What qualifications were required?

Blair Johnston answered on 4 Jul 2023:

To get into my University degree I think I needed two As and two Bs at Higher level (Scottish equivalent of A-levels) but this might have changed as it was 18 years ago I started Uni!

Kip Heath answered on 4 Jul 2023:

I needed a C in biology A level and a C in chemistry A level. Plus english and maths GCSEs.

It’s changed a bit now though I think.

Hasinah Mohammed answered on 4 Jul 2023:

The specific results and qualifications are different depending on the degree you would like to do and the job you would like to go into. It is common to need 3 A-Levels to get into University; and if the job requires a higher level of education, an awarded/ relevant degree and skills will be needed.

Simon Anderson answered on 4 Jul 2023:

I think the best way to answer your question is to turn it around to what would be needed now. The great thing about healthcare science is there are lots of entry points with apprenticeships from Level 2 and above. Requirements will vary a little depending on the centre recruiting but I think it is safe to think the Cs in English Maths & Science at GCSE are you minimum for any level.

If you are interested in more check out:
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/how-become-healthcare-science-professional

Cheryl Williams answered on 4 Jul 2023:

To get into my university degree choice I needed a B and 2 C’s. I got A,B,C (Biology, Maths, Chemistry). My degree wasn’t quite the right one I needed to become a Biomedical Scientist so I needed to do a “top-up” degree part-time once I started my trainee job. This top-up doesn’t exist any more, so to become a Biomedical Scientist you would need a degree accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science. There are now also apprenticeship routes into Biomedical Science that allow you to do a degree whilst working on the job.

Bruno Silvester Lopes answered on 5 Jul 2023:

I did my education in India. I scored around 73% of marks in my A levels. My subjects were Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology. I went on to do a BSc in Microbiology and Biochemistry and graduated in 2006. It has changed a lot now in India as well as here in the UK but there are many routes to what you can do. I suggest that you really follow what you like and not follow something just because others are doing it. Good luck 😀

Sophie Shaw answered on 5 Jul 2023:

For my current position, most people do a degree in biological sciences followed by the Scientist Training Programme (this is a special NHS training programme which includes a masters degree and on-the-job training for three years). Alternatively, people get other experience after their degree, such as a PhD or through another job, and can then switch to a clinical setting and take a short course in Scientist Training Programme Equivalence.

Abi Attwell answered on 5 Jul 2023:

As the others have said, there are lots of entry routes into scientist roles in the NHS. There are a lot more apprenticeship routes too.
However, I needed AAB in my A-Levels to get into my Medical Engineering degree at Cardiff University (I studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry – I think Maths was the most important one for my degree!)
I got a 1st in my degree, and a couple of years experience as a Clinical Technologist which helped me apply for the Scottish equivalent of the Scientist Training Programme with the NHS. Now that I completed that training, I am a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist that means I can do my job now as a Clinical Scientist!

Hannah Scholes answered on 5 Jul 2023:

I needed three Bs at A level, including Biology, with English and maths at GCSE to get into university. To get my job I needed an IBMS accredited BSc in Biomedical Sciences, or another biology based degree and IBMS accredited top-up modules to become a biomedical scientist. Once I started in my job I then completed the Registration Training Portfolio which allowed me to register with the Health and Care Professions Council and work as a biomedical scientist.

Clare Morrow answered on 5 Jul 2023:

I trained before my career was a degree qualification.
I needed GCSE’s in maths, English, Chemistry, Biology and physics to join the Royal Air Force where i got BTech ONC and HNC.
Since then i have studied for a BSc and MSc’s in Biomedical Science.

Now to work in the NHS and do any apprenticeship you will need English Language and Maths GCSE passes.
To get into university you will need A-levels (normally maths and/or science) but the university course normally lets you know which subjects. It is also possible to do an Access course to get the meet the entry requirements for university.

Chigozie Onuba answered on 9 Jul 2023: last edited 9 Jul 2023 3:15 pm

For a Biomedical Science Degree, you need BBB or BBC for your A-Levels depending on the university you applied to. For BTEC is DDM applied science.

The subjects are typically Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics or economics etc to make it three subjects for A- Levels. The 3rd subject can be any that you enjoy.

For GCSE you need grade A-C in about 8 subjects including Chemistry, Biology. maths and english language I believe

Your university degree for biomedical science needs to accredited by the institute of Biomedical Science(IBMS) and to be HCPC registered, you need to complete your clinical training (Registration portfolio) as well.

There are 5 major routes to becoming a Biomedical Scientist

1) B.sc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science degree 3 year course (you complete the registration portfolio together and become HCPC registered afterwards and ready to practice)

2) B.sc (Hons) Biomedical science Degree 3 year course, (After graduation, you need to find your own placement and complete your clinical training). This route can be tough as there is limited space and alot of competition in most labs.

3) B.sc (Hons) Biomedical Science with Sandwich year (This is a four year programme and you are expected to complete your portfolio as well) to enable you to be registered once you finish Uni.

4) B.sc (Hons) Biomedical Science degree apprentiship 4 year course (after your A-levels or BTEC, you can get employed in a lab as an assistant or associate band 3 or 4) then your employer will give you one day a week to go to Uni and study leave to prepare for exams. This route can be quite intensive but with the right support is a very good option. As your are earning wages and your employer is paying for the Uni. At the end of the four years, you have your degree, registered with HCPC and ready to practice as a Biomedical Scientist

5) There’s the practitioner training programme(PTP) as well but not many universities offer this option.

I always advise students to try as much as possible to go for option 1, 3 OR 4 as it is the quickest route to becoming HCPC registered as a Biomedical Scientist.

Dan Brunsdon answered on 10 Jul 2023:

For my line of work the only qualifications I needed were my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. My work is social science so I started off doing anthropology with politics at university before I found the specialty area I wanted to work in. That’s when I chose to study medical anthropology at Master’s level which took 1 year.

Before university I didn’t need any specific A levels to get onto my course. I was actually originally enrolled in Ancient History as I really enjoyed my history A level and thought that was what I wanted to do at uni. I changed to anthropology once I had already been accepted without any issues.

The less said about my GCSE’s the better as I was terrible at them and only just managed to get the grades I needed to start AS levels!

Question: What qualifications were required?

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