Biomedical sciences

From discovering vital medical developments to improving the lives of others, your skills from a 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
• Operating department practitioner
• Physician associate
• Research scientist (life sciences)
• Research scientist (medical)
• Scientific laboratory technician
• Toxicologist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Crime scene investigator
• Genetic counsellor
• Medical sales representative
• Medical science liaison
• Occupational hygienist
• Neuroscientist
• Science writer
• 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 employment 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 experience in laboratory work or scientific research. You can also try sending out speculative applications for work experience opportunities as they're often not advertised. 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 individuals to work-shadow or even just speak to 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 may also look for opportunities with academic departments at universities, forensic, charity or government-funded laboratories, veterinary services, the armed forces or private pathology laboratories.

The food and drink, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries employ graduates in areas such as research and development, quality assurance 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 will gain experience in laboratory work during your degree and this will equip you with the skills you need to plan, conduct and evaluate experiments. It will also enable you to comply with health and safety regulations, and to research and interpret scientific literature.

Transferable skills gained on your course 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 skills and communication skills.

If you have a good degree in biomedical science it's also possible for you to enter other courses to train for a different career. For example, you may be able to obtain 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 medical professional jobs include natural and social science professionals (21%), science, engineering and production technicians (16%) and care workers (7%).

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

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Find out more

• Health in Wales
• HSC Recruit - health and social care jobs in Northern Ireland
• NHS Jobs
• NHS Scotland Recruitment