accredited biomed degrees + universities- help!

Just giving you a heads up. If you are looking for Russel Group unis, ALL are not accredited! Accredited unis are focused on diagnostics whereas Russel Group unis are focused on the research side of things.
If you want to go into diagnostics side of Biomedical Science, STAY AWAY from Russel Group unis.
I graduated with my BSc and MSc in Biomedical Science from UWE (An accredited course). 🙂

I’m happy to answer any questions you have about UWE or Biomedical Science course itself. Also what it’s like working in a medical laboratory (I have nearly completed my IBMS portfolio).

tell my why i JUST realised this omg 😭 this makes so much sense, pretty much every uni i looked at was a russell group so now I’m back at square one. Thank you so much for telling me or I would’ve only applied to russel groups 🙁

I know for a fact that I need to apply to the Scientist Training Program (STP) with the NHS, and i’m assuming an accredited degree is necessary for this (thought I will double check with some working BMSs i know just in case) this is such a bummer but I’m glad i found out now rather than later.

in terms of the course itself, how versatile/broad is it in terms of choosing specific models that relate to areas you’re more interest in? (like for example: anatomy, genetics, microbiology, etc)

Ok, fair warning about the STP. It is SUPER competitive and they will typically, from experience of people who have gone down that route (or should I say tried) have not got in without a certain level of experience in the NHS beforehand. You also require typically a minimum of a 2.1 in your degree (not saying you won’t get this).
Yes it is the most direct route but it receives literally thousands of applications a year (albeit a lot are people fresh out of uni and can’t tell you the difference between the IBMS and HCPC). Try walking before you can run and even see if you like the course first, I will say it was a very enjoyable course for myself but quite challenging (translation, I hope you like problem solving)!
With regards to first year, there are no optional modules, everything is core, it’s only in second year do you actually begin specialising in your modules.
Personally, I went down the Clinical Biochemistry route as I found it fun. Microbiology, I can say I had no interest in at all (even my course leader said I’d make a terrible microbiologist and I don’t blame her…), haematology and genetics just never interested me and I had a vague interest in pharmacology and toxicology but that quickly fizzled out…
The course is down to you on what you want to specialise in but please, take something you’re going to enjoy or you’ll find yourself absolutely hating the course!
Here is an example of a BMS question which I did this year (it is a Masters question so don’t feel bad if you can’t answer it), just to give you an idea of what it is you’re after. 🙂

I recently did some work experience looking at different life sciences at a hospital and while talking with a couple of the biomeds there they told me to do the STP after graduation, so to be honest i just assumed that was the only route, good to know it isn’t!

funnily enough, biochem was actually one of the specialties i was least interested in (my favs we’re definitely pathology and immunology) But it definitely makes sense that the first year isn’t very versatile, i wasn’t really expecting it to.

Thought the question was definitely a bit of a jump scare, after actually reading through it I can tell that it is exactly the type of thing I want to do 🙈 so excited but so daunting.

and lastly, does doing a placement year/professional training year help out with the whole HCPC applying process (in terms of building up the portfolio), and would it make the process (if) taking an unaccredited course a bit easier? (i’m definitely going to try to apply for mostly accredited courses, but I must admit one of my dream unis isn’t so i’m still really tempted to apply for that one 💔)

If you go to a non-accredited course, you will have to go back to uni and pick up further modules to get accredited if you want to work in diagnostics, as laid out by the IBMS.
I worked with someone who done a BSc, MSc and was quite high up the banding scale but couldn’t work in a HCPC registered diagnostic lab as their degree was not accredited and would need SEVEN top up modules done (which would take THREE YEARS) to finish as you can only take 3 modules per year as a top up. So, I’m advising don’t do a non-accredited degree if you don’t want to have to go back to uni after graduating.
So the STP route is the most direct route and I would advise it, but don’t think it’s the only way. It will take an extra few years (worst case scenario) but it isn’t the only means to become a clinical scientist. 🙂
I’m not a clinical scientist (I’m not employed right now (I have worked in the NHS for 3 years though as an Associate Practitioner)) but left to do my Masters after my training officer started dragging their feet after I kept asking for a piece of evidence they say they’d give me but, 8 months later, still never happened… (I graduate in November) so right now I am 84% complete on my HCPC portfolio. So I’m hoping to find a job shortly after Christmas (it would be nice to actually not work Christmas for once and spend it with my family), all going well. I am currently applying for trainee BMS roles and AP roles to finish my remaining few pieces of evidence…
Placement year is helpful as if you perform well and your employer likes you, they’re more likely to take you on. Also helps as I can say, as someone who didn’t take a placement year, finding my first job was an absolute headache as I had ZERO experience (I got lucky the pandemic came along and they were looking for anyone with a healthcare Science degree…) for my first proper job!

good luck finishing up your portfolio, I hope everything goes well!! (AND that you get to spend Christmas with your family) this has been super helpful, thank you so much!