uni - biology vs biomed

which course is best to do at uni, biology or biomed. I'm applying for undergrad courses to study in 2026 and was going to do a mix of biological science and biomedical science courses with biomed being my main choice. A lot of the courses aren't IBMS accredited tho, it's just royal society of biology so l'm not sure if i should just apply to biology completely. I can reach my career goals with both, which course do people prefer?

Reply 1

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

20

Choose the course with the modules youll enjoy the most

Reply 2

Scienceisgood

21

I would suggest doing whichever course you'll enjoy most if they both lead to the same career prospects personally. I remember doing a module I HATED TO DEATH as I personally never saw the immune system as that interesting (I am a clinical biochemist specialism by trade and heart) and those lectures dragged on forever...

(I have both a BSc and an MSc (clinical biochemistry specialism) in Biomedical Science and am currently a trainee BMS in clincal biochemistry).

Reply 3

McGinger

20

Original post

by Anonymous

which course is best to do at uni, biology or biomed. I'm applying for undergrad courses to study in 2026 and was going to do a mix of biological science and biomedical science courses with biomed being my main choice. A lot of the courses aren't IBMS accredited tho, it's just royal society of biology so l'm not sure if i should just apply to biology completely. I can reach my career goals with both, which course do people prefer?

The IBMS accreditation is only relevant if you just want to 'work in a lab'. This is why many RG etc Unis dont have it - because they are interested in applicants who want to go into in research and industry and do something a bit more demanding than just processing someone else's research. If you go to Open Days and listen to the subject presentations, more ambitious Unis will explain this difference to you.

Reply 4

LondonMetIz

Official Rep

6

Original post

by Anonymous

which course is best to do at uni, biology or biomed. I'm applying for undergrad courses to study in 2026 and was going to do a mix of biological science and biomedical science courses with biomed being my main choice. A lot of the courses aren't IBMS accredited tho, it's just royal society of biology so l'm not sure if i should just apply to biology completely. I can reach my career goals with both, which course do people prefer?

Hi there! I currently study Biomedical Science at London Metropolitan University. (IBMS accredited course)

I faced a similar line of questioning between biology or biomedical when I was applying but what helped me decide was looking specifically at the modules each course offers.
I didn't particularly enjoy the ecology topics at A-Level; plant biology, populations, etc. I was more interested in human biology. What I noticed when looking at the modules for different courses is that Biology covers the plant content and Biomedical doesn't; it focusses instead on the body and the processes/systems within it.

Have a think about which topics you enjoyed studying at school. If you enjoyed every area and would like to study a broad range of topics, Biology might be your calling. Biomedical may be a better choice if you have a more specific interest in the field.

I hope this could help!! Good luck with your studies!

Reply 5

ihatethisdunya

7

Original post

by McGinger

The IBMS accreditation is only relevant if you just want to 'work in a lab'. This is why many RG etc Unis dont have it - because they are interested in applicants who want to go into in research and industry and do something a bit more demanding than just processing someone else's research. If you go to Open Days and listen to the subject presentations, more ambitious Unis will explain this difference to you.

Yeah I've noticed it's usually Russell groups that don't do IBMS accredited degrees. What would you say the different job prospects are for IBMS vs non accredited? At the Queen Mary open day we were told that IBMS degrees have restricted career prospects and usually lead to a job as a scientist whilst non accredited opens many pathways. I'm honestly thinking of becoming a clinical scientist by completing a STP but I'm open to other prospects. My top choice unis will obviously be more ambitious (non accredited degrees) but still what type of jobs do you think the two degrees would lead to? And might it be easier to find a job with IBMS because you gain specific skills? If you feel well versed enough in the topic I hope you could enlighten me😅 sorry if this was a lot.

Reply 6

McGinger

20

Original post

by ihatethisdunya

Yeah I've noticed it's usually Russell groups that don't do IBMS accredited degrees. What would you say the different job prospects are for IBMS vs non accredited? At the Queen Mary open day we were told that IBMS degrees have restricted career prospects and usually lead to a job as a scientist whilst non accredited opens many pathways. I'm honestly thinking of becoming a clinical scientist by completing a STP but I'm open to other prospects. My top choice unis will obviously be more ambitious (non accredited degrees) but still what type of jobs do you think the two degrees would lead to? And might it be easier to find a job with IBMS because you gain specific skills? If you feel well versed enough in the topic I hope you could enlighten me😅 sorry if this was a lot.

These are all questions to ask at an Open Day .....

Reply 7

ihatethisdunya

7

Original post

by McGinger

These are all questions to ask at an Open Day .....

The open days for the universities on my list have all passed and I've only gone to the one at QM because you would've had to miss out on a school day which is a lot of catching up. At the time I wanted to do medicine anyways so these 'questions' have only just been thought of considering applications are due soon. I thought you were knowledgeable since you commented but you could just said you don't know 🤷*♀️

Reply 8

McGinger

20

Original post

by ihatethisdunya

The open days for the universities on my list have all passed and I've only gone to the one at QM because you would've had to miss out on a school day which is a lot of catching up. At the time I wanted to do medicine anyways so these 'questions' have only just been thought of considering applications are due soon. I thought you were knowledgeable since you commented but you could just said you don't know 🤷*♀️

I do not have an intricate knowledge of the graduate destinations for every University offering these subjects, with or without IBMS, which is what you seemed to be asking for. I have also already given you a basic explanation of why this accreditation is not sought after by certain Universities, but it is actually up to you to do any subsequent digging about your own career prospects.

Reply 9

UEA Rep Daniel

Official Rep

12

Original post

by Anonymous

which course is best to do at uni, biology or biomed. I'm applying for undergrad courses to study in 2026 and was going to do a mix of biological science and biomedical science courses with biomed being my main choice. A lot of the courses aren't IBMS accredited tho, it's just royal society of biology so l'm not sure if i should just apply to biology completely. I can reach my career goals with both, which course do people prefer?

Hi there,

Both Biology and Biomedical Science can take you to a wide range of careers, so it really depends on what you enjoy and where you see yourself working. I did Biomedical Science and the course tends to focus more directly on human health and disease, and if the course is IBMS-accredited it can lead you toward becoming an HCPC-registered biomedical scientist working in labs within the NHS. If your course isn’t IBMS-accredited, it’s still valuable, but you might need to take additional steps later if that specific career is your goal.

Biology, on the other hand, is broader and gives you flexibility across areas like ecology, genetics, molecular biology, and even biomedical routes. Some people prefer Biology because it keeps options open, while others prefer Biomedical Science because it feels more applied to medicine and healthcare.

Since you said you can reach your career goals with either, you might want to choose based on which subject content excites you most and which courses offer the best placements, research opportunities, and support.

Accreditation only matters if your exact aim is to become a registered biomedical scientist, but if you’re more interested in research, further study, or other health-related careers, both degrees are respected.

Daniel
PhD BioMed

Reply 10

UniofReading

Official Rep

14

Original post

by Anonymous

which course is best to do at uni, biology or biomed. I'm applying for undergrad courses to study in 2026 and was going to do a mix of biological science and biomedical science courses with biomed being my main choice. A lot of the courses aren't IBMS accredited tho, it's just royal society of biology so l'm not sure if i should just apply to biology completely. I can reach my career goals with both, which course do people prefer?

Good afternoon,

These courses have some similarities; however, they also have some large differences, so ensure you read the module descriptions of the universities you are looking at and compare the two, otherwise you may miss out on a specific module / subject area you like.

I recommend you speak to the university's ambassadors, as they will be able to provide specific information on the courses.

There is an ambassador scheme at the University of Reading where prospective students can message current students; you can find more information here.

Choosing a university depends on what you want from your university experience. Every student wants something slightly different, such as lecture style or exam vs no exams. I always recommend deciding what you want from your university and writing a list. You can compare the two universities to your own criteria; this means the university will be the best fit for you.

The Whatuni website is good for looking at courses, as they have a full, comprehensive list with reviews. Similarly, the UCAS website has tips on comparing undergraduate courses and universities, which is a great way to narrow down your options.

It is a very personal decision deciding on which course to choose, so I recommend you reach out to our ambassadors and look through the course reviews and modules. This should help you come to an informed decision.

If you have any questions, please let us know..

All the best,
Ella
BSc Ecology

uni - biology vs biomed

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