Is MMU or Salford better for BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Hi,I'm currently in college and I've applied for Biomedical Science with foundation yr to Salford and MMU. I'm doing it with foundation year because I didn't study science subjects at college because as we didn't do exams, I was just given a grade by teachers which didn't meet the entry requirements.I really wanted to pursue Medicine at uni but that's got high requirements, so Biomed seemed very interested and related to that that's why, I applied for that and I've got all the offers now. I'm not worried about not doing Medicine and I'm excited about studying Biomedical Science, which will be 4 years including the foundation year. I was disappointed to do a foundation yr but I've just accepted it now.I want to know should I go to mmu or Salford to do this course? Also, I'm concerned about its future opportunities as well so I wanted some information on that because I've found out by research that after doing this BSc, you can't do anything without any specialisation, is that true? If I wanted to become a senior Biomedical scientist what would I have to do after this 4 year course, can you please suggest?Thank you!

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

@RegisteredBMS can offer more advice on working as a BMS and what the progression is in that profession.

However before you get to that point you NEED two things: an IBMS accredited degree and HCPC registration. So make sure the courses are the former, and for the latter see if they offer placements in NHS pathology labs - which is necessary to complete the professional portfolio to register with the HCPC.

Ideally the best courses to become a BMS are actually the Healthcare Sciences (Life Sciences) courses offered through the NHS PTP (practitioner training programme). I think MMU runs them only in other professions though offhand, not sure about Salford.

Reply 2

Hazsfc

Why healthcare sciences, I mean the degree's name is "Biomedical science" so can't I become a Biomedical scientist with a Biomed actual degree? Salford' degree is accredited by IBMS and so is MMu's I think and after 1st 3 years, I can take a placement if I want, I think that won't be a problem but I'm just worried about what I'll do after that :frown:

Reply 3

RegisteredBMS

Original post by Hazsfc

Fundamentally Universities can call their degree anything they want. IBMS accreditation is a stamp to say that the course includes the modules that the IBMS believe a Biomedical Science course should include, but there's nothing to say it should be called Biomedical Science.

In order to seek registration as a Biomedical Scientist with the HCPC, you have to complete the registration portfolio. One of the criteria, among many (it's literally a single page in the portfolio), is to have an IBMS accredited degree.

The NHS PTP, often referred to by Universities as BSc Healthcare Science (Life Science), is that it includes your registration with the HCPC in the degree. MMU do offer it but they've done something weird and changed how they offer it. Chat with them about doing their Biomedical Science course and gaining HCPC registration. The issue with some courses that just add a sandwich placement in and say you can do a placement and you might get one in a NHS laboratory is that they may have 1-2, if any NHS placements available, and you won't be the only one that wants it. They will be very popular. The NHS PTP has guaranteed placements.