Biomedical sciences

The skills you develop on your biomedical sciences degree can be applied to a range of medical, scientific and research careers

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Biomedical scientist
• Biotechnologist
• Clinical research associate
• Clinical scientist, biochemistry
• Clinical scientist, haematology
• Clinical scientist, immunology
• Forensic scientist
• Microbiologist
• Physician associate
• Research scientist (life sciences)
• Research scientist (medical)
• Scientific laboratory technician
• Toxicologist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Genetic counsellor
• Medical sales representative
• Medical science liaison
• Occupational hygienist
• Operating department practitioner
• Patent examiner
• Neuroscientist
• Science writer
• Secondary school teacher
• Teaching laboratory technician

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

This is a competitive sector and a period of relevant work experience can be extremely useful in increasing your chances of getting onto further training courses or of finding employment.

Some degrees include a placement year which can provide practical experience in laboratory work or scientific research. You will also build up a network of contacts that can be useful when job hunting.

Alternatively, you could look for work experience, such as a work placement, during the holidays. You can also send out speculative applications for work experience. Think about the area in which you'd like to work and focus on those employers. Some are willing to take on volunteers and may allow you to work-shadow members of staff working within the profession.

Getting working practice of laboratory techniques and being able to evidence your specific medical/scientific interest is useful.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Common employers of biomedical sciences graduates include:

• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• NHS, including NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

You can also work in pathology and research laboratories in private sector hospitals.

You can also look for opportunities with:

• academic departments at universities
• forensic, charity or government-funded laboratories
• veterinary services
• the armed forces
• private pathology laboratories.

The food and drink, cosmetics and toiletries, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries employ graduates in areas such as research and development, quality assurance, clinical trials management and sales. Publishing companies and the specialist press may also employ biomedical sciences graduates as writers or editors.

Find information on employers in healthcare, science and pharmaceuticals, teacher training and education and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

You develop science-specific knowledge in a range of areas such as biochemistry, disease processes and treatment, genetics, human anatomy and physiology, and microbiology.

You also gain experience in laboratory work and this equips you with the skills you need to plan, conduct and evaluate experiments. It also enables you to comply with health and safety regulations, and to research and interpret scientific literature.

Other more general transferable skills include:

• analytical and problem-solving skills
• computing and the use of statistics
• data analysis, evaluation and interpretation
• project management
• numeracy
• organisation and time management
• oral and written communication
• teamworking - from laboratory work or activities such as sport, societies or voluntary work.

Further study

Undertaking further study is increasingly common and a number of careers in the science sector require you to have a specific postgraduate qualification. By studying at postgraduate level, you will further develop your specialist knowledge, research and communication skills. If you are interested in a career in research you can study for an MPhil or PhD.

It's also possible to do further training to move into a different career, such as dentistry, nursing, medicine, teaching and veterinary science. For example, if you have a good degree you may be able to get a place on a four-year, fast-track, graduate entry course to study medicine.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in biomedical sciences.

What do biomedical sciences graduates do?

The top three jobs for biomedical science graduates include laboratory technicians (14%), biochemists and biomedical scientists (13%), and nursing auxiliaries and assistants (4%).

Find out what other biomedical science graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.

Find out more

• Jobs.hscni.net - health and social care jobs in Northern Ireland.
• NHS Jobs
• NHSScotland Jobs
• NHS Wales