BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science with Sandwich Placement

This module is designed to guide you through the key principles and practices used to identify disease, using a structured and integrated approach that blends immunology and clinical biochemistry. Your learning will be scaffolded across the semester to build confidence and competence in understanding both the science and the application of diagnostic techniques. We begin with a foundation in basic immunological principles, helping you understand how the immune system functions and how it can be harnessed in disease detection. You’ll explore antibody-based diagnostics, including techniques such as ELISA and FIA, and consider how automation and emerging technologies are shaping modern laboratory practice. As your understanding grows, we’ll move into more complex areas such as immune system dysfunction, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity, and immune tolerance. You’ll also examine tumour immunology and the immune challenges associated with transplantation. You will learn about relevant point of care testing (POCT) applications and quality assurance and quality control principles for both immunology and clinical biochemistry. From this point, the module shifts into an integrated approach, where immunological and biochemical processes are taught together to help you understand how diseases are identified and monitored in clinical settings. You’ll work through case-based examples that illustrate how these disciplines complement each other in real-world diagnostics. Towards the end of the module, the focus will shift to clinical biochemistry alone, allowing you to explore areas such as therapeutic drug monitoring and the biochemical detection of substances of abuse, without the immunological component.

This module focuses on the study of blood and its role in health and disease. You’ll explore how blood cells are produced, their structure and function, and how they are affected in conditions such as anaemia, haematological malignancies and clotting disorders. You’ll learn to identify normal and abnormal blood cells and understand the principles behind key haematological techniques used in diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. The module also covers haemostasis and the immune-mediated destruction of blood cells. In transfusion science, you’ll study blood group antigens and antibodies, the genetics of blood groups, and how blood components are selected, prepared, and safely used in transfusion. You’ll examine causes of blood group anomalies, antibody screening, and the risks and management of transfusion reactions. Patient blood management and the safe supply of blood products are key themes. This module integrates scientific knowledge with clinical practice, supporting you to interpret laboratory data and contribute to safe, effective patient care.

This module builds on the foundational skills and reflective practices introduced in the Level 4 'Succeeding at University in Medical Sciences' module, supporting you to deepen your professional identity and career readiness. It is designed to support you in developing the knowledge, skills, and reflective practices essential for continuous professional growth in a dynamic and evolving workplace. Through a mix of practical experience and professional development sessions, this module will enable you to explore essential themes such as personal effectiveness, leadership, communication, ethical practice, and lifelong learning. Drawing directly from work experience and/or professional setting, you will reflect on your real-world experiences to deepen your understanding of what it means to grow and succeed in your chosen field. You may draw on case studies or sector examples to connect theory to practice. You will engage in self-assessment, goal setting, and action planning to identify your strengths and areas for development. The module emphasizes reflective practice as a tool for professional learning and encourages you to critically evaluate your experiences and performance in real-world contexts. This module will develop your practical, analytical, and professional skills essential for scientific investigation in Medical Sciences. You will gain competencies in experimental design, ethical and governance frameworks, audit processes, literature searching, statistical analysis, and scientific communication, supported by hands-on activities that strengthen IT, numeracy, and data-handling skills.

In this module, you’ll explore how the body defends itself against infection and how we detect, treat, and prevent infectious diseases. You will explore a wide range of disease-causing microorganisms by body systems, examine emerging pathogens, and develop an understanding of how these organisms interact with the immune system, including their key pathogenic mechanisms. You will learn how advanced microbiological techniques are used to identify pathogens and inform clinical decision-making, and you’ll examine the role of public health microbiology and the One Health approach in managing outbreaks and preventing disease. Some of the key topics include pathogen surveillance and outbreak surveillance, antimicrobial therapy and resistance, vaccination, and infection control strategies. You’ll also study how immune responses are measured during an infection and how immunological techniques are used in diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of infections or disease surveillance. This module brings together microbiology, and immunology to help you understand how infection is studied and managed in both clinical and public health settings.

This module explores how cellular and genetic changes underpin human disease. You will examine the structure and function of normal cells and tissues and learn how these changes are seen in diseases through microscopic and ultrastructural analysis (cytopathology and histopathology). The module also introduces key concepts in clinical genetics, including how genetic mutations and polymorphisms influence disease processes. You’ll study the application of molecular biology and bioinformatics in medicine, and how genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic techniques are used to investigate human DNA and chromosomes. We will also cover pharmacogenetics and personalised medicine, highlighting how genetic variation affects drug response. This module will help you understand the principles and practice of genetic testing for screening, diagnosis, and disease monitoring, alongside the ethical considerations involved. This module provides a foundation for understanding the cellular and molecular basis of pathology and its relevance to modern diagnostics and therapeutics.

The Research Project is a major independent study that allows you to apply and demonstrate the research skills developed throughout your degree. You will design and carry out a hypothesis-driven study in any healthcare science area, which may be laboratory-based, data analysis focused, a systematic review involving meta-analysis. This project will develop your ability to plan and execute research, analyse quantitative and/or qualitative data, and critically evaluate findings. You’ll learn to present results clearly and coherently, using appropriate scientific formats and conventions. You will undertake a laboratory-based, a systematic review, science communications, educational or bioinformatics-type project. The project will be a major piece of assessed work that demonstrates achievement of your research skills including research design, methodologies, planning and execution of hypothesis-based research and scientific writing. It will provide a valuable opportunity to showcase your problem-solving, scientific writing, and data-handling skills, preparing you for future employment or postgraduate study.