Biomedical Science module top-up for IBMS/HCPC accreditation

If you have completed a qualification in a field related to biomedical science in the UK or abroad but that was not accredited by either the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and you want to be eligible to apply for a role as an accredited biomedical scientist in the NHS, you may be able to "top up" your existing qualification to match the undergraduate accredited biomedical science degree that UWE Bristol offers by taking one or more modules on our course depending on the gaps in your existing qualification as identified by the IBMS.

For an applicant looking to top-up an undergraduate degree to obtain an IBMS or HCPC accreditation, please read the below guidance for the modules you can take to supplement your studies.

The current UWE Bristol Biomedical Science degree modules that provide accreditation include the following list:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology (30 credits at FHEQ4)
• Infection and Disease (30 credits at FHEQ4)
• Studies in the Biology of Disease (30 credits at FHEQ5)
• one of six core 30 credit modules at FHEQ6 (level 6 or undergraduate level) that each cover one of the core disciplines of the IBMS. These disciplines are Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology, Cellular Pathology and Oncology, Medical Genetics, and Medical Microbiology.

If you are missing any of these, please use the above links to find details of additional modules you can apply directly to take.

Identifying the modules you require to get accreditation

Once you have had your previous/current degree assessed by the IBMS or the HCPC, you will need to identify which modules we offer on a CPD basis that most closely match the core areas you require learning in.

Part of the accreditation requirements of our degree is to study introductory and in-depth material relating to the six core disciplines of biomedical science, and to study at least one of these six core subjects as a specialism. To this end, we offer two undergraduate degree level modules that incorporate the six disciplines of the IBMS; these are Infection and Disease at FHEQ4 for an introduction, and Studies in the Biology of Disease at FHEQ5 for more depth.

We also offer six stand alone modules at FHEQ6 (level 6 or undergraduate level) in each of the six core specialist areas:

• Haematology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Cellular Pathology and Oncology
• Medical Genetics
• Medical Microbiology.

If your assessment by the IBMS includes an “R” (require) in three or fewer core fields (from the main six listed above as specialist areas), then you will be required to apply for the Studies in the Biology of Disease module and then progress to the level 3 core (you are encouraged to apply for the one that most aligns with your intended career pathway).

If your assessment by the IBMS includes an “R” (require) in four or more core fields (from the main six listed above as specialist areas), then you will be required to complete the Infection and Disease module before applying for the Studies in the Biology of Disease module. This is because your degree assessment by the IBMS indicates you do not have sufficient introductory level knowledge of the six Biomedical Science disciplines to cope with the Studies in the Biology of Disease module.

If your assessment by the IBMS includes an “R” (require) in other areas outside of these core six, such as anatomy and physiology or data analysis, then you may be required to complete additional FHEQ4 modules with us, or possibly an undergraduate final year (FHEQ6) project. These modules are also available as CPD modules and are listed below.

Scheduling your top-up modules

Multiple top-up modules can be taken full-time or part-time, but individual modules can only be taken in a single academic year and attended according to the BSc(Hons) Biomedical Science timetable.

An indicative expectation of attendance is three hours per week for each module.

Modules at FHEQ4 and 5 consist of 50% lectures and 50% laboratory practicals on a fortnightly rolling pattern of lecture week/practical week. Practicals are run in multiple repeats in practical week to accommodate the number of students and therefore we cannot predict what your personal attendance pattern for these may be until you are enrolled on the course.

Applying for your top-up modules

To apply for any of the top-modules, please click on the modules listed below:

• Applied Transfusion Science
• Applied Transplantation Science
• Cellular Pathology and Oncology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Haematology
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Immunology
• Infection and Disease 
• Medical Genetics 
• Medical Microbiology
• Studies in the Biology of Disease 

Fees for the top-up modules

All the modules we offer that contribute to topping up are £2,312.50 to equate to a pro rata rate of a 30 credit module.

Please visit our full fee information to see the price brackets for our modules.

Further information

Find out more about our undergraduate programme (BSc Biomedical Science) and postgraduate programme (MSc Biomedical Science):

Undergraduate

• BSc(Hons) Biomedical Science

Postgraduate

• MSc Biomedical Science

Contact

For further information or details about the top-up modules, please contact:

• Dr Chris Moore (chris3.moore@uwe.ac.uk) for undergraduate programmes, BSc(Hons) or MSci
• Dr Lynne Lawrance (lynne.lawrance@uwe.ac.uk) for postgraduate programmes, MSc or CPD