Biomedical Science at Oxford

So I have a few questions regarding whether I should apply for biomedical science at Oxford. This year the admissions test is the BMSAT. I’m slightly confused on whether they use these results to shortlist for interview or if they use it after the interview to decide on offers.
Also I’m not really even sure if it’s worth applying since I will be on the lower end of competitive applicants since my gcse grades are 999988887766 and my predicted a levels are the minimum which is A*AA. Should I still apply with these grades? Obviously they will look at the BMSAT score but again I’m not sure if that’s after or before the interview.
Course decisions - I’m interested in biomedical science, but courses such as pharmacology and pharmaceutical science have also appealed to me. I think it’s ok if I apply to all cause even though there are differences they are all heavily research and lab intensive with similar modules. I was also interested in pharmacy which I know is completely different but I like the course modules and don’t mind working in healthcare for a bit before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry which is possible but a bit rare. So it’s all very confusing right now on what course is right. But if I apply to Oxford it will definitely be biomedical science.
If you can offer any advice on applying to Oxford, the BMSAT and course choice it will be very useful. Thank you.

So I have a few questions regarding whether I should apply for biomedical science at Oxford. This year the admissions test is the BMSAT. I’m slightly confused on whether they use these results to shortlist for interview or if they use it after the interview to decide on offers.

Also I’m not really even sure if it’s worth applying since I will be on the lower end of competitive applicants since my gcse grades are 999988887766 and my predicted a levels are the minimum which is A*AA. Should I still apply with these grades? Obviously they will look at the BMSAT score but again I’m not sure if that’s after or before the interview.

Course decisions - I’m interested in biomedical science, but courses such as pharmacology and pharmaceutical science have also appealed to me. I think it’s ok if I apply to all cause even though there are differences they are all heavily research and lab intensive with similar modules. I was also interested in pharmacy which I know is completely different but I like the course modules and don’t mind working in healthcare for a bit before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry which is possible but a bit rare. So it’s all very confusing right now on what course is right. But if I apply to Oxford it will definitely be biomedical science.

If you can offer any advice on applying to Oxford, the BMSAT and course choice it will be very useful. Thank you.

How will you be doing a personal statement that shows an interest in biomedical sciences and pharmacy?

Couple points to note here.
Firstly pharmacy is a health care professions area - you cannot become a pharmacist doing any degree except a pharmacy degree. If you want to become a dispensing pharmacist, you need to do a pharmacy degree. A degree in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical sciences, etc, will not allow you to become a pharmacist.
In terms of the course generally, it used to be called "physiological sciences" many years ago, they just renamed it biomedical sciences to align with the boom of such courses coming out at the time. It is fundamentally a science degree, not a healthcare degree. It does seem there may be some pharmacology options available in it, although I can't say if these are available every year.
Note that Cambridge natural sciences allows you to do pharmacology as a primary area of study for your Part II (final year) and can combine pharmacology with other options such as physiology, the biology of disease, and other bioscience or chemistry options (less related also potentially physical science options otherwise), so that may be something to consider if you are doing 3 STEM subjects and are not exactly sure what area of biomolecular sciences you are interested in at the outset.
In terms of the admissions side, Oxford to date haven't stated they differentiate between 8/9 grades at GCSE and have considered them as both equal to the old A* grade previously. Meeting the minimum A-level requirements with your predicted grades is sufficient for consideration provided you are taking the required subjects (I don't know if there is a correlation between success and doing a third STEM subject at A-level beyond the minimum of two required however). The BSMAT I believe is new now that the BMAT no longer exists and if so this will be the first year they use it, so there probably isn't much information about how they use it. As the test is taken before interviews I suspect it would form part of the shortlisting for interview.
Provided you are otherwise happy with the course and understand what course is (and importantly, what it isn't!), I can't see any reason not to consider applying there though.

OP, before I continue, I need to ask, do you want to go into diagnostics or research?
Asking as someone who has both a BSc and a MSc (well, haven’t graduated yet but got my final mark) in the subject. 🙂

I’m not too sure really. By the way I am the author of the original post, just realised that might be unclear. Ever since I discovered areas in the pharmaceutical industry such as medical affairs, regulatory affairs and health policy I’ve honestly only thought about that. I guess that means I would prefer research but not always in the lab? I hope that makes sense. I don’t really think I’m too interested in diagnostics any more since I’m not a huge fan of having to use clinical skills but that’s only because I’m worried I won’t be good at it. If I was good that I definitely wouldn’t mind it.

What degree are you doing? Biomedical science or pharmacology?

Biomedical Science from UWE (Specialism is in Clinical Biochemistry) but do wish to state the following;
Oxford university’s BMS course is not IBMS (Institute Of Biomedical Science) accredited, meaning you will not be able to work in a diagnostic lab, even from a highly prestigious university, without an IBMS accredited degree (or you could do top up modules to make it accredited but that means returning to university after graduating).
I’ll admit my degree is very much from a mid-range university (University of the West of England), but it is IBMS accredited meaning I could go into research or diagnostics.
Is there anything you wish to know regarding going into diagnostics or is unclear?

Oh I think I understand what you mean by diagnostics now. I’m not interested in being a biomedical scientist for the nhs or another company so I don’t need an IBMS accredited degree. This might sound a bit confusing but I basically want to work in pharmaceutical industries like GSK, AstraZeneca etc but not in a lab. Which might sound weird cause I want to do a science degree but I don’t like being in the lab that much😭 Which is why I was considering pharmacy.

So basically I have two personal statements at the moment😭 both of them have been checked and my teacher says they are good. My pharmacy one focuses more on my shadowing of a hospital pharmacist and my chemistry supracurriculars and reading. My biomedical science one focuses on my research by reading, doing MOOCS, listening to podcasts and my science competitions.

What are MOOCS? And alsooo, you do know you can only apply with one PS right? Which will you choose?

Wait are we not allowed to have 2 personal statements?

No, you can only apply with 1. This even occurs with those doing med/dent - even though 4/5 applications are those med/dent and your 5th is different, unis can tell that your 5th is a filler course if you’re a med/dent applicant.
It’s good that you have a PS for both courses, should you decide to change your mind. However ultimately you can only choose one PS to send off. It’s better your PS and your 5 options correspond. Wouldn’t recommend having a biomedical science PS but some of your choices being pharmacy as the uni can see they have no correlation.

So I have a few questions regarding whether I should apply for biomedical science at Oxford. This year the admissions test is the BMSAT. I’m slightly confused on whether they use these results to shortlist for interview or if they use it after the interview to decide on offers.
Also I’m not really even sure if it’s worth applying since I will be on the lower end of competitive applicants since my gcse grades are 999988887766 and my predicted a levels are the minimum which is A*AA. Should I still apply with these grades? Obviously they will look at the BMSAT score but again I’m not sure if that’s after or before the interview.
Course decisions - I’m interested in biomedical science, but courses such as pharmacology and pharmaceutical science have also appealed to me. I think it’s ok if I apply to all cause even though there are differences they are all heavily research and lab intensive with similar modules. I was also interested in pharmacy which I know is completely different but I like the course modules and don’t mind working in healthcare for a bit before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry which is possible but a bit rare. So it’s all very confusing right now on what course is right. But if I apply to Oxford it will definitely be biomedical science.
If you can offer any advice on applying to Oxford, the BMSAT and course choice it will be very useful. Thank you.