Biomed questions; can I become a biomedical scientist and then work towards the STP?

I'm looking at IBMS-accredited biomedical science degrees with the aim to work as a biomedical scientist for the NHS. I have a few questions!

I'm wondering if it is possible for me to study a masters and eventually a phd part-time while working as a biomedical scientist in the NHS? And if I can and am successful if I can then apply for the STP to become a clinical scientist. Is this pathway possible? Does the NHS allow it? I'm aware the STP is very competitive. I definitely want to study up to a phd, but also want to work whilst I do so, especially in a relevant field, so thought of this route. I just can't find too much information on it...

I would also like to ask if there is a favoured degree between healthcare science or biomedical science, as I've seen some discussion over each course being treated differently?

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 1

astrocarbs

Wondering if this is the correct board to post this on as it is a bit of a mix between course and career...

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Can't see any reason you couldn't apply to the STP after working as a BMS. Although as I understand it the roles are very different.

Whether you can make arrangements to work part-time while doing a part-time masters and/or PhD will probably vary by trust I imagine?

Reply 3

umazuk

(Original post by artful_lounger)Can't see any reason you couldn't apply to the STP after working as a BMS. Although as I understand it the roles are very different.

Whether you can make arrangements to work part-time while doing a part-time masters and/or PhD will probably vary by trust I imagine?

Reply 4

umazuk

is there any point in going to uni? bc i hate studying tho i'm good at it

Reply 5

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by umazuk

is there any point in going to uni? bc i hate studying tho i'm good at it

Please remain on-topic to this thread and provide constructive responses to it. If you have your own, unrelated questions, please make a new thread for them :smile:

Reply 6

HealthcareSci

Lots of questions but thankfully mostly good answers!

Masters - yes. Sadly the days of most people being able to guarantee getting funding and paid time off is over, but there are Trusts that support and ways around it. (E.g., if you pay the fees the department will let you out one day a week to study or you work a condensed 4 day week and the department pays the fees etc. There are also apprenticeship options.)

PhD - yeeessss...but much harder. Unless you can afford to go part time and pay for the PhD (about £4k/year) and the bench fees (£4k/year) and all your consumables: then you'll need funding. Which is a national process. But if you're keen and supported it can be done. The NIHR Clinical Academic Fellowships are the most common.

BMS --> STP - Yes! In my experience the STP is predominantly made up of post-doctoral researchers, biomedical scientists and recent graduates. Also there are lots of ways to get Clinical Scientist registration without doing the STP.

BMS/HCS degree - For the STP you need a degree relevant to your specialism so either of those is fine (assuming you are interested in life sciences). For a BMS as long as it is accredited by the IBMS then it doesn't matter.

The main thing to get through either of those pathways is that you will need a degree (unless you start working in the NHS before and do the level 6 degree apprenticeship and then the degree is paid for) and hospital/ NHS laboratory experience.