Biomedical Science MSci

Discover the science at the heart of medical breakthroughs. Gain real lab experience and a strong theoretical foundation in your integrated Masters year. 

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This course is available in Clearing.

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Key information

Why choose this course at Sussex?

  • Build the skills to open doors to a wide range of science and science-related careers, spanning research, healthcare and industry.
  • Specialise your research skills in an integrated Masters year, gaining hands-on lab experience and learning from our expert research-driven teaching.
  • Benefit from our Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Brighton & Sussex Medical School to join the field at the heart of medical breakthroughs.

Biomedical Science is at the heart of medical breakthroughs. That’s why this subject is vital to the world.

From Year 1, you get hands-on practical experience in our labs. Later on in your course, you’ll have the opportunity to explore real human specimens in our anatomy laboratory classes.

The course is flexible, and you can tailor your degree to your interests and career aspirations. You’ll be inspired by our modules exploring topics such as cancer, infectious diseases and vaccine development, and genomics and bioinformatics.

Throughout your time at Sussex, you’ll develop your practical, analytical, problem-solving, communication and technical skills. You’ll learn via lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminars. Your teaching is underpinned by the research of our internationally renowned group of experts. They work at the forefront of biomedical research. You’ll be supported in a friendly community of scientists in the School of Life Sciences, as well as staff from Brighton & Sussex Medical School and NHS Trust.

Many Biomedical Science students aim to specialise in a branch of Medicine. This is why we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for Medicine at Brighton & Sussex Medical School, if you meet certain criteria.

When you graduate, you’ll have the data-handling and analytical skills for a wide range of science and science-related careers. Outside of Medicine, our graduates have taken on a variety of jobs in fields including:

  • biomedical science
  • biotechnology
  • pharmaceutical research
  • nutrition
  • physiotherapy.

And in addition, in your integrated Masters year, you gain a strong theoretical and practical foundation for a career in – or related to – research. You’ll spend a semester working on an individual research project in one of our Biomedical Science research teams. In this year, you’ll develop advanced skills in technical, analytical and scientific communication skills.

Our courses adapt to the latest demands of the working world and are informed by our Employer Advisory Panel of key organisations which hire our graduates. Our employability strand develops research skills, professional competencies, and includes dedicated sessions with our Careers and Entrepreneurship Team to help you bolster your CV, train for interviews, map out career trajectories, and more.

  • 94% of our research overall in Biological Sciences was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021) 

MSci or BSc?

We also offer this course as a three-year BSc. Find out about the benefits of an integrated Masters year.

How to apply

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On campus - in person

You’ll study for this degree on our campus, joining our academics and fellow students. With in-person contact time, digitally supported educational resources, library collections and independent study, this course is designed to give you an inclusive education. Your learning experience may also include work placements, field trips, studying abroad and internationalisation experiences.

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Virtual tour

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Our 360° virtual tour has been designed to introduce you to life in our diverse, supportive and inclusive community. Join our students for an immersive experience as they reveal why Sussex offers a space to follow your passions, find your voice, and discover people and places that will inspire you.

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ResearchPlus

As a founding partner of ResearchPlus, a collaboration of research-focused universities, we engage with government, industry and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity and wellbeing across the whole of the UK.

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Modules

This is a single-honours course, allowing you to focus in depth on your core subject. Find out more from our guide to undergraduate study

  • Year 1 at Sussex

    Your modules

    Core modules

    Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Options

    Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

    While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

    Spring teaching

    Your degree

    From day one you’ll gain hands-on experience in our labs, learning to use professional biomedical equipment and techniques. You’ll build a strong foundation in cell and molecular biology, and get introduced to the topic of disease.

    Teaching

    Teaching methods typically include lectures and practicals, with some seminars.

    60%: Lecture
    10%: Seminar
    30%: Practical

    Assessment

    Assessment methods typically include written pieces, reports, problem sets, online tests and multiple-choice question-based exams.

    Contact hours and workload

    This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.

    Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

  • Year 2 at Sussex

    Your modules

    Core modules

    Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Your degree

    In Year 2 you’ll move to advanced topics including immunology, human genetics, pathology, haematology and microbiology. You’ll study the mechanisms that lead to diseases, the treatments and the diagnostic approaches currently in use in biomedical science laboratories. You’ll apply your learning to clinical case studies. You’ll also learn important research methods and how to interpret complex data sets using R.

    Teaching

    Teaching methods typically include lectures and practicals, with some seminars.

    65%: Lecture
    5%: Seminar
    30%: Practical

    Assessment

    Assessment methods typically include written pieces, reports, problem sets, group presentations, portfolios and short answer-based exams.

    Contact hours and workload

    This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 220 hours of contact time and about 980 hours of independent study.

    Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

  • Experience Year

    Study abroad (optional)

    Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you

    If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student

    Placement (optional)

    To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

    Find out more about placements and internships

    Recent Life Sciences students have gone on placements at:

    • Oroboros Instruments
    • Pfizer
    • the NHS.

    Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

  • Year 3 at Sussex

    Your modules

    Core modules

    Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

    Autumn and spring teaching
    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Options

    Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

    While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Your degree

    In Year 3 you’ll take biomedically-related modules, and also have the opportunity to specialise in areas that interest you most with our range of options. A major highlight is your final-year research project, where you’ll work closely with our academics to design, carry out and present your own investigation. This prepares you for professional careers in healthcare and research, or further postgraduate study.

    Teaching

    Teaching methods typically include lectures and practicals, with some seminars.

    75%: Lecture
    25%: Practical

    Assessment

    Assessment methods typically include written pieces, reports, problem sets, individual and group presentations, group written submissions, online tests, a dissertation, and exams that require longer answers and analysis of data.

    Contact hours and workload

    This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 180 hours of contact time and about 1,020 hours of independent study.

    Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

  • Year 4 at Sussex

    Your modules

    Core modules

    Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

    Autumn teaching
    Spring teaching

    Options

    Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

    While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

    Autumn teaching

    Your degree

    In Year 4 you’ll get a solid grounding in your chosen subject and explore the topics that interest you most. Alongside your core modules, you’ll choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This equips you with a wide range of translatable skills applicable across diverse career paths. You’ll gain valuable laboratory research skills and develop an understanding of current, cutting-edge techniques in the field.

    Teaching

    Teaching methods typically include lectures and practicals, with some seminars.

    45%: Lecture
    10%: Seminar
    45%: Practical

    Assessment

    Assessment methods typically include written pieces, reports, problem sets, individual and group presentations, group written submissions, online tests, a dissertation, and exams that require longer answers and analysis of data.

    Contact hours and workload

    This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 80 hours of contact time and about 1,120 hours of independent study.

    Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course. 

Spirit of Sussex Award

Feel involved in life at the University, make friends and enrich your experience with us – the Spirit of Sussex Award is our way of recognising your extracurricular and voluntary achievements.

Find out more about the Spirit of Sussex Award

  • Video transcript

    Hi everyone! As I'm sure you've all heard by now, the Spirit of Sussex Award is now live.

    Students across the Sussex community are already earning their points

    What will you do to earn yours?

    There's so many ways to get involved.

    Head over to the website to start your Spirit of Sussex journey.

    Text: The Spirit of Sussex Award is an exciting new programme designed to recognise and celebrate the things you do outside your course.

    Participating in the Award makes it easy and fun for you to get involved and make the most of university life.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

  • Video transcript

    [Music starts – light pop – no vocals]

    On screen text

    Want to help shape a better world through science?

    Want to tackle real world problems?

    And create world-changing impact?

    It all starts at the University of Sussex.

    Our research focussed courses span the whole of Life Sciences:

    Chemistry

    Biochemistry

    Neuroscience

    Biology

    Zoology

    Ecology and Conservation

    Biomedical Science

    Genetics

    Using the latest in cutting-edge advances.

    Guided by world-leading experts.

    Gain hands-on experience, in both our teaching labs and out in the field.

    Influence important policies on things such as the pesticides that kill our wildlife, and policies that protect endangered species.

    Work towards unlocking the secrets of the brain and ending the despair of cancer and Alzheimer’s.

    Join a community of leading scientists and like-minded students striving to make the world a better place for all.

    And follow in the footsteps of our 3 Nobel-prize winning alumni.

    We’re here today, to train the scientists of tomorrow.

    And you could be one of them.

    Find out more about the School of Life Sciences at sussex.ac.uk

    [Music ends]

How to apply

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Careers

  • 86% of Sussex undergraduates have completed work experience by the end of their course (University of Sussex Career Readiness data at point of graduation 2023/24)

Throughout your course, you’ll gain transferable skills including:

  • time management
  • communication skills
  • analytical skills.

You can go on to graduate from medical school or to the expanding Physician Associate programmes. You can also pursue postgraduate study, leading to academic and applied medical research in the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, universities and research institutes.

As a graduate, you’ll be prepared for a wide variety of careers spanning, research, healthcare and industry.

This course is not accredited by the IBMS Institute for Biomedical Science. This accreditation is only required for graduates considering a career within the NHS as a biomedical scientist. Find out about IBMS accreditation at Criteria and Requirements for the Accreditation of BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science

Embedded employability

This course is designed to meet the latest demands of the working world. It’s informed by our Employer Advisory Panel of key organisations hiring our graduates.

Throughout your studies, you’ll develop research skills and professional competencies. Sessions with our Careers and Entrepreneurship Team will help you bolster your CV, train for interviews and map out career trajectories.

Where do our graduates work now?

Surveyed 15 months after finishing their courses, our recent Biochemistry and Biomedical Science graduates worked for employers including:  

 (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-2022)  

What to do with a Biomedical Science degree

Explore the careers you might be interested in after studying for a degree in Biomedical Science

Working while you study

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

My degree helped me land an interview and gave me the chance to progress into my career. I’ve gained the academic discipline and confidence to go out and overcome any obstacle I put my mind to.”Khye Woodman
Biomedical Science BSc graduate
Drug Supply Co-ordinator, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations such as Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, the Knepp Rewilding Project, and fashion brand Puig
  • one-to-one appointments with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

How to apply
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Entry requirements

Find your place in Clearing

This course will be available in Clearing. Explore your options at Sussex – right here, right now.

How to apply
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Fees

Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis. Find details on our Tuition fees page.

Home students

£9,790 per year

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students

£9,790 per year

On 19 March 2026 the UK Parliament set out that the tuition fee cap for 2026 entry will be £9,790. As the University of Sussex keeps fees for Home students and Channel Islands and Isle of Man students in line with UK Government-approved levels, fees will be £9,790 in 2026. In line with our terms and conditions, the University charges fees at the maximum levels set by the UK Government.

International students

£27,300 per year

Study abroad

Find out about grants and funding, tuition fees and insurance costs for studying abroad

Placement

Find out about tuition fees for placements

Living costs

We know the rising cost of living is on everyone’s mind, and affects us all in different ways. Our guide to living costs has been designed to help you plan and budget for life as a Sussex student.

Learn more about typical living costs

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

How to apply

Contact us

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Enquiries

Contact us with any questions about your course:

+44 (0)1273 876787
Ask us a question

Find out more about the School of Life Sciences: Biochemistry and Biomedicine

Prospectus

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Legal information

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Find out about our terms and conditions, including the student code of conduct and your cancellation rights

Find out about our complaints and appeals process

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