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Hear from our tutors and students on how studying this course could set you on a path towards making important contributions to scientific discoveries.
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) degree Course overview
Highlights
- Develop a solid understanding of human health and disease, informed by the latest research, equipping you with in-depth scientific knowledge, critical analysis, practical laboratory and transferrable employability skills.
- Opportunity for a Professional Training Year within a related biomedical sector, such as industry, research, government or the NHS: previous placements have included GSK, Pfizer, MSD, HPA Colindale, Novartis (GSK) and Public Health England, as well as St George’s Clinical Research Facility and Image Resource Facility.
- Option to transfer to Year 3 of our four-year Biomedical Science MSci at the end of your second year, subject to academic achievement and available places.
- Focus your learning in Year 3 by choosing one of our tailored scientific pathways, graduating in one of several specialisms. Currently, these include Biomedical Science with: Anatomy; Cell and Molecular Biology; Genomics; Immunity and Infection; Medical Ethics and Law; Physiology and Pharmacology; Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience.
- As well as a wide range of employment in the biomedical sector, the transferrable skills you will gain on this degree allow you to consider wider careers options such as law, finance and teaching.
- Cutting-edge facilities include specialist laboratories, a Museum of Human Disease and Anatomy suite, which enable you to gain scientific skills and techniques applicable to your course and future study and employment.
- City St George’s, University of London Tooting campus is co-located with one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Course Information
Biomedical science provides the foundation for the understanding of human health and disease. This drives breakthroughs in the development of new technologies and treatments in everything from Covid-19 to cancer, diabetes to heart disease, bone strength to brain development and much more.
Biomedical science is the starting point for the scientific and medical breakthroughs that help people live longer, healthier lives. From preventative lifestyle and medical know-how, to the discovery of new therapies – from drugs to vaccines to surgery – and new biotechnological inventions such as gene editing, tissue engineering, cell-based therapies and personalised medicine, biomedical science is key to continuous improvement in our understanding and treatment of health and disease.
If you have a passion for science and want to strengthen your knowledge and comprehension of the body and its biological processes, our broad interdisciplinary curriculum covers anatomy, cell and molecular biology, immunology, infection, genetics, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, psychology and reproduction. You'll also gain invaluable transferrable skills in communications, problem solving, team work, planning and organisation and more, which are of fundamental importance to employers.
A wide range of optional modules
In your final year, you can specialise and tailor your studies choosing from nine optional specialist pathways delivered in 3 modules of 15-30 credits, each of which covers a different but interlinked topic of your chosen specialism. This specialisation is reflected in your degree title: you will graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science with Specialism (e.g. Biomedical Science with Anatomy).
We offer the opportunity to transfer into Year 3 of our four-year Biomedical Science MSci.
Study in modern laboratories
Practical from the outset, you’ll develop essential lab techniques in our modern teaching and research laboratories and study body systems both in class and hands-on in our dedicated dissection room. You’ll relate your learning to everyday living through real-life disease and treatment case studies, research and access to our unique on-site collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens.
These skills and knowledge will help you to tackle your final-year Research Project. This is a 45-credit hands-on project undertaken alongside our professional research teams and supervised by one of our expert academics; it is your opportunity to engage with real-life biomedical research, addressing important scientific questions in one of many disciplines on offer.
Meet our world-class institutes
City St George’s Tooting campus is home to world-class research institutes – Molecular and Clinical Sciences, Population Health, Medical and Biomedical Education and Infection and Immunity – giving you access to the latest scientific and clinical research projects. Research experts based within our institutes also deliver teaching and offer the opportunity to work with them during the final-year research project.
Placements and internships
You can gain valuable work experience, with opportunities to undertake work shadowing, summer placements and apply for summer internships in industry and academia. You can also opt to take a Professional Training Year (PTY) after your second year; previous students have worked with the likes of GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer in the commercial world, as well as in academic placements in the UK and Europe.
Facilities
From the start of the course, you'll be undertaking hands-on scientific practicals in our large teaching labs. This helps you develop your subject and laboratory knowledge, understanding and skills throughout Years 1 and 2. In Year 3 you'll apply this learning and develop it further when you undertake your research project, based in specialist research or teaching labs.
We have a range of specialist health and academic facilities to support your learning,
Imaging Resource Facility (IRF)
The IRF offers a range of standard and specialised light microscopy imaging methods , The technologies offered are Light Microscopy, Flow Cytometry, and Histology; we maintain a dedicated suite for each section.
The Light Microscopy Suite houses a variety of microscopes offering a solution to any imaging requirements. This range of equipment allows for fast, high-resolution imaging of samples using confocal, epifluorescent, brightfield, DIC, and Phase-Contrast microscopy. Live imaging is available on a number of different systems. Flow cytometry allows the isolation and analysis of specific cell populations using two FACS systems and analyser. Users of the IRF have the ability to image histology samples, cells and molecules of all varieties, and model organisms and tissues using any of the systems , we maintain, supported by experienced staff at all times.
Laboratories
Our teaching laboratories are fully fitted with equipment for biological, chemistry, biomedical, molecular biology and pharmacy practicals. This includes microscopes, spectrophotometers, DNA amplifiers, organ baths and specialist glassware. We also have audio visual equipment installed, so that microscope images can be projected on to large screens.
Museum of Human Disease
Our Tooting campus museum houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens, including a number of original specimens donated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie in 1843. This space is used for small group tutorials by students across all of our courses as an educational tool to help you understand the mechanisms of disease.
Anatomy suite
The anatomy suite is where present and future healthcare professionals and scientists in the University and St George's Hospital learn or expand on their anatomy knowledge directly from the human body, through access to high quality anatomy resources. These include plastinated (preserved) specimens, osteological materials, anatomical models and digital/imaging resources such as Anatomage tables and Complete Anatomy.
Library and learning technology
Our modern health sciences library offers a wide range of books, e-books, academic journals and other resources to support you. You will also have access to online resources, such as the Canvas virtual learning environment and our Hunter discovery service to help you find the information you need. The library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and comprises silent, quiet and group learning areas, as well as four group discussion rooms.
IT facilities
We have five computer suites at the Tooting campus, housing 260 workstations. Three of these suites are accessible 24 hours a day. It’s easy to find a free space with our handy real-time computer locator. We also have 75 self-service laptops available. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole campus, including all accommodation. You can use these resources to access your course materials, discussion boards and feedback through Canvas.
Student support
Whether you are heading off to university straight from school or college, or returning to education as a mature student, we want to ensure your experience is positive from the outset. At City St George’s University of London, you’ll be welcomed by a multicultural student and staff body of different ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds, all with one thing in common – an interest in healthcare, science and medicine.
Students frequently tell us they greatly appreciate the diversity of our student and staff body, as well as the patients who access healthcare services in the borough of Tooting.
We offer a full range of academic support and student services across all institutes, departments and faculties, some of which are listed below. We take pride in offering a transformative educational experience underpinned by cooperation and collaboration between staff and students. Our innovative Student-Staff Partnership Grants (SSPGs), for example, provide funding for small projects led jointly by students and staff, which included the co-creation by one of our students of an art exhibition inspired by the Museum of Human Disease collection.
Personal academic tutor
On arrival, you will be allocated a personal tutor – someone with whom you can have regular contact, who you ask questions and discuss problems with, both academic and personal. The main purpose of a personal tutor is to monitor your progress, pick up and help you resolve any problems, whether academic or welfare related. Even if they don’t have the answer, they will point you in the right direction towards the best people to deal with specific problems.
Induction programme
Within your first week at City St George’s, University of London, you’ll take part in an induction programme to help with your orientation and introduce you to various study skills, including interprofessional learning and use of the Anatomy suite. Additional sessions provide advice and guidance about the Registry, Students’ Union, personal tutor system, safety, occupational health and sexual health awareness.
Academic staff support
You’ll have access to your lecturers, usually by arrangement via email.
Placement support
Each site has a dedicated clinical education team with a practice educator or clinical liaison tutor. They work in collaboration with the academic staff to ensure you get the best clinical experience and achieve your clinical assessments. Placements are allocated by the academic clinical lead, considering personal circumstances to ensure the best experience for each student.
Mums and Dads scheme
‘Mums and dads’ is a buddy scheme organised by the Students’ Union. Every fresher (first year student) has the choice of being assigned a ‘parent’ from the year above in their respective course. The returning student then acts as a ‘go to’ for advice about courses and university life, providing an additional support system during your first year, both academically and socially. They have been in your position and know the struggles of starting university; they also know all of the best pubs, clubs, restaurants, gyms and will help introduce you to your new City St George’s family.
Student Life Centre
Our Student Centre team can help you with every aspect of student life: finances, accommodation, exams and assessment, academic procedures, admissions, international queries, disability and wellbeing, even finding your way around – whatever it takes to make you feel at home. Each course has a designated contact within the student centre to link to and your personal tutor can signpost you to relevant support, including a confidential counselling service.
Structure
Course content
Biomedical Science BSc is a modular three-year degree covering the range of biological science disciplines that underpin our understanding of human health and disease. The degree emphasises fundamental and applied research that contributes to our understanding of how the human body functions and how this knowledge can be applied to improve health outcomes. It combines academic study and practical skills training in our specialist facilities, with the option for additional professional experience.
Years 1 and 2
In Year 1 we start with activities designed to help you adjust to university-style learning. During your learning in these years, you will study a set of compulsory core subjects to build a solid knowledge and understanding of cellular, molecular and biomedical sciences, including normal functioning of the human body, as well as disease processes and the therapies used to treat diseases.
You will gain insight and learn to appreciate the various scientific methods used in biomedical research, for example molecular and cellular biology techniques, including working with nucleic acid and proteins and microscopy of cells, tissues and embryos. We will consider how these techniques are applicable to advancing scientific knowledge, disease diagnosis and therapy.
Activities to support your subject-specific learning, such as scientific communications, data analysis, scientific writing and careers are delivered via a year-long Personal and Academic Skills module. All of your different academic activities throughout the course are designed to help you link together all your learning to develop a deep integrated understanding of the topics you study.
Year 3
In the final year, you will specialise, developing your knowledge and understanding of a particular topic by choosing one of a number of different pathways. Each pathway comprises a group of closely-related taught modules providing an in-depth view of your specialist area. This choice is made towards the end of Year 2 to allow focus on your emerging scientific interests. This specialisation will be reflected in your degree title when you graduate.
You will also undertake a comprehensive research project under professional supervision on subjects as diverse as disease-causing infectious organisms, drug discovery screening in zebrafish embryos or genetic manipulation of cancer cell lines, to mention just a few previous project areas chosen by students. Your research project can be in a related discipline, or you might choose to explore different areas. This is your chance to engage with a real-world research question in a professional setting, supported by an expert supervisor. This experience delivers learning in research skills, data analysis, science communications and transferable skills.
The Year 3 pathways and modules typically include the following but may be subject to change:
BSc Biomedical Science with Anatomy
- Development and Disease
- Images of Anatomy
- Clinically Applied Musculoskeletal Anatomy
BSc Biomedical Science with Cell and Molecular Biology
- Biology of Cancer
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Genes and Gene Expression in Eukaryotic Cells
BSc Biomedical Science with Genomics
- Clinical Application of Genomics in Rare Diseases and Cancer
- Human Medical Genetics
- Personalised Medicine
BSc Biomedical Science with Infection and Immunity
- Medical Microbiology
- Immunity and Infection
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
BSc Biomedical Science with Medical Ethics and Law
- Future of Medicine Ethics and Neuroethics
- Research Ethics and Clinical Ethics
- Medical Ethics and Law
BSc Biomedical Science with Physiology and Pharmacology
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases
- Science of Reproduction
- Pharmacology and Physiology of Drugs of Abuse
Biomedical Science with Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
- Clinical Neuroscience
- Psychology and Psychiatry of the Mind
- Neuroscience of Sensation and Perception
Professional Training Year (Optional)
You have the opportunity to apply to undertake a Professional Training Year between Years 2 and 3 of the course to hone your professional skills and experience. These placements can be in industry, academia, the NHS or international placements. Both paid and unpaid options with means-tested loans available for Home students.
The aim of the placement year is to increase your employability by giving you professional experience and improving your skills in the environment of a relevant industry. You’ll build a portfolio of professional and scientific skills and competencies to the standard expected by professional organisations. You will gain experience of working as part of a team, demonstrating professional behaviour and developing professional and transferrable skills. All students completing this year are provided with an awarded graded certificate of their achievement.
On placement, you are supervised by experienced scientists, clinicians and trained mentors. You receive the support as needed with at least two visits during placement, either by your personal tutor or another member of academic staff involved in running the placement. Potential placements include the following.
UK Placements:
- Pfizer
- GSK
- MSD
- Lilly
- Sanofi
- HPA Colindale
- Novartis
- Cancer Research Horizons
- PHE Didcot (toxicology)
- Public Health, St George's NHS Trust
- Clinical Research Facility, St George's.
Academic placements:
- The Francis Crick Institute
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
Erasmus Placements:
- University of Barcelona, Spain
- University of Granada, Spain
- Radboud University, The Netherlands
- Leiden University, The Netherlands.
This list is subject to change and should be used as a guide of where students may be able to go. The Turing scheme enables placements world-wide. We have already placed students at the University of Barcelona, the University of Granada in Spain and Radboud University, the Netherlands.
All students completing this year are provided with an awarded graded certificate of their achievement.
Watch a video introduction to the placement year.
Transfer option
Biomedical Science MSci: At the end of Year 2, you have the option to transfer to Year 3 of the four-year MSci pathway, subject to available places and academic achievement (60%) by the end of Year 2 (Year 1 counts for a third of your marks, Year 2 two-thirds).
Year 1
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Personal and Academic Skills 1 and 2 (10 credits)
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Fundamentals of the Living Cell (30 credits)
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Fundamentals in Physiology and Pharmacology (15 credits)
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Fundamentals of Pathology (10 credits)
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Physiology 1 (40 credits)
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Anatomy 1 (15 credits)
Year 2
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Personal and Academic Skills 3 and 4 (25 credits)
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Genomics (10 credits)
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Physiology 2 (20 credits)
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Anatomy 2 (15 credits)
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Microbiology and Immunology (25 credits)
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Molecular Basis of Disease (25 credits)
Download course specification:
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is delivered through a variety of methods, including: lectures and laboratory practical sessions and in later years, laboratory research; tutorials, including scenario-based learning; self-directed learning; and computer-assisted learning. There is a gradual change in emphasis over the duration of your degree, from large group lectures, delivering core knowledge and concepts, to smaller lecture groups for specialist knowledge. Tutorials, self-directed learning, practical sessions and in-course assessments further promote knowledge and understanding.
Practical sessions in our specialist labs will give you hands-on experience of using scientific instrumentation, developing the lab techniques required for research and scientific investigation. You’ll put theory into practice conducting research and experiments from scratch – whether you are manipulating live embryos, working with the specimens in our extensive pathology museum or contextualising your study of anatomy through experience in the dissection room.
You’ll progress from basic competence in laboratory skills in Year 1 to the use of more sophisticated techniques and, by the time you graduate, the ability to confidently plan experiments and interpret the data obtained from them. You’ll also gain a range of valuable interpersonal, academic and transferrable skills include communications, data handling, group working, note taking, presentation and problem-solving exercises.
One of the many benefits of studying at City St George’s is the opportunity to study in the same environment as other healthcare-related courses, allowing cross-disciplinary contacts to be made with students and staff.
You’ll have access to seminars and events delivered by our renowned renowned Research Institutes and the chance to work alongside our researchers in your final-year project. In the past, students have worked on animal models of congenital disease, investigated the efficacy of cancer drug treatments, studied the role of hypoxia in blood vessel formation and explored the role of the interferon pathway in antiviral immunity, to name just a few examples of the innovative research projects offered.
Past guest speakers and visiting lecturers have included an ex-army conflict and catastrophe specialist, ethics experts from clinical trials and researchers from the Francis Crick Institute and Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Invited external speakers at University events offer the opportunity to hear world-renowned scientists such as Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse and Professor Chris Whitty, Professor Sian E Harding and Professor Dame Anne Johnson.
Assessment
We use a range of assessment techniques, chosen to match the competencies being learned and tested within each module. Progress is judged by a mixture of in-course assessment and written exams; each year’s marks contribute towards your final degree classification.
Assessment methods vary by module but include:
- poster or slide-based presentations
- quizzes
- assessed practical and essays for ICA's.
- exams, which may include:
- both short and long answer questions
- single best answer questions
- calculation and data analysis problems
- essay questions
- objective structured practical examinations, where you demonstrate knowledge of structure and function in the dissecting room
- oral exams, where you answer questions from a panel of examiners.
Fees and funding
Fees for year 2027 / 28
Home/UK
£10,050
International
To be confirmed
Our undergraduate fees are set in line with the maximum permitted by the UK Government and may increase in subsequent years in line with government policy.
Funding options
Explore up-to-date information about funding options, available financial support and typical living costs.
- There are no fee waivers available for this course
- Means tested support is available for 2026/27 entry.
Additional expenses
The table below highlights the additional course-specific costs related to this degree.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- DBS fee: £40
- Post office verification: £6
- Administration fee: £9
Clothing
- Students will require a lab coat for use in the dissection room, this can be purchased from the Student Union shop: £30
Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.
Career
Biomedical science is an incredibly exciting, fast-paced area to work in. It provides a strong foundation for a wide range of careers and/or further study in the science and healthcare-related fields and beyond.
Careers teaching and employability are embedded in the curriculum across all year groups, following the themes of "Explore, plan, apply". This allows our students to understand which stage they are at so that we can support them with their career thinking and decision making.
In addition to dedicated pages on our web-based learning management system Canvas, an annual careers fair and timetabled careers sessions for each year group, we provide workshops with recruiters, drop-in clinics, one-to-one support from an academic lead for Biomedical Science employability, as well as appointments with careers consultants. Support offered covers career pathways, CV writing and interview skills.
Our graduates have gone on to work in academic and applied research, for a variety of pharmaceutical and bioscience companies and institutes, such as PRA Health Sciences, Barts and the London NHS Trust, and the University of Washington. Some are also working beyond the biomed sector for companies such as Deloitte, KPMG, Frontiers Publishing and Teach First. Others use their degree as a platform for postgraduate study, pursuing a range of MScs, PhD or graduate entry medical degree.
Studying on the programme will allow you to develop the top ten employability skills employers look for, these include:
- communication
- teamwork
- digital skills
- leadership
- complex problem-solving
- data analysis.
You will be well-equipped for a wide range of careers including those outside the lab, such as medical writing, biomedical marketing, health communication or teaching.
A selection of other science-based sectors you may choose to pursue include:
- Biomedical research in industry or academia
- Clinical research and trials
- Pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector roles (sales, marketing, consultancy, scientific services and reagents and more)
- Medical writing and science communications
- Bioinformatics
- Doctor, dentist or physician associate
- Masters or PhD study
- Forensic scientist
- NHS Scientist Training Programme
- Research technician/research associate
- Scientific policy and Civil Service
- Scientific funding bodies
- Scientific publishing
- Education: teaching and lecturing
- Finance
- Accountancy
- Law
Please note, some career options will require further training post-graduation.
Whilst studying on the programme, Biomedical Science BSc students can attend City St George’s annual careers fair, summer careers festival, drop-in careers clinics or book individual appointments with the university’s Careers Consultants. Additional support is available from the Academic lead for Biomedical Science Employability and there are numerous resources embedded within the curriculum to help you explore your options, plan your experience and develop your professional goals.
You can gain valuable work experience with opportunities to undertake short, or long-term placements. These include summer internships in academia and industry. There is also an opportunity to improve your employability further by undertaking a Professional Training Year (PTY) between your second and third years of study; City St George’s has excellent industry links and previous students have worked in commercial organisations and on academic placements in both the UK and Europe.
Careers service
Our careers service works to support current students and recent graduates to find and maintain a rewarding and successful career. As well as general workshops on topics such as writing a CV and developing interview skills, the service works with the academic lead for Biomedical Science employability to ensure there are careers activities specific to your programmes and future profession. You will also be able to book a one-to-one appointment with a careers consultant to discuss all aspects of careers and employability. This might include investigating options and making career decisions, gaining advice and guidance on where to look for jobs, CV and application checking, or booking in for a practice interview.
How to apply
This course is not yet open for 2027 entry applications. Information will be updated in due course.
You will be able to apply through your school or college using the Apply system, which enables you to submit your application directly to the UCAS website.
- You can apply to up to five universities or institutions on the UCAS form. For this course, the UCAS course code is B940, and the institution code for City St George’s, University of London is C60.
- Applications for entry in September 2027 should have arrived at UCAS by 13 January 2027. Applications that arrive after the UCAS deadline will be considered only at City St George’s discretion.
Please take care to enter the correct course code when applying, particularly for subjects with a Foundation year or with BEng (Hons) and MEng (Hons) or BSc (Hons) and MSci (Hons) options.
UCAS has implemented an ‘invisibility of choices’ policy so that, on the initial application and while you are receiving decisions, each institution can see only their entry and not those of other institutions you have chosen. This ensures that your application for a course at City St George’s is considered solely on your academic and personal qualities.
There is an application fee for some students when submitting their application form. Please see the UCAS website for more details.
Recent Engagement in Education
Due to the demanding nature of the programme, it is important that applicants can demonstrate recent engagement in education.
If the qualifications that you are applying on the basis of (e.g. Level 3 or degree-level qualifications) were awarded more than five years ago (e.g. before summer 2022), it may still be possible for us to consider your application.
In this case, we would look at supplementary Level 3 qualifications, or relevant work experience, that you have undertaken within the last five years.
These applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis following submission of a UCAS application.
Application Checklist
You must provide:
- full details of your Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualifications with grades
- full details of your Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) qualifications with achieved/predicted grades
- a personal statement (more information about this document is available on the UCAS website)
- an academic reference from your current or most recent institution with predicted grades
When to apply
Applications for entry in September 2026 should have arrived at UCAS by 14 January 2026. Those that arrive after this will be considered only at City St George's discretion.
Deferred Entry
We will consider applications from applicants who wish to defer entry by a year, provided you plan to use the time constructively. If you are offered a place on the course and subsequently decide to defer, you must inform us by 1 June of the year of application.
Contacting UCAS
Website: www.ucas.com
Address: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ
Telephone:
- from inside the UK 0871 468 0468
- from outside the UK +44 (0)871 468 0468
For callers with hearing difficulties:
- from inside the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0468
- from outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0468.
For enquiries about the admissions process and entry requirements at City St George's, please contact our Course Enquiries Team.
Complete the Admissions enquiry form.
Call: +44 (0) 20 3897 2032
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Student testimonials
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Biomedical Science graduates can specialise in different areas and therefore have a huge amount of choice when it comes to settling down into a career. It’s great if you’re still unsure what you want to do with your degree, because you gain so many new skills and experiences, which open up numerous doors.
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I urge anyone thinking about studying biomedical science at City St George’s to just do it! You won’t find a course like it in the UK. On top of being highly scientific, it also offers a great deal of clinical knowledge that makes you a stand-out candidate for any job or course you apply for.
