5 Reasons to study a Biomedical Science Masters

If you’re working in bio-industry or other pharmaceutical or healthcare-related role, you might ask yourself: ‘why study biomedical science at Masters level?’

A Masters degree doesn’t have to take you away from your work and can be much more helpful in your career development than you might appreciate.

Is a Biomedical Science degree worth it?

If you already work in a biomedical science role, you’ll already hold a related undergraduate degree and solid understanding of the fundamentals of your field. To some people in this situation it’s difficult to imagine going back to formal education when a big part of advancing in your career is gaining experience and sticking to your work.

However, with a biomedical science Masters qualification, you can significantly improve your job prospects and learn an in-demand specialism without having to take a break away from work.

Why study Biomedical Science at Ulster University

Ulster’s online Biomedical Science Masters has a range of key benefits that might convince you take a closer look at another biomedical science degree.

Read on to discover the top 5 reasons to study a Masters in Biomedical Science at Ulster University.

1. In-demand skills and specialist pathways

Our programme is designed to give your biomedical skills and knowledge a big boost, making you a better practitioner. The abilities you’ll pick up on a masters-level programme will make you a desirable candidate for a more senior position in your organisation or to potential recruiters.

Not only will you hone your research skills, but our distance learning Biomedical Science MSc has practical skills built into the course structure. You’ll take your learnings directly into your workplace laboratory in a hands-on, job-applicable framework.

Furthermore, our programme offers the choice of four popular and industry-relevant specialisms:

• Advances in Cellular Pathology
• Recent Advances in Clinical Chemistry
• Haematology in Health and Disease
• Advances in Medical Microbiology

This is an opportunity to increase your expertise in an area of particular interest in biomedical science. You’ll be able to show employers and managers that you have the professional capability to advance in a specialist career pathway.

2. Job opportunities and career progression

According to the Life Sciences Partnership, jobs in the life sciences (which includes biomedical science) are expected to reach 133,000 in the UK by 2030. In addition, the world’s top 25 biopharma and top 30 med tech companies already operate in the UK, offering a wide range of employment opportunities to highly skilled individuals in the sector.

A masters in biomedical science opens doors to a range of higher-level jobs that you might not have access to otherwise without several years of further experience. Read our blog post on what you can do with a Biomedical Science Masters degree to discover more about opportunities for graduates.

3. IBMS accreditation

The Masters in Biomedical Science at Ulster is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science. Accreditation is a strong sign that the programme has been critically assessed for quality and approved by a respected industry body.

Our online MSc meets all the IBMS guidelines in terms of industry-relevant learning outcomes and excellence of teaching and faculty. Read our blog post on the importance of an IBMS accredited degree to learn more about what it means and what opportunities it can lead to.

4. Rich research and strong teaching staff

The Life Sciences faculty at Ulster University comprises teaching staff who are acclaimed for their research and intimately connected with the industry. Most of the tutors are highly research-active and core members of Ulster’s BMSRI (BioMedical Sciences Research Institute).

This activity translates to cutting-edge teaching for all our students, both in-person and online. You’ll be likely to hear lectures from tutors who have given expert presentations to biomedical science conferences and international audiences, and are amongst the leaders in their respective fields.

Our most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) scores were exceptional, including:

• 95% research impact scored as world leading (4*) and internationally excellent (3*)
• 81% of research papers were 4* and 3*
• Top Five UK universities for Biomedical Science Research (REF 2014)

5. Biomedical science online learning experience

Ulster University has been delivering online programmes to students around the UK and internationally for over 20 years. This wealth of experience feeds into our course designs and teaching methods.

While this course requires you to have access to a laboratory, you don’t ever need to come into an Ulster campus – all learning resources are accessible online. The benefits include:

• flexibility (study wherever and whenever you like)
• you can learn in your free hours rather than taking a break from your current employment
• you’re supported throughout by your course tutors and by an experienced and dedicated Student Success Team