Accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), the MSc Advanced Biomedical Science gives you the skills and knowledge to build a career as an NHS biomedical scientist or within bioscience research.
The course aims to give you a balance of theory, practical skills and application of a range of techniques relevant to the biomedical sciences such as medical genetics, immunobiology, and disease pathology. Emphasis is placed on the application of quality and management processes in the improvement of healthcare provision by biomedical laboratories.
Work-based learning modules are available to part-time students completing the IBMS specialist portfolio as an alternative to the discipline-specific modules.
The MSc is a good qualification for careers in bioscience research, or for those wishing to progress to further study (PhD). However, it is primarily aimed at those wishing to work or already working as biomedical scientists in the NHS, where an accredited MSc is integral to career progression.
Please note: Our MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programme will be delivered on our Lanarkshire Campus from September 2022, moving away from Paisley Campus. This will mean that any part-time students commencing study in September 2021, and due to complete the programme over two years, will be based in Paisley for the first year and Lanarkshire for the second year. Any full-time students commencing in September 2021 who have to repeat any modules in the following year, will also be based at Lanarkshire Campus for those repeated modules.
Our course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
Work-based learning modules are available if you are a part-time student completing the IBMS specialist portfolio as an alternative to the discipline-specific modules.
Graduates can enter a wide range of vocations including:
The Times/The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019
overall student satisfaction (Postgraduate Taught Experience survey 2017)
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Postgraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
You must have gained a second class BSc in Biomedical Science, Bioscience or a related science degree.
You may also be considered with other academic, vocational or professional qualifications deemed to be equivalent.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
For the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) stage, you will study the following core modules:
To complete the PgDip stage, you will select a further 40 credits. This can be taken from the following modules with the exceptions noted below:
Students with an IBMS accredited Biomedical Science degree must take three of the modules listed below. Students without an IBMS accredited Biomedical Science degree must take two of the modules listed below:
Alternative, work-based learning modules are only available to part-time students who have completed an IBMS Specialist portfolio. Both of these modules are co-requisites and must be taken together:
Successful completion of the PgDip allows you to proceed to the master's module:
A wide range of teaching methods are used on our Advanced Biomedical Science course. Some of which include:
There will be strong linkages with research and employers throughout our course, for example through laboratory exercises, guest lecturers from NHS laboratories and the MSc research project. The VLE (Moodle) used by UWS will facilitate many of these approaches for example group projects, personal development planning (PDP).
Assessment on the programme has moved away from traditional unseen exams to other forms of assessment.
Forms of assessment include:
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.
£6,500 cost per year of study
£6,500 Cost per year of study
£6,500 Cost per year of study
£16,000 Per year of study
£930 per module (20 credits)
£930 per module (20 credits)
£930 per module (20 credits)
£2,285 per module (20 credits)
£6,500 Cost of study
£10,765 Cost of study
£10,765 Cost of study
£16,400 Cost per year
£930 Cost per 20-credit module of study
£1,600 Cost per 20-credit module of study
£1,600 Cost per 20-credit module of study
Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) postgraduate tuition fee and living cost loans may be available for eligible (Scottish/EU) students. Check SAAS website for more information.
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:
The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.
You can also find additional information in our Postgraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.
Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.
For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.
Please contact the course leader for details of the additional costs associated with this course.
Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.
Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as a postgraduate student.
Scottish students studying at postgraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at postgraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
EU students studying at postgraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at postgraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.
Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.
If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.
Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.
All students should apply directly to the University through our online application system. Before you apply, you should check that you meet our entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.
The first stage of the process is to create a profile; you don't have to complete the application in one session - you can complete it in stages by saving each section and return to complete it at a later date.
You will need to upload documents with your applications, which may include transcripts and degree certificates.
Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but they will close when they are full; apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you.
Before you begin your application, it is important to read the Postgraduate & Post-Experience application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
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