Biomedical Science

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

What our lecturers say What our students say

Entry Points (2022)

589

Course Overview

What is Biomedical Science?

Biomedical Science is the study of Life Science subjects related to human health and disease. Students will learn about the structure and function of the human body from the level of organs and tissues to the molecular level, as well as how drugs are used to treat disease. You will major in one of the following biomedical science subjects: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology.

Why should I study Biomedical Science?

This degree is dedicated to producing top quality graduates who have achieved academic excellence. The programme promotes small-group learning throughout the course. This informal interaction with academic staff allows students to get to know their lecturers and helps promote a range of skills such as Communication, Leadership, Teamwork and Creativity. This course also offers the unique opportunity to undertake a research project in both third and fourth year.

International Links

Students have the opportunity to apply to spend one semester of third year in the United States (e.g. University of California) or in Asia (e.g. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology).

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

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School of Natural Science and the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. Lecturers include:

Dr Derek Morris https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/people/natural-sciences/derekmorris/
Dr Helen Dodson https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/people/medicine/helendodson/
Dr Lynn O’Connor https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/people/natural-sciences/lynnoconnor/
Dr Ailish Hynes https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/people/ailishhynes/

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science) and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements

Students must satisfy the Garda/police vetting requirements

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2023

A Level Grades (2022)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY303

Course code

Course Outline

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GY303 Biomedical Science

YEAR ONE

Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Biomedical Science (including science communication, essays, debates)

YEAR TWO

Three pathways from:

Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology (two subjects for both semesters and one other for Semester I only)
Biomedical Science (including seminars and community knowledge initiative projects)

YEAR THREE

One major pathway from:

Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology (including mini research project)
Biostatistics
Biomedical Science (Research Methods and Applications)
Electives - options include Developmental Biology and Bioinformatics

YEAR FOUR

Continue with one major pathway from:

Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology
Major research project

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Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Required BO101: Biology - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Required CH120: Chemistry: Molecular Science - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Required BM110: Introduction to Science Communication - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PH101: Physics - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Required BM112: Biomedical Debates - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required BM111: Introduction to Biomedical Research - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Further Education

A high proportion of graduates pursue higher degrees (MSc or PhD) at universities at home and abroad, in many diverse areas including molecular and cell biology, cancer, genetics, regenerative medicine and neuroscience. A proportion of graduates go on to study for professional degrees in the Health Sciences (e.g. Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy).

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this program will find employment in the pharmaceutical (e.g. Allergan), diagnostics (e.g. Abbott) and medical devices (e.g. Medtronic, Boston Scientific) industries. Other graduates will go on to careers in research, academia and many areas of health sciences and health care.

Focus on research skills and communication

There is an emphasis in the BSc Biomedical Science course on developing research and communication skills. Students will have many opportunities to work in small groups to develop teamworking skills. Students will develop excellent critical thinking skills through project work and will be encouraged to be questioning scientists who will contribute to the ever-expanding knowledge about human biology which underpins our understanding of human health and disease.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,408 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Tuition

€4,268 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Non EU

€24,040 p.a. 2023/24

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140. **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.

Find out More

Dr Helen Dodson

Programme Director

T: +353 91 492162

E: helen.dodson@universityofgalway.ie

To find out more on our open day please click here: Biomedical Science

What Our Students Say

Caoimhe Maguire | BSc in Biomedical Science

This course is great because it’s a small close-knit class – it’s easy to make friends. I learned that Biomedical Science is varied, fascinating and constantly changing with new discoveries, and it is a great degree for me to now pursue a career in the sciences of health and disease.