Biomedical Science

Contribute to our understanding of the human body and our ability to control it during health and disease. Learn about everything from genes to whole-body systems, before putting your knowledge and skills into practice in the lab.

Our three-year BSc Biomedical Science course is about the human body and our ability to control it during health and disease, from genes to whole-body systems.

You'll study human physiology, pharmacology, and molecular and cell biology before applying this knowledge to important issues in clinical medicine. You'll discover the basis of genetic diseases, the physiology of health, and take on challenges like how to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

At Sheffield, you’ll be encouraged to be creative, think independently, and express your ideas. You’ll get hands-on experience in our anatomy laboratory, where you’ll have access to real human von Hagen plastinates and our full-size interactive digital Anatomage tables, allowing you to explore the human body layer by layer. Some students spend time interacting directly with patients as part of the course, or develop IT solutions to handle clinical data. You'll even have opportunities to work with scientists from Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust to learn how to diagnose genetic disorders such as cancer or rare inherited disease.

As you progress through your degree, you’ll have the chance to delve deeper into key areas such as stem cells and cancer, neuroscience, physiology and pharmacology, and developmental and cell biology.

No matter what areas of biomedical science you choose to study at Sheffield, you'll develop practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem-solving, communication skills, and data analysis.

All this experience will prepare you for your third-year research project where you could be laboratory-based, focus on computer modelling, science education, or even science communication. Examples of recent student research projects include:

• Investigating the role of extracellular matrix and drug resistance in cancer cells

• Investigating the development of novel biopharmaceutical agents to control inflammatory response

• Anatomy and forensic anthropology

If you choose to spend a year on a work placement as part of your course, this tends to take place after your second year. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience and test out a career path that you're considering. Our students have found placements in science and non-science-based roles with a range of organisations including Cancer Research UK, Pfizer, and GSK. You can opt into the scheme once you get to Sheffield.

Gain extra experience as part of your degree

You can add an extra year of research experience with an integrated masters on our Biomedical Science MBiomedSci.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology which shows employers that you've developed the scientific knowledge and technical and transferable skills that you'll need for a great career.

Why study this course?

• Top 10 in the UK for Biomedical Sciences - Complete University Guide 2026

• Human anatomy teaching - Get hands-on experience in our newly refurbished anatomy lab.

• Close links with the NHS - Learn how to diagnose genetic disorders such as cancer or rare inherited disease by working alongside NHS scientists and academics.

• Spend a year on a work placement - Gain extra experience by adding an optional work placement year to your degree.