# What can you do with a Biomedical Science degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/biomedical-science/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Biomedical Science degree commonly leads to roles such as trainee biomedical scientist, laboratory technician and clinical trials assistant. Five years after graduating, Biomedical Science graduates had median earnings of £42,500 (middle half: £32,900–£54,500), and 90.4% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Medical sciences graduates is health and social work (62.1% of those in work).

Biomedical science sits between lab science and healthcare. IBMS-accredited routes matter for some NHS posts. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Biomedical Science degree?

- **Trainee biomedical scientist**: Works toward registration in an approved lab, running validated methods under supervision. Skills often asked for: ISO 15189 awareness, analyser operation, IQC.
- **Laboratory technician**. Skills often asked for: sample receipt, aliquoting, stock.
- **Clinical trials assistant**. Skills often asked for: CRF entries, visit windows, query logs.
- **Pathology support worker**. Skills often asked for: phlebotomy support, tracking, phone queries.

## Where do Biomedical Science graduates work?

Medical sciences graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Health and social work | 62.1% | £41,400 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 9.5% | £42,800 |
| Education | 5.8% | £33,700 |
| Wholesale and retail | 5.5% | £46,500 |
| Administrative and support services | 4% | £39,900 |
| Information and communication | 3.8% | £43,600 |
| Public administration and defence | 3.8% | £37,700 |
| Finance and insurance | 1% | £47,200 |

## How much do Biomedical Science graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Biomedical sciences (non-specific) (CAH02-05-03). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £24,500 | £19,800–£28,900 | 91% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £29,600 | £24,500–£37,000 | 90.1% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £42,500 | £32,900–£54,500 | 90.4% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £49,000 | £36,200–£66,000 | 89.1% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Medical sciences graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [Queen Mary University of London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/queen-mary-university-of-london/) | £53,400 | 70 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £52,300 | 110 |
| [King's College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/kings-college-london/) | £47,000 | 295 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £46,800 | 160 |
| [University of Edinburgh](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-edinburgh/) | £44,700 | 70 |
| [City St George's, University of London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/city-st-georges-university-of-london/) | £44,500 | 80 |
| [University of Hertfordshire](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-hertfordshire/) | £43,000 | 105 |
| [Cardiff University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/cardiff-university/) | £42,800 | 85 |
| [University of Leeds](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-leeds/) | £41,700 | 245 |
| [London South Bank University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/london-south-bank-university/) | £41,200 | 70 |

## Is Biomedical Science the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want laboratory medicine rather than a ward-based nursing course.
- You are careful with samples, quality systems, and audit.
- You like linking disease processes to test results.

It may not suit you if:
- You expected to become a doctor on this degree.
- You dislike shift-style lab rotas or quality paperwork.
- You wanted a purely theoretical biology course.

## Interview questions for Biomedical Science graduate roles

Trainee biomedical scientist and lab-support interviews usually test sample integrity, quality, and knowing the limits of your role. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- A sample arrives unlabelled. What happens next? (What it tests: You do not guess the patient. You follow rejection procedure.)
- Why might a result need repeating even if the analyser did not alarm? (What it tests: Clinical sense-checking and quality rules.)
- How do you keep a cold chain honest from receipt to fridge? (What it tests: Time, temperature, and documentation.)
- A clinician phones for a result you are not authorised to release. What do you say? (What it tests: Role boundaries in a pathology service.)
- Describe how you would train someone to pipette without contaminating a run. (What it tests: Teaching a method, which labs need from trainees.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Biomedical Science degree?

Common starting roles include trainee biomedical scientist, laboratory technician, clinical trials assistant and pathology support worker. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Medical sciences graduates in work were health and social work (62.1%), professional, scientific and technical services (9.5%) and education (5.8%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Biomedical Science graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Biomedical Science graduates of £24,500 one year after graduating, £29,600 three years after graduating, £42,500 five years after graduating and £49,000 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Biomedical Science degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 90.4% of Biomedical Science graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £42,500. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Biomedical Science 23 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Medical sciences graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Medical sciences were at Queen Mary University of London (£53,400), University College London (£52,300) and King's College London (£47,000). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Biomedical Science in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Biomedical%20Science