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Healthcare science at Uclan

Hi everyone,
I’ve received offers to study Biomedical Science from Aston University, the University of Essex, and UCLan, and I’m struggling to decide which one to choose.
To qualify as a Biomedical Scientist in the UK, I’ll need to complete an NHS placement. At Aston and Essex, the placement is optional and highly competitive. At UCLan, the placement is mandatory for their Healthcare Science course, which you can switch to after completing the first year of Biomedical Science.

I have family in Birmingham (near Aston) and Colchester (near Essex), so I could live with them and save on accommodation costs. However, I don’t have any family near Preston, which would make things a bit more challenging financially.

I’m torn between prioritizing:
1.The certainty of a mandatory NHS placement at UCLan, despite the added cost of accommodation and living expenses.
2.The convenience and support of living with family in Birmingham or Colchester,
even though the placement isn’t guaranteed.
(I’m an international student)

Reply 1

Tilleyy467

Hi, I've also applied to Aston for Biomed, when did you get your offer? I think I am contextual and that's why it's taking longer

Reply 2

qwerpo87

Do you have to pay extra for health care science after the first year?

Reply 3

HealthcareSci

Original post

by kh-hk

Hi everyone,
I’ve received offers to study Biomedical Science from Aston University, the University of Essex, and UCLan, and I’m struggling to decide which one to choose.
To qualify as a Biomedical Scientist in the UK, I’ll need to complete an NHS placement. At Aston and Essex, the placement is optional and highly competitive. At UCLan, the placement is mandatory for their Healthcare Science course, which you can switch to after completing the first year of Biomedical Science.
I have family in Birmingham (near Aston) and Colchester (near Essex), so I could live with them and save on accommodation costs. However, I don’t have any family near Preston, which would make things a bit more challenging financially.
I’m torn between prioritizing:
1.The certainty of a mandatory NHS placement at UCLan, despite the added cost of accommodation and living expenses.
2.The convenience and support of living with family in Birmingham or Colchester,
even though the placement isn’t guaranteed.
(I’m an international student)

So to become a biomedical scientist you don't need to work in the NHS, you need to train in an IBMS accredited training lab. Most NHS labs are, but check.

If you are an international student and need a visa for the UK and want to remain in the UK after graduating then I would go for the UCLan. Currently (obviously it may change) trainee/support worker roles in pathology labs do not qualify for visas.

Thankfully Preston is one the cheapest parts of the UK. (Birmingham is the next cheapest on your list and Essex is expensive because it is near London).

Reply 4

UniLancashire

Official Rep

Original post

by kh-hk

Hi everyone,
I’ve received offers to study Biomedical Science from Aston University, the University of Essex, and UCLan, and I’m struggling to decide which one to choose.
To qualify as a Biomedical Scientist in the UK, I’ll need to complete an NHS placement. At Aston and Essex, the placement is optional and highly competitive. At UCLan, the placement is mandatory for their Healthcare Science course, which you can switch to after completing the first year of Biomedical Science.
I have family in Birmingham (near Aston) and Colchester (near Essex), so I could live with them and save on accommodation costs. However, I don’t have any family near Preston, which would make things a bit more challenging financially.
I’m torn between prioritizing:
1.The certainty of a mandatory NHS placement at UCLan, despite the added cost of accommodation and living expenses.
2.The convenience and support of living with family in Birmingham or Colchester,
even though the placement isn’t guaranteed.
(I’m an international student)

Hi @kh-hk,

Congratulations on receiving your offers! 🎉

For our BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science programme, after year 1 as mentioned students will have the opportunity to take the Healthcare Science route, which includes placements in NHS pathology laboratories. Graduates from this programme have gone onto become NHS biomedical scientists and research scientists and some have pursued further studies in dentistry or medicine.

I understand that cost is a big factor when it comes to deciding which university to go with so I just wanted to share some information about the cost of living up here in Preston that might help easy any worries you have. We have actually been named the most affordable University in the country, according to The Times. Something to consider is that our on campus accommodation starts from £85 per week, which is almost half the national average. There's lots of information on the support available at the University to help with costs as a student here.

I also understand that you might want to stay nearer your family and that's absolutely understandable. I just wanted to point out that our Preston campus is only a 10 minute walk from the train station making it super easy to get to other parts of the UK including Birmingham or Colchester.

If you have any questions at all, please do let me know.

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best 😊
Sarah

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 5

UniLancashire

Official Rep

Original post

by qwerpo87

Do you have to pay extra for health care science after the first year?

Hi @qwerpo87,

Just to confirm that this won't cost any extra. Students will need to do an internal course change to Year 2 of Healthcare Science once they've completed Year 1 of Biomedical Science. This wouldn't require you to pay an additional application fee to UCAS.

I hope this helps and do let me know if I can help with anything else. 😊

Best wishes,
Sarah