Can you become a biomedical scientist if you do a biochemistry degree?

I'm looking last minute to change my application as I've realised I'd love to study biochem/biomed, but I made the mistake of not taking biology a level (i do phys chem ancient history) due to another issue, can you still become a biomed scientist if you pursue a biochem degree is it harder to become one or will you have to do more qualifications to become ibms accredited and what would those qualifications be???

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by myay11168

I'm looking last minute to change my application as I've realised I'd love to study biochem/biomed, but I made the mistake of not taking biology a level (i do phys chem ancient history) due to another issue, can you still become a biomed scientist if you pursue a biochem degree is it harder to become one or will you have to do more qualifications to become ibms accredited and what would those qualifications be???

I think I can answer some of your questions, but not all of them.

If you want to become a biomedical scientist (good luck with that), you typically need an accredited IBMS degree + STP training. See:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/biomedical-scientist
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/biomedical-scientist
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/environment/job-profile/biomedical-scientist
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/how-become-healthcare-science-professional

To become a biochemist, you would need a relevant degree (with postgrad being highly recommended). See:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/biochemist
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/clinical-scientist-biochemistry
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/environment/job-profile/biochemist

There are conversion courses that you could pick after a life science degree (not sure whether you can do it with physics and chem A Levels), but I am not entirely sure whether you would be eligible if you don't have the necessary background. See the following for biomed as examples:
https://online.ulster.ac.uk/online-courses/biomedical-science-msc/
https://www.gre.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses/engsci/bio#entry-requirements - not sure if you can get away without doing a life science related undergrad, so you would need to check
https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgraduatestudy/postgraduatecourses/biomedicalsciencegraduatediploma/#entry-reqs

Having said that, you can also do an MSc in Biomed if you have an undergrad in biochem. See the following as examples:
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-courses/biomedicine-msc/2024/#course-entry
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/coursefinder/courses/biomedical-sciences-msc/
https://uel.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/msc-biomedical-science
https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/biomedical-science
Not all Biomed MScs accept biochem undergrads though, so you would need to check.

I haven't seen specific converison courses for biochem, but MScs in biochem generally accept degrees with a biomed background. See the following as examples:
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/08171/msc-biochemistry/entry-requirements/
https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees/index.php?r=site/view&edition=2024&id=856 - chemistry degrees accepted
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/medicine/biomedical-science-clinical-biochemistry-msc-pgdip/#entry-requirements=is-expanded - chemistry undergrad accepted
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/msc-clinical-biochemistry-1

Personal recommendation: Spend a gap year to either do:

•

A Level Biology (ideally with the practicals)

•

Access to HE in Sciences (or a diploma with at least 15 credits in biology)

If none of the above suits you, then you can always do a biomed/biochem degree with an integrated foundation year although it would narrow your university options and it means you have less chance of changing unis i.e. if you intend to do a foundation year, make sure it's something you really want to do and it's at the uni you want to do it at.
My preference would be to do the undergrad in biomed (IBS accredited), then leave yourself the option of doing an MSc in biochem. If the biomed degree isn't accredited, then you would need to do further assessments (see: https://www.ibms.org/registration/become-a-biomedical-scientist/track-3-non-accredited-degree-and-no-ibms-registration-training), but the degree needs to be in biomed.

Whether you would get the job as a biomed scientist is another matter; all job roles in biology are incredibly competitive.

Reply 2

HealthcareSci

10

Original post by myay11168

I'm looking last minute to change my application as I've realised I'd love to study biochem/biomed, but I made the mistake of not taking biology a level (i do phys chem ancient history) due to another issue, can you still become a biomed scientist if you pursue a biochem degree is it harder to become one or will you have to do more qualifications to become ibms accredited and what would those qualifications be???

Copying and pasting from my answer in another thread:

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: You can't with just a BSc in Biochemistry. Biomedical Scientist is a protected title in the UK - this means you have to be on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register to work as one. To get on the register as a Biomedical Scientist you need a Certificate of Competence from the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). To get that you need an IBMS Accredited Biomedical Science Degree and completion of the IBMS Registration Portfolio.

If you have an alternative degree then you can pay the IBMS (I think it's currently £350) and map your degree against their requirements. Then you get a report with how many modules you'd need to complete at an accredited university in order to be able to complete the portfolio. Modules can cost £800+ each and wouldn't be covered by a student loan. If the degree isn't close enough then you'd need to do a full BSc.

I'd also add - you can do several BMS degrees without a biology A level but personally I wouldn't recommend it unless you are confident you could pick it up.

I agree with the above poster - if you want to be a biomedical scientist take a gap year to do your biology A level. I'd also apply for jobs as a medical laboratory assistant in your local hospital because then you might be able to get them to offer you a degree apprenticeship (you work for them four days a week and they give you one day a week for your degree, pick up the university bill and fund your HCPC registration. Then you have four years experience, a degree, professional registration and you have made money, not gained £50k of debt.)

Reply 3

bluebird89

3

Original post by MindMax2000

I think I can answer some of your questions, but not all of them.

If you want to become a biomedical scientist (good luck with that), you typically need an accredited IBMS degree + STP training. See:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/biomedical-scientist
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/biomedical-scientist
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/environment/job-profile/biomedical-scientist
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/how-become-healthcare-science-professional

To become a biochemist, you would need a relevant degree (with postgrad being highly recommended). See:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/biochemist
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/clinical-scientist-biochemistry
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/environment/job-profile/biochemist

There are conversion courses that you could pick after a life science degree (not sure whether you can do it with physics and chem A Levels), but I am not entirely sure whether you would be eligible if you don't have the necessary background. See the following for biomed as examples:
https://online.ulster.ac.uk/online-courses/biomedical-science-msc/
https://www.gre.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses/engsci/bio#entry-requirements - not sure if you can get away without doing a life science related undergrad, so you would need to check
https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgraduatestudy/postgraduatecourses/biomedicalsciencegraduatediploma/#entry-reqs

Having said that, you can also do an MSc in Biomed if you have an undergrad in biochem. See the following as examples:
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-courses/biomedicine-msc/2024/#course-entry
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/coursefinder/courses/biomedical-sciences-msc/
https://uel.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/msc-biomedical-science
https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/biomedical-science
Not all Biomed MScs accept biochem undergrads though, so you would need to check.

I haven't seen specific converison courses for biochem, but MScs in biochem generally accept degrees with a biomed background. See the following as examples:
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/08171/msc-biochemistry/entry-requirements/
https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees/index.php?r=site/view&edition=2024&id=856 - chemistry degrees accepted
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/medicine/biomedical-science-clinical-biochemistry-msc-pgdip/#entry-requirements=is-expanded - chemistry undergrad accepted
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/msc-clinical-biochemistry-1

Personal recommendation: Spend a gap year to either do:

•

A Level Biology (ideally with the practicals)

•

Access to HE in Sciences (or a diploma with at least 15 credits in biology)

If none of the above suits you, then you can always do a biomed/biochem degree with an integrated foundation year although it would narrow your university options and it means you have less chance of changing unis i.e. if you intend to do a foundation year, make sure it's something you really want to do and it's at the uni you want to do it at.
My preference would be to do the undergrad in biomed (IBS accredited), then leave yourself the option of doing an MSc in biochem. If the biomed degree isn't accredited, then you would need to do further assessments (see: https://www.ibms.org/registration/become-a-biomedical-scientist/track-3-non-accredited-degree-and-no-ibms-registration-training), but the degree needs to be in biomed.

Whether you would get the job as a biomed scientist is another matter; all job roles in biology are incredibly competitive.

You don't need the STP, it's definitely a competitive advantage but it's not the only way of becoming a HCPC registered BMS. Also in regards it's obviously best to have an IBMS accredited degree but if a degree isn't IBMS accredited you're often able to take supplementary training in order to get your qualification. There is also a work experience element to the qualification which can either be done in a placement year (they often fund your submission but salary widely varies and is often unpaid). There are multiple routes to becoming a BMS but given you take the right steps you can absolutely become one with a related degree like biochemistry.

Can you become a biomedical scientist if you do a biochemistry degree?

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