Biomedical Sciences (Nutrition, Health and Exercise)

Why study Biomedical Sciences at Aberystwyth University? 

• You will study a Biomedical Sciences degree with a unique focus on human biology, health, exercise and nutrition;
• You will be taught by passionate, engaged and friendly staff with expertise across the full range of biological topics;
• You will be part of the IBERS department that has a designated Well-being and Health Assessment Research Unit;
• Your academic studies will be bolstered by a wealth of laboratory and field-work which build real scientific skills essential for your future;
• Our teaching and e-learning facilities provide you with an outstanding learning experience integrating the classroom sessions and a vast repository of study resources;
• You will be assigned a personal tutor who can guide you through your time at Aberystwyth and help you to settle in when you first arrive;
• Aberystwyth is a vibrant university town that provides an excellent student experience and stunning environment to live and learn;
• After the degree you will be well placed to pursue a career in health and medical related industries, postgraduate-level study or medical school enrolment.

Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry.  The Institute has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

Potential Careers

Our graduates become strong candidates for the following fields:

• Bio-Medicine;
• Health and Allied Professions;
• Education.

Students who have completed a biology degree could also progress to further training in Medicine.

The University has an excellent Careers Advisory Service and we have our own dedicated, professional Careers Advisor. We also have a member of staff who is Director of Employability for IBERS and we are constantly striving to embed and enhance the delivery of real-world skills into every module we offer.

What skill will I develop from studying Biomedical Sciences?

Employability is embedded in our teaching. Our students leave Aberystwyth University with the skills including:  

• Research and data analysis skills;
• Enhanced mathematical and computational skills;
• Effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills;
• Thorough grounding in information technology skills;
• Ability to work independently;
• Time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines;
• Ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form;
• Self-motivation and self-reliance;
• Team-working, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement.

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Find out about the various opportunities that our Careers Service offer and how you can enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and Year in Employment Scheme (YES).

Teaching

The indicative content required for a Biomedical Sciences degree, including human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, cell and molecular biology and bioinformatics are covered by the scheme’s core modules. There are also a choice of optional modules that will help you learn about clinical assessment with a client/patient and/or develop laboratory-based clinical skills.

Learning

The Biomedical Sciences degree is structured to test your knowledge, develop independent thought and skills acquisition and to provide the sort of transferable information useful to employers. How you will learn will take various forms in some or all of the following modes:

• Laboratory and/or fieldwork reports;
• Dissertation report;
• Work experience assessment;
• Observed practice;
• Laboratory and/or field skill competencies;
• Online activities;
• Essays, summaries and assignments;
• Data interpretation exercises;
• Critical analysis of case studies;
• Oral, poster and other presentations such as journal articles;
• Unseen examinations, seen or open-book examinations, computer-based assessments.

Further Information

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree course, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.

You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP). This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.