Biomedical Science

Biomedical Science has been a success story for Britain. Benefit from our high quality teaching in the School of Biomedical Sciences based in the heart of London with its wide choice of modules, and develop a Biomedical Science degree programme that reflects your scientific strengths and interests.
Watch the video here, or access the 'interactive' tab to view at a larger size and see any alternative films playOverviewVideo('/prospectus/images/home.jpg','http://podcast.ulcc.ac.uk/accounts/kings/KCL_Marketing/BHS_NON_PROFESSIONAL.flv','true','details_81'); KEY BENEFITS

• Europe's largest centre for medical and professional healthcare education.
• Only university to host six Medical Research Council centres.
• Teaching by internationally renowned scientists and researchers.
• Contemporary approach based on our history of pioneering discoveries – including our part in finding the structure of DNA.
• Career opportunities through international exchanges and working in industry.
• One of the UK's best graduate employment rates.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTIONThe Biomedical Science BSc interdisciplinary degree is the most popular of our programmes, with an entry of approximately 230 students per year. It is unique in offering you a flexible plan in which to develop your second and third years at university as there are no compulsory modules in these years. The programme aims to ensure that you benefit from high quality teaching from our wide variety of individual modules and allows you to construct a degree programme which reflects your scientific strengths and interests.

Modern scientific research has progressed beyond traditional subject boundaries. The Biomedical Science BSc is designed to reflect this change by providing an undergraduate degree that provides expertise in a range of biomedical disciplines and develops your academic, practical and personal skills, with opportunities to participate in the excitement of modern research.

The advantage of the Biomedical Science BSc is its flexibility and choice. After studying the first-year common curriculum which introduces you to a range of disciplines at the core of Biomedical Science, you are free to design your own honours degree programme in years two and three based on the diversity of modules available and with advice from course leaders and personal tutors.

Students can take either a broad-based Biomedical Science degree or specialise eg in neuroscience, developmental science, genetics or immunology.

Alternatively, you can choose to move into a more prescriptive degree such as Biochemistry; Physiology; Pharmacology; Anatomy, Development & Human Biology with a mixture of core and optional modules.

We are also committed to the idea that a university degree should allow you opportunities to broaden your interests and expertise so we encourage students to take modules in other subjects such as modern languages in the second or third year. We also offer our own module in the Social Impact of the Biosciences with its ethical and philosophical base.

First yearAll students take the core curriculum modules which cover biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, physiology, pharmacology, cell and tissue structure and function, statistics and issues related to the practice of science, including ethics and communication.

Second and third years
There are no compulsory modules in these years; all those offered by the School of Biomedical Sciences (except Pharmacy modules) are open to you. In addition, courses from other parts of the College, such as modern languages, can be selected. A full laboratory-based experimental project is possible in the final year, which is especially useful for those considering postgraduate research career options. A library-based research project and/or an extended class lab practical are offered as alternative options.
Second year exchange programmes
The adaptable nature of the Biomedical Science degree has allowed us to offer selected students the chance of studying the entire second year abroad at universities in the USA, Singapore, Australia or at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

ABOUT THE Biomedical Sciences
CAREERS The biosciences, particularly in relation to the development of medical science, have been a success story for Britain in recent years. A wide range of employment exists for bioscientists: in fundamental research, in the drug industries, in research management and teaching. All these jobs require people with a proven ability of advanced study and a flexible approach to the biomedical sciences. By the time you reach the final year, most of your study will be at the level of handling original research findings and you will have the opportunity to undertake a research study of your own. External review bodies and employers, including secondary and tertiary education, have repeatedly noted the need for well-rounded science graduates. A flexible bioscience degree provides exactly for these needs and students are well-placed for entry to medicine, dentistry, teaching or other careers such as science administration or science journalism. Recent graduates have found employment as…. • Stockbroker, BGL Partners • Laboratory Assistant, ITH Pharma • Management Consultant, Ernst & Young • Researcher in Biomedicine, Children’s hospital • Strategy Analyst, JP Morgan Chase • Research Assistant, Imperial College London
TEACHING STYLE Teaching is delivered by a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and practical laboratory work. Tutorials are teaching sessions between an academic tutor and small groups of students where there is an opportunity to discuss work in detail and where subjects for coursework are agreed. Student seminars and workshops involving larger groups, poster presentations (like those used at formal scientific meetings) and personal tutor sessions supplement tutorials.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT The advantage of this programme is its flexibility and choice. After the Common Year One, which introduces you to the core disciplines in biomedical science, you are free to design your own honours degree programme based on the modules available and with advice from course leaders and personal tutors. Alternatively, you can specialise by choosing to follow a more prescriptive degree such as biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, human science or neuroscience with a mixture of core and optional modules. We are also committed to the idea that a university degree should allow you opportunities to broaden your interests and expertise so we encourage you to take modules in other subjects during your second year and to follow other interests such as modern languages in your second or third year. We also offer our own module in the Social Impact of the Biosciences. We consider your choice of modules to be an essential part of your academic development. As you become more knowledgeable, with more understanding of career opportunities and needs, you will find your educational needs developing and changing. The Biomedical Science BSc at King’s is a degree of choice: a choice that you will initiate and can be proud of as your programme develops. Assessment is usually by written examination at the end of each academic year, with increasing weight given to later years. First-year students have mid-sessional tests in most first-semester modules in January. Coursework also forms an important component of assessment and includes essays, posters, seminars, data exercises, laboratory reports and literature reviews.
LOCATION Our modern, well-funded laboratories cater for the full range of programmes on offer. As a large multi-faculty university, we have excellent social and sporting facilities, but a key attraction is our central London location. Our three campuses along the River Thames are located in the cultural and social heart of the capital and offer our students the opportunity to explore art galleries, theatres, museums, markets, restaurants and cafés.
SPECIAL NOTES Institute of Biomedical Science Accreditation: We have elected not to seek accreditation with the Institute of Biomedical Science. Degrees accredited by the Institute are directed towards clinical laboratory practice through a highly prescriptive curriculum. This does not suit the organisation and aims of the Biomedical Science BSc at King’s: we offer a wide range of choice centred on the experimental basis of biomedical science. Year in industry/research You may be offered the chance to take an additional extramural year outside King’s between your second and final year, working in an industrial or research establishment in the UK or elsewhere in Europe. This greatly expands both your work and research experience, and often improves your choice of job opportunities after graduation.

ABOUT THE Biomedical Sciences
CAREERS The biosciences, particularly in relation to the development of medical science, have been a success story for Britain in recent years. A wide range of employment exists for bioscientists: in fundamental research, in the drug industries, in research management and teaching. All these jobs require people with a proven ability of advanced study and a flexible approach to the biomedical sciences. By the time you reach the final year, most of your study will be at the level of handling original research findings and you will have the opportunity to undertake a research study of your own. External review bodies and employers, including secondary and tertiary education, have repeatedly noted the need for well-rounded science graduates. A flexible bioscience degree provides exactly for these needs and students are well-placed for entry to medicine, dentistry, teaching or other careers such as science administration or science journalism. Recent graduates have found employment as…. • Stockbroker, BGL Partners • Laboratory Assistant, ITH Pharma • Management Consultant, Ernst & Young • Researcher in Biomedicine, Children’s hospital • Strategy Analyst, JP Morgan Chase • Research Assistant, Imperial College London
TEACHING STYLE Teaching is delivered by a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and practical laboratory work. Tutorials are teaching sessions between an academic tutor and small groups of students where there is an opportunity to discuss work in detail and where subjects for coursework are agreed. Student seminars and workshops involving larger groups, poster presentations (like those used at formal scientific meetings) and personal tutor sessions supplement tutorials.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT The advantage of this programme is its flexibility and choice. After the Common Year One, which introduces you to the core disciplines in biomedical science, you are free to design your own honours degree programme based on the modules available and with advice from course leaders and personal tutors. Alternatively, you can specialise by choosing to follow a more prescriptive degree such as biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, human science or neuroscience with a mixture of core and optional modules. We are also committed to the idea that a university degree should allow you opportunities to broaden your interests and expertise so we encourage you to take modules in other subjects during your second year and to follow other interests such as modern languages in your second or third year. We also offer our own module in the Social Impact of the Biosciences. We consider your choice of modules to be an essential part of your academic development. As you become more knowledgeable, with more understanding of career opportunities and needs, you will find your educational needs developing and changing. The Biomedical Science BSc at King’s is a degree of choice: a choice that you will initiate and can be proud of as your programme develops. Assessment is usually by written examination at the end of each academic year, with increasing weight given to later years. First-year students have mid-sessional tests in most first-semester modules in January. Coursework also forms an important component of assessment and includes essays, posters, seminars, data exercises, laboratory reports and literature reviews.
LOCATION Our modern, well-funded laboratories cater for the full range of programmes on offer. As a large multi-faculty university, we have excellent social and sporting facilities, but a key attraction is our central London location. Our three campuses along the River Thames are located in the cultural and social heart of the capital and offer our students the opportunity to explore art galleries, theatres, museums, markets, restaurants and cafés.
SPECIAL NOTES Institute of Biomedical Science Accreditation: We have elected not to seek accreditation with the Institute of Biomedical Science. Degrees accredited by the Institute are directed towards clinical laboratory practice through a highly prescriptive curriculum. This does not suit the organisation and aims of the Biomedical Science BSc at King’s: we offer a wide range of choice centred on the experimental basis of biomedical science. Year in industry/research You may be offered the chance to take an additional extramural year outside King’s between your second and final year, working in an industrial or research establishment in the UK or elsewhere in Europe. This greatly expands both your work and research experience, and often improves your choice of job opportunities after graduation.