Introduction

Key contributors to modern healthcare, biomedical scientists play a vital role in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease, monitoring treatments and developing advanced diagnostic tools or novel therapeutic strategies.  In this programme, you will learn and develop the key skills and techniques required for working in a laboratory.

UK-specific contents may not be applicable to HK students

Programme Features

High ranking
Coventry University is ranked 8^th for Health Professions in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2022)

Board knowledge in health & disease issues
This programme explores the human body in health and disease, from the functioning of whole body systems down to cell and molecular processes. Programme content provides a broad knowledge in the mechanisms, diagnosis and therapeutics of human disease with particular emphasis placed on these specialist areas of biomedical science: clinical biochemistry, medical microbiology, cellular pathology, haematology, immunology and genetics.

Practical laboratory experience
Laboratory sessions are a fundamental component of this programme and aim to help with the development of not only laboratory techniques, but also data interpretation and analysis. Within the lab, you will have the opportunity to gain experience of techniques such as PCR, cell culture, flow cytometry, tissue staining, protein detection and microbial culture.

Professional academic staff
You’ll be taught by experienced academic staff who have a range of hospital and research laboratory experience, bringing their expertise into their teaching.

Career Prospects
This degree prepares you for a number of career options in a variety of industry-relevant roles. Graduates can start a career in teaching; technical and scientific writing; clinical trials; drug registration, patenting or monitoring; medical publishing or other information services; regulatory affairs or sales and marketing.

Modules

Haematology and Blood Disorders

This module introduces the key principles of haematology from the formation and function of blood cells through to understanding of common blood disorders. Nutritional anaemia is covered including blood morphology, along with sickle cell anaemia, bone marrow turnover and the reticulocyte. You will also have the opportunity to study an introduction to the coagulation cascade and laboratory diagnosis for bleeding/clotting disorders The module also introduces you to key concepts and processes in transfusion science, including blood grouping systems, compatibility testing of blood products and practices for safe and effective transfusion. You will then be able to apply this understanding to patient case studies and laboratory practice.

Medical Microbiology and Virology

In this module you have the opportunity to investigate the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of clinically relevant microorganisms. The epidemiology of current and relevant infectious diseases will be studied, as well as the role of interventions such as vaccination programmes and public health and infection control policies in the control of the spread of infection. You will also study implications of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) both globally and locally, particularly the identification and treatment of resistant infections, consideration will also be given to current strategies to tackle AMR.

Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology

This module enables you to understand the scientific underpinning for laboratory investigations in clinical chemistry and immunology. It considers laboratory investigation of patients for disorders of water and electrolytes, acid/base balance, further aspects of endocrine disorders and toxicology investigation. Quality control and quality assurance within the clinical chemistry laboratory, and the development of Point of Care Testing (POCT) devices are considered in greater depth and detail. The immunology section of the module extends your understanding of the immune system as a defence against infectious disease to focus on topics such as the links between chronic inflammation and disease, immunodeficiency (both innate and adaptive), autoimmunity and hypersensitivity.

Research Design for Biomedical Science

This module aims to support and prepare you through the process of defining your research question, planning your experiments and considering the most appropriate data analysis methods for your final year research project. The module is designed to enhance your skills in literature searching, experimental design, scientific writing, data processing and statistical analysis. You will be required to submit your proposal for ethical and health and safety approval, and to address key aspects of project management and logistics. You will also consider how novel ideas and findings can be harnessed to deliver commercial value. You will have the chance to discuss the multidisciplinary nature of enterprise and innovation, opportunities for commercial development of ideas and an awareness of intellectual property.

Cancer Biology

Your will learn about inherited cancer syndromes, inherited predisposition to cancer and somatic mutations and cancer in this module. You will focus on the key hallmarks of cancer which define and explain the properties of malignant cells. These concepts are linked to applications in biomedical science including improved diagnostic approaches, personalised therapies and preventative strategies. During the module you will consider -omics-based approaches, and their current and future potential.

Clinical Haematology and Transfusion Science

This module extends your previous learning on haematology to a more advanced consideration of haematological disorders and safe transfusion practices. Coverage of anaemias is focussed on the thalassemias and more complex clotting disorders and anticoagulation therapies are discussed. You will also consider haematological malignancies. Transfusion science aspects of the module will focus on the role of the laboratory in ensuring safe transfusion, potential hazards and adverse transfusion reactions, and haemolytic disease of the newborn.

Investigative approaches in Haemato-oncology

This module integrates learning from the “Cancer Biology” and “Clinical Haematology and Transfusion Science” modules. You will investigate a haematological malignancy and address this topic from multiple angles. You will consider the cancer development and hallmarks, cellular pathology, genomic/genetic analysis, physiological consequences, diagnostic methods in the biomedical laboratory, and therapeutic options.

Independent Project in Biomedical Science

The aim of this module is for you to conduct a piece of investigative research, which may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, in a specialised area of Biomedical Science. This module follows from the “Research Design in Biomedical Science” module and you implement your research proposals in this module. The variety and scope of projects allows you to pursue your own interests, potentially linked to future career aspirations, and to integrate prior skills and knowledge.

Data analysis in SPSS

This module aims to introduce you to SPSS, a widely used statistical software, and give you both the skills and confidence to use SPSS competently and professionally for data analysis. The module will be taught through demonstrations and hands on workshops. In these, you will explore a wide variety of data sets gaining practice in using SPSS for data entry and manipulation, exploratory data analysis, the creation of professional charts and tables, and the production of appropriate summary statistics.

Assessment

Tests, presentation(s), report(s), case studies, thesis, etc.  

Entry Requirements

Holders of one of the following VTC Higher Diploma (HD) programmes:

• HD in Biomedical Science (graduates from this HD may be exempted from the “Haematology and Blood Disorders” module*)
• HD in Biotechnology;

OR

Holders of Higher Diploma (HD) or Associate Degree (AD) or equivalent qualification in a relevant science subject (such as Biomedical Science and Biotechnology) awarded by a recognised institution will also be considered*.

*Applicants may be exempted from studying the “Haematology and Blood Disorders” module if there is adequate evidence of learning from their relevant previous studies.  The exemption decision will be at the discretion of Coventry University.

English Proficiency Requirements

• Applicants holding post-secondary qualifications (e.g. Higher Diploma, Associate Degree) taught and assessed in English from recognised institutions;

OR

• At least an overall IELTS score of 6.5, or equivalent.

Fees

Application Fee : HK$200
Registration Fee : HK$3,500
Tuition Fee : HK$89,320*

* For students who are exempted from taking the “Haematology and Blood Disorders” module, they only need to pay a tuition fee of HK$82,450.

Career Prospects

This degree prepares you for a number of career options in a variety of industry-relevant roles. Graduates can start a career in teaching; technical and scientific writing; clinical trials; drug registration, patenting or monitoring; medical publishing or other information services; regulatory affairs or sales and marketing.

Enquiries

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