Biomedical Science

About Biomedical Science at Sheffield

Our Biomedical Science courses cover everything from human physiology and pharmacology, to molecular and cell biology, helping you to define the future of clinical medicine. You’ll study the basis of diseases such as coronavirus and cancer, and challenges such as hearing loss. You’ll explore therapies that use stem cell technology, and discover how we develop drug treatment for inflammatory disease.

We're proud to be one of only a few universities in the UK to offer undergraduate students the opportunity to perform full body cadaveric dissection, providing you with an excellent foundation for understanding human physiology and developmental biology.

As you progress through your degree you’ll be able to specialise in key areas such as Stem Cells and Cancer, Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology; and Developmental and Cell Biology. Whichever specialism you’re interested in, your personal tutor will support you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals.

Our courses

Our courses all come with options to gain additional experience beyond the three-year BSc. You can add an extra year of research experience with an integrated masters, or gain valuable work experience with a top employer as a recognised part of your degree by spending a year on a work placement. You can even apply to spend a year studying abroad in a fantastic location, after you've joined the university.

2023-24 entry

• Biomedical Science BSc B900
• Biomedical Science MBiomedSci B909

Courses with a placement year

2023-24 entry

• Biomedical Science with an Industrial Placement Year BSc B902
• Biomedical Science with an Industrial Placement Year MBiomedSci B911

Courses with a foundation year

2023-24 entry

Biomedical Science (with a Foundation Year) BSc C9B9 

What our students say

My course gave me the opportunity to study anatomy through full-body cadaveric dissections

Vishmi Silva BSc Biomedical Science

Vishmi studied Biomedical Science with us as an undergraduate where she was able to study anatomy through full-body cadeveric dissections. Vishmi is now beginning her first year studying Medicine at the university.

My year in industry at the Institute for Cancer Research has introduced me to potential future careers

Niamh Dowling BSc Biomedical Science with a Year in Industry

Niamh is spending her year in industry working at the Institute of Cancer Research within the Drug Development Unit, which targets phase 1 (early-stage) clinical trials for cancer treatment. Rotating around three different teams, Niamh is not only gaining experience in the lab but also in the study management and finance and regulatory teams.

Teaching

As a biomedical science student you'll learn in lots of different ways, from lectures and small group tutorials to learning by doing during practical lab sessions and research projects.

From your first year you’ll study a range of biomedical science modules, with the freedom to explore optional topics from across the breadth of bioscience, such as genetics, microbiology, evolution or biochemistry.

Our staff are committed to great teaching and you'll have lots of opportunities throughout your degree to be creative, think independently, and express your ideas. You’ll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals, learning about the human body through cadaveric dissection, and even sharing your own knowledge and benefiting from others' expertise through peer assisted study sessions. All giving you plenty of chances to gain new transferrable skills and experience to put on your CV.

Find out more about our teaching

Research projects

In your third year, you'll get the opportunity to complete an extended research project either inside or outside the lab. Students who choose to be lab-based will be embedded in one of our specialist research groups, working within a team to conduct and report research findings in one of four areas:

• Physiology and Pharmacology - explore from the level of cell and organ to the whole body;
• Neuroscience - specialise in the development and function of the human nervous system;
• Developmental and Cellular Biology - from genetic control of cell function to the organisation of the entire human body;
• Stem Cells and Cancer - exploring the potency of stem cells in health and disease.

If you choose to complete your project outside the lab, you could enhance your scientific and presentation skills with an extended library project, gain experience of teaching in local schools, or even join the "Patients as Educators" scheme to interact with and discuss clinical conditions with volunteer patients.

Our integrated masters courses allow you to complete a further in-depth research project whilst embedded in one of our specialist research groups.

Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)

PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) is a university programme that provides support for students from different levels on the same degree programme.

Weekly revision sessions are designed to help students to better understand course content and develop essential study skills.

The sessions are run by higher-level students known as PASS Leaders who have studied the same modules previously and use their knowledge and experience to support your transition to university.

The sessions are fun, collaborative and interactive and research has shown that regular attendance at PASS sessions has a correlation with improved academic performance.

As a PASS leader, I aimed to provide an inclusive learning experience to every student, challenging and supporting them as they developed a love of learning, and became independent learners.

Reem Abouward

BSc Biomedical Science PASS Leader