Biomedical scientist
Biomedical scientists test samples of blood, tissue and body fluids in laboratories to help doctors diagnose and monitor disease, and they check that blood for transfusion is safe.
What can you do with a biomedical science degree?
Also called: Biomedical sciences · Biomedicine · Medical science · Medical laboratory science · Clinical laboratory science
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A biomedical science degree teaches the biology of human health and disease, and how laboratory tests help doctors diagnose and treat patients. Many graduates become biomedical scientists in hospital or research laboratories, while others move into medical research, the pharmaceutical industry or public health. Some use the degree as a route into graduate-entry medicine or other health professions.
Careers with a biomedical science degree
The most direct career is biomedical scientist, testing samples in hospital, public health or private laboratories. In many countries this role is regulated, so an accredited degree and supervised training matter. Graduates also work as research scientists and biologists in universities and drug companies, or as epidemiologists after a master's degree. Some continue to professional degrees and become doctors, pharmacists or optometrists. Less obvious options include clinical trials, medical sales, science communication, quality control in manufacturing and health data analysis.
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Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists study how diseases and other health problems spread, who they affect and why, and use this evidence to prevent and control them.
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Biologist
Biologists study living things, from molecules and cells to plants, animals and whole ecosystems, and apply what they learn in health, farming, conservation and industry.
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Pharmacist
Pharmacists are medicines experts who check and supply prescriptions, advise patients and other health professionals on using medicines safely, and in many countries give vaccinations or prescribe.
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Doctor
Doctors diagnose and treat illness and injury, help prevent disease and guide patients through their care.
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Optometrist
Optometrists examine eyes, test vision, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and detect eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts, as well as signs of wider health problems.
Other roles graduates go into: Clinical research associate · Laboratory technician · Medical science liaison · Clinical embryologist · Quality control analyst · Medical sales representative
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Cell biology, biochemistry and genetics
- Microbiology and infectious disease
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Haematology and blood transfusion science
- Clinical biochemistry and diagnostic testing
- Research methods and statistics
Skills you gain
- Carrying out laboratory tests accurately and safely
- Using analytical equipment and following quality standards
- Interpreting scientific and clinical data
- Understanding how diseases develop and are treated
- Recording results clearly and keeping patient information confidential
- Working with others under time pressure
How the degree differs around the world
The name covers two main kinds of programme. In the UK and countries with similar systems, it is often a three-year degree, sometimes with a placement year, and an accredited programme is the first step to registration as a biomedical scientist. In the United States, the Philippines and elsewhere, the laboratory-based professional degree is often called medical laboratory science and usually takes four years, with clinical training and a certification or licensing exam. In Australia and some other countries, biomedical science is often a research-focused degree that many students take before graduate-entry medicine. Entry usually requires chemistry and biology.
How do biomedical science graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Nursing and associate health fields”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 122 (2023) | 89.2% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Germany | 117 (2020) | 86.8% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Costa Rica | 113 (2023) | 76.3% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Slovenia | 112 (2020) | 93.3% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Romania | 107 (2023) | 94.1% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Latvia | 102 (2023) | 80.8% (2024) | 87.7% |
| Australia | 94 (2020) | 87.7% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Chile | 93 (2023) | 89.3% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Luxembourg | 93 (2023) | 82.3% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Estonia | 91 (2023) | 93.3% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Portugal | 90 (2020) | 93.3% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Mexico | 90 (2023) | 79.1% (2024) | 81.5% |
| South Korea | 89 (2023) | — | — |
| Canada | 88 (2020) | 81.5% (2021) | 80.4% |
| United Kingdom | 86 (2020) | 81.9% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Sweden | 85 (2023) | 92.6% (2024) | 89.6% |
| United States | 85 (2023) | 85.4% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Denmark | 84 (2023) | 88.9% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Norway | 82 (2023) | 91.0% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Switzerland | 80 (2023) | 90.2% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Finland | 78 (2022) | 92.0% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Croatia | — | 96.0% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Iceland | — | 95.4% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Poland | — | 94.0% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Slovakia | — | 93.3% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Lithuania | — | 92.9% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Netherlands | — | 90.7% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Belgium | — | 89.9% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Italy | — | 89.0% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Ireland | — | 88.8% (2021) | 86.9% |
| France | — | 88.1% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Spain | — | 85.5% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Czechia | — | 84.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Hungary | — | 83.6% (2024) | 76.2% |
| Greece | — | 79.4% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Türkiye | — | 78.3% (2016) | 72.9% |
| Peru | — | 76.9% (2024) | 81.7% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone. Where a country publishes only broad fields, we use “Health and welfare”.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Biomedical sciences (non-specific)” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £24,500 | £19,800 | £28,900 | 91.0% |
| After 3 years | £29,600 | £24,500 | £37,000 | 90.1% |
| After 5 years | £42,500 | £32,900 | £54,500 | 90.4% |
| After 10 years | £49,000 | £36,200 | £66,000 | 89.1% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is a biomedical science degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You are interested in the science behind illness, medicines and diagnosis.
- You enjoy careful, accurate practical work in a laboratory.
- You want to work in healthcare but not necessarily with patients every day.
Think twice if
- You want a lot of patient contact, as most roles are based in laboratories.
- You see it as a guaranteed route into medicine, as places on graduate-entry programmes are very competitive.
- You dislike repetitive, detailed work where mistakes can affect patients.
Further study
Many graduates go straight into laboratory work and complete the training needed for professional registration. A master's degree is useful for specialist areas such as clinical microbiology, genetics, immunology or public health, and a PhD leads to research careers. Some graduates apply for graduate-entry medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or physician associate programmes where these exist. Senior laboratory scientists often take further professional qualifications during their career.
Questions about studying biomedical science
What jobs can you get with a biomedical science degree?
The most direct job is biomedical scientist, working in hospital, public health or private laboratories. Graduates also become research scientists, laboratory technicians, clinical research associates, quality control analysts and medical sales representatives. With further study, some become epidemiologists, doctors, pharmacists, optometrists or physician associates. Others work in science communication and health data.
Can I become a doctor with a biomedical science degree?
Yes, in many countries. In the United States, Canada and Australia, medicine is often studied after a first degree, and biomedical science is a common choice. Some countries, such as the UK and Ireland, have graduate-entry medicine programmes, but places are limited. You usually still need to pass an admissions test and an interview.
What is the difference between biomedical science and medicine?
Medicine trains you to diagnose and treat patients as a doctor, and it leads to a licence to practise. Biomedical science studies the biology of disease and the laboratory tests behind diagnosis, but it does not qualify you to treat patients. Biomedical scientists usually work in laboratories, supporting doctors with test results and research.
Do biomedical scientists need to be registered?
In many countries, yes. In the UK, for example, biomedical scientists must be registered with a health regulator, which needs an accredited degree and a period of supervised training. In the United States, laboratory scientists usually need professional certification, and some states also require a licence. Check the rules of the national regulator where you want to work.
Related subjects
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Biology
A biology degree teaches how living things work, from molecules and cells to whole organisms and ecosystems.
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Medicine
A medicine degree trains you to diagnose, treat and prevent illness, combining medical science with supervised clinical work in hospitals and communities.
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Chemistry
A chemistry degree teaches how substances are built, how they react and how to make and analyse new materials, through theory and a lot of laboratory work.
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Pharmacy
A pharmacy degree teaches how medicines are discovered, made and used, and how to make sure patients use them safely and effectively.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH02-05-03 — Biomedical sciences (non-specific)
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0914, 0512
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a biomedical science degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/biomedical-science/ (accessed September 26, 2026)