Applied Biomedical Science Integrated Degree Apprenticeship (Healthcare Science Practitioner)

Program Overview

This 5-year BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science Integrated Degree Apprenticeship prepares students for a career as a Biomedical Scientist in NHS Pathology laboratories. The program combines academic study with practical work experience, allowing students to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for the role. Graduates can practice as HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientists or pursue careers in related industries such as pharmaceuticals or biotechnology.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science Integrated Degree Apprenticeship (Healthcare Science Practitioner) is exclusively designed for staff working in NHS Pathology departments and takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of human disease. To support the NHS with the Apprenticeship Levy introduced in 2017, this 5-year BSc (Level 6) Healthcare Science (Life Sciences) apprenticeship has been developed in consultation with NHS pathology departments. Suitable for those looking for a career as a Biomedical Scientist, the course content is aligned to the regulatory framework introduced by the Department of Health to modernise career and training pathways for Healthcare Scientists. The apprenticeship involves the study of normal life processes and then disease processes in humans, plus the methods used in disease identification, investigation, and the development of therapeutic intervention strategies. The program also develops and applies new technologies that help improve patient care. You can choose from four specialist pathways:

• Genetics
• Cellular Sciences
• Infection Sciences
• Blood Sciences

Teaching:

Students will attend university one day per week from September. Contact hours in classes may vary per week, but non-contact time should be utilized for independent study. The timetable will be produced at least 6 months in advance, and the sponsoring lab will be informed. Students may be required to attend on occasional Saturday mornings (no more than 2 per semester) for lab practicals. The University may develop a distance learning option at some point in the future. A number of self-directed components of work-based learning are carried out in the training laboratory alongside the development of the Institute's registration training portfolio. The university has more than 15 years of experience supporting work-based study. The University has dedicated staff with significant relevant professional experience as NHS practitioners, who organize placements and supervise the work-based learning aspects of the programs. Other staff are researchers. The research-led teaching delivered at levels 5 and 6 is relevant and specific to the NHS, and therefore we invite these external experts who are researchers within their field from local NHS hospitals to deliver some of the lectures within the final year specialist diagnostic modules. Healthcare Science apprentices meet with their Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) on a regular basis. PATs carry out regular workplace visits to ensure completion of independent study for work-based learning throughout the course. Module teams provide clear introductions to each module, and learning objectives are presented in each session. Additional support materials are made available through the VLE. The Faculty has a central administrative team that supports the student journey. Innovative teaching methods have been introduced in many areas in line with the University's reputation as a technology university. The University offers a structured framework for a workplace mentor supported by the university team. The apprentice will spend 20% off the job training during their study.

Careers:

Graduates can practice as Healthcare Science practitioners or Biomedical Scientists in NHS laboratories. Alternatively, some Healthcare Science graduates go on to find employment as a laboratory-based or non-laboratory-based scientist in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other related industries, academic research, and teaching. For more information, see NHS Careers.

Other:

The program team are all either researchers or have NHS practitioner experience (one team member combines being an active practitioner with teaching commitments), and therefore research is integral to the teaching on the program. Our research expertise covers a range of areas, including microbiology, cancer research, skin sciences, and cardiovascular disease research.

• Centre for Skin Sciences
• Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
All students undertake a research laboratory project that constitutes one-third of the academic credits at level 6. Research is carried out in the workplace, with a supervision team combining a member of clinical staff from the workplace with a University member of the teaching and research team.

By studying a Degree Apprenticeship, Apprentices can obtain a degree at no cost to them as individuals. By employing Apprentices, organisations can make the most of their Apprenticeship levy fees and train staff in a cost effective way.