody in the field in all honesty if not then get an internship and get contacts. Also best to go private.
Also the employment rate means nothing if they're doing completely unrelated subjects to their actual course. I know you're planning to take what you get but OP has a point. I knew this in all honesty personally and it's like that for most degrees unless you get a 2:1 from Oxford, Cambridge, LSE e.g. or do a profession like Social work/Medicine etc where you do placements.
Tbh just use the transferable skills, even if you became a biomedical scientist it's way too much hard work for too little money. That's if you even get a job. You need to realistically know somebody in the field in all honesty if not then get an internship and get contacts. Also best to go private.
Also the employment rate means nothing if they're doing completely unrelated subjects to their actual course. I know you're planning to take what you get but OP has a point. I knew this in all honesty personally and it's like that for most degrees unless you get a 2:1 from Oxford, Cambridge, LSE e.g. or do a profession like Social work/Medicine etc where you do placements.
How was you biochem degree? Is it worth it? Are you struggling to find a job?
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Original post by Pro_crastinator
And once I had figured out that I want to do Biomedical Science when I go to uni, I see this.
Great!
Great!
Sorry to hear that but I think every student should do their research deeply about their career. yes you can change later like me but why waste years when you can do it earlier on. But at end of day its down to your decision. Everyone has their opinion and experience.
This is why I can't choose a degree. Out of the degrees i'm interested in, they're all "saturated" and "useless". :/
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I have worked as an MLA for 7 years, did my degree part time and graduated with a first this year, getting a band 5 job as a BMS less than a few months later. I didn't do anything special, i'm no different from anyone else. So I would say, stop moaning, and just get on with it! Times change, science is continuously moving forwards so of course new machines and analysers will come in to streamline the processes. But there are still patients at the end of it all, are you forgetting that?
Original post by jockingclown
Sorry to hear that but I think every student should do their research deeply about their career. yes you can change later like me but why waste years when you can do it earlier on. But at end of day its down to your decision. Everyone has their opinion and experience.
Is it just you that finds yourself unemployable? What about others from your course, what are they doing?
I googled the Biomed scientist salary, and to quote google:
"
1.
Biomedical scientists start at Band 5: £21,388 - £27,901 and progress to team leader or specialist roles which are at Band 6: £25,783 - £34,530. The range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience, e.g. for a team manager or advanced practitioner (Band 7) is £30,764 - £40,558".
No idea whether this is false or what but it appears you are able to earn a decent wage, or you can specialise in other fields no?
Original post by °_°
It was tough. But I didn't work hard enough for it in all honesty. Lost a lot of work ethic but with the right work ethic you can get a 1st without too many problems.
Was it worth it? Yes and no. No because I am not doing a job in biochemistry, yes because the degree and transferable skills has put a foot into the door.
I struggled for a good 4 months to find a job, mainly because I didn't know what to do. I have a job now, which puts me on the path to do what I want to do.
Does that answer your queries? PM me if you want more details of the specifics of my degree etc.
In BMS its the progression that is very very slow. Now someone just posted that they were a MLA for 7 years and then got a band 5 post blah blah...that person has exactly made my point.now there are people who are happy to do like that so be it.. but those who are more impatient and driven and live in the era of new business ideas and ventures and want to get out there...well..have another look.
i personally am working in and have worked as well in labs. also i know someone who was a mla for 4 years and then got a band 5 position.. which is what i said about the silver lining.. get somewhere, work as a mla, stay long term..fingers crossed you will get a trainee position... i said this earlier in my post as well. now i am not saying ppl cant get straight trainee position after graduating but that would be rare cases these days because either they are internal vacanies and candidates and there are so few trainee positions out there.
pls right now a person reading this go to NHS JOBS website. type in trainee biomedical scientist and pls tell me if there are places that reach in the 2 digits|? eg.10
i personally am working in and have worked as well in labs. also i know someone who was a mla for 4 years and then got a band 5 position.. which is what i said about the silver lining.. get somewhere, work as a mla, stay long term..fingers crossed you will get a trainee position... i said this earlier in my post as well. now i am not saying ppl cant get straight trainee position after graduating but that would be rare cases these days because either they are internal vacanies and candidates and there are so few trainee positions out there.
pls right now a person reading this go to NHS JOBS website. type in trainee biomedical scientist and pls tell me if there are places that reach in the 2 digits|? eg.10
Original post by Pro_crastinator
Is it just you that finds yourself unemployable? What about others from your course, what are they doing?
I googled the Biomed scientist salary, and to quote google:
"
I googled the Biomed scientist salary, and to quote google:
"
1.
Biomedical scientists start at Band 5: £21,388 - £27,901 and progress to team leader or specialist roles which are at Band 6: £25,783 - £34,530. The range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience, e.g. for a team manager or advanced practitioner (Band 7) is £30,764 - £40,558".
No idea whether this is false or what but it appears you are able to earn a decent wage, or you can specialise in other fields no?
Check how long it takes to become an advanced practitioner firstly? Also you'll be doing dog work for long periods without the requisite amount of money.
Take it this way the people who know little about Science are ordering your branch around and getting double your wage. It's cynical as hell but it's the truth.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by jockingclown
Also dear students.
Have a look at the number of biomedical science students who have gone into teaching because they couldnt get a BMS training in NHS lab. Obviously please dont write that in your personal statement when applying for training posts in teaching....lol!
Have a look at the number of biomedical science students who have gone into teaching because they couldnt get a BMS training in NHS lab. Obviously please dont write that in your personal statement when applying for training posts in teaching....lol!
Not one BMS I know at my top 5 university have ever aspired to work in an NHS lab... They're all going into research and/or the pharmaceutical industry. It's not useless. It can lead you to a lucrative and very enjoyable career if you enjoy conducting medical research. You simply didn't know what you were expecting when you took the position on the course. The BMS course at my university is not accredited. My friends knew that before they accepted their places. Just to add, (for younger readers) a friend of mine completed a placement at a major pharmaceutical company abroad and was given a reasonable stipend. The course is not "useless" but is well respected. It provides you with the choice of a number of careers.
Again, it's not a "useless" degree. At Oxford, BMS is NOT accredited. You know why? Because ACCREDITATION IS LIMITING ON THE SYLLABUS.
Again, I hope students reading this are not put off by the course. Check whether or not the course you're applying to is accredited. You should already have an idea of your chosen career path prior to accepting a university place. Don't let this bitter individual put you off.
Oh, and a minority of BMS graduates go into teaching. The vast majority continue on to complete postgraduate degrees/ PhDs. The employment rate at my university and all of the top 10 are in the high 80s/90s.
You just have a chip on your shoulder because you've found yourself in a rut. You have nobody to blame but yourself. I know 2 BMS graduates who are in better financial positions than those who have completed the course I am in the final year of, aeronautical engineering.
lostfm....lot of talk but not enough hard facts and statistics?
dear students please look at this lostfm184 post... pls..i would like to point out something that i have been stating from the start. i try out and remove the emotional subjective aspects and want to reflect some points this person has given us the objective aspect-:
"Not one BMS I know at my top 5 university have ever aspired to work in an NHS lab,They're all going into research and/or the pharmaceutical industry."
"It provides you with the choice of a number of careers." (So does a lot of degrees out there)
" Because ACCREDITATION IS LIMITING ON THE SYLLABUS. "
"Again, I hope students reading this are not put off by the course. Check whether or not the course you're applying to is accredited. You should already have an idea of your chosen career path prior to accepting a university place. Don't let this bitter individual put you off. " (i have already said this in my earlier posts)
"I know 2 BMS graduates who are in better financial positions than those who have completed the course I am in the final year of, aeronautical engineering." ( what is the band, salary and the number of years etc etc and its good to hear some good news! nobody is saying that dont go for bms.. this is a forum..we give opinions, reasons for each persons experience good or bad, critique and lay out the conditions, we dont make decisions for anyone)
folks dont just listen and read opinions and as i said from the start ask questions, enquire enquire enquire...and dear lostfm ...pls dont be lost in the meaning of a forum.
"Not one BMS I know at my top 5 university have ever aspired to work in an NHS lab,They're all going into research and/or the pharmaceutical industry."
"It provides you with the choice of a number of careers." (So does a lot of degrees out there)
" Because ACCREDITATION IS LIMITING ON THE SYLLABUS. "
"Again, I hope students reading this are not put off by the course. Check whether or not the course you're applying to is accredited. You should already have an idea of your chosen career path prior to accepting a university place. Don't let this bitter individual put you off. " (i have already said this in my earlier posts)
"I know 2 BMS graduates who are in better financial positions than those who have completed the course I am in the final year of, aeronautical engineering." ( what is the band, salary and the number of years etc etc and its good to hear some good news! nobody is saying that dont go for bms.. this is a forum..we give opinions, reasons for each persons experience good or bad, critique and lay out the conditions, we dont make decisions for anyone)
folks dont just listen and read opinions and as i said from the start ask questions, enquire enquire enquire...and dear lostfm ...pls dont be lost in the meaning of a forum.
(edited 9 years ago)
dear lostfml84
if you want to make objective facts and hints pls help. its not about you or me..its about the future students and other people who might go further and ask questions as scientists should. so if you wish to place the frustration that 2 BMS earn more than you i am sure facebook and other sites are there to facilitate your feelings. yes all comments are appreciated but i dont want this forum to be just about teenage attacks on each user but laying out the pros and cons of the field so that students can make a better judgement and make a informed decision.
thank you.
if you want to make objective facts and hints pls help. its not about you or me..its about the future students and other people who might go further and ask questions as scientists should. so if you wish to place the frustration that 2 BMS earn more than you i am sure facebook and other sites are there to facilitate your feelings. yes all comments are appreciated but i dont want this forum to be just about teenage attacks on each user but laying out the pros and cons of the field so that students can make a better judgement and make a informed decision.
thank you.
Folks, I have attached 2 files for your consideration. I leave all the judgement and decisions and opinions for forum.
1.Percentage of UK domiciled full-time first degree leavers by subject area 2012 and 2013
2. Occupation of full-time first degree leavers entering employment in the UK by location of institution and subject area of degree 2011 to 2013
The Higher Education Statistics Agency collects data through the indicating the general employment areas entered into by students studying “subjects allied to medicine” and “biological sciences” and employment rates for various qualifications (again “subjects allied to medicine” and “biological sciences”).
Neither source of data listed above provides the specific information we would need to provide reliable statistics on the entry of biomedical science BSc graduates into biomedical scientist trainees positions. But the Biomedical science will be under either “subjects allied to medicine” and “biological sciences”. I wish there were better statistics which were more specific and accurate but there you go.
1.Percentage of UK domiciled full-time first degree leavers by subject area 2012 and 2013
2. Occupation of full-time first degree leavers entering employment in the UK by location of institution and subject area of degree 2011 to 2013
The Higher Education Statistics Agency collects data through the indicating the general employment areas entered into by students studying “subjects allied to medicine” and “biological sciences” and employment rates for various qualifications (again “subjects allied to medicine” and “biological sciences”).
Neither source of data listed above provides the specific information we would need to provide reliable statistics on the entry of biomedical science BSc graduates into biomedical scientist trainees positions. But the Biomedical science will be under either “subjects allied to medicine” and “biological sciences”. I wish there were better statistics which were more specific and accurate but there you go.
Original post by Juichiro
Knowledge can be learned over the internet.
Transferable skills such as (please don't include communication skills, analytical skills, research skills or writing skills)?
Transferable skills such as (please don't include communication skills, analytical skills, research skills or writing skills)?
Can be learned over the internet, but can't be validated without a proper institution.
In reality, most things can be learnt on the internet - by that logic - most degrees are useless.
Original post by Yawn11
Can be learned over the internet, but 1.can't be validated without a proper institution.
In reality, most things can be learnt on the internet - by that logic - 2.most degrees are useless.
In reality, most things can be learnt on the internet - by that logic - 2.most degrees are useless.
1. Validate what? Most institutions only validate that you perform well on a test. That does not necessarily tells you anything about a person's learning. For all we know, and we know it to be widespread, the person can just cram it all in a few weeks, regurgitate it on an exam and forget it afterwards.
2. They are useless if you only want the knowledge. But we need the paper, as well as access to academics and the facilities most unis have. Knowledge is by no means the deal breaker these days.
Original post by Juichiro
1. Validate what? Most institutions only validate that you perform well on a test. That does not necessarily tells you anything about a person's learning. For all we know, and we know it to be widespread, the person can just cram it all in a few weeks, regurgitate it on an exam and forget it afterwards.
2. They are useless if you only want the knowledge. But we need the paper, as well as access to academics and the facilities most unis have. Knowledge is by no means the deal breaker these days.
2. They are useless if you only want the knowledge. But we need the paper, as well as access to academics and the facilities most unis have. Knowledge is by no means the deal breaker these days.
It validates you competencies to companies.
It's all well and good saying you've got all this knowledge and skills you've taught yourself, but without a degree most big companies will trash your complication.
That's the reality
Peace out.
Original post by Juichiro
1. Validate what? Most institutions only validate that you perform well on a test. That does not necessarily tells you anything about a person's learning. For all we know, and we know it to be widespread, the person can just cram it all in a few weeks, regurgitate it on an exam and forget it afterwards.
2. They are useless if you only want the knowledge. But we need the paper, as well as access to academics and the facilities most unis have. Knowledge is by no means the deal breaker these days.
2. They are useless if you only want the knowledge. But we need the paper, as well as access to academics and the facilities most unis have. Knowledge is by no means the deal breaker these days.
Don't really agree with this. There are distance learning degrees which don't really require face to face interaction or physical facilities. We really only go to uni to get the certificate at the end of it.
Original post by Yawn11
1.It validates you competencies to companies.
2.It's all well and good saying you've got all this knowledge and skills you've taught yourself, but without a degree most big companies will trash your complication.
That's the reality
Peace out.
2.It's all well and good saying you've got all this knowledge and skills you've taught yourself, but without a degree most big companies will trash your complication.
That's the reality
Peace out.
2. They are useless if you only want the knowledge. But we need the paper, as well as access to academics and the facilities most unis have. Knowledge is by no means the deal breaker these days.
https://www.ibms.org/go/media/news,784
Could see if they would accept you to volunteer? Vital experience that would surely help support your further applications.
Could see if they would accept you to volunteer? Vital experience that would surely help support your further applications.
Original post by Estee92
https://www.ibms.org/go/media/news,784
Could see if they would accept you to volunteer? Vital experience that would surely help support your further applications.
Could see if they would accept you to volunteer? Vital experience that would surely help support your further applications.
yes already did at the very start when they brought it out.
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