Students working in a lab

Welcome to the School of Medicine Virtual Open Day webpage for our BSc Medical Biosciences programme.

We have compiled these resources to help you make an informed choice about your next steps, and to see whether Imperial is the right place for you and, more specifically, if our School of Medicine is the community you would like to join.

Online Resources

Virtual Open Day

This platform complements our in-person Open Days, which are held in June and September, and takes you through various information about Medical Biosciences which you may find useful.

To book your place for the 14th September Open Day, please go to this website.

Online resources

All the information you will need can be found here on our webpages. You can use our interactive online module guide to get to know the course.

If you have any questions you don't find the answer to during the Open Day, please email medicalbiosciences.enquiries@imperial.ac.uk 

Why Imperial College School of Medicine?

We are part of a diverse world-class institution. Imperial College London was recently ranked as 2nd in the world and the 1st in the UK and Europe by QS World University Ranking 2024. Our Faculty of Medicine is ranked 4th globally for clinical, pre-clinical and health, according to the Times Higher Education World University rankings (2024). The School of Medicine champions diversity and inclusivity amongst our communities.

We deliver a high quality of education. Methods such as Team-based Learning (TBL) and “flipped classroom” equip students with the skills, habits and critical thought that today’s employers value most. The innovative Lab Pods will allow you to develop key analytical and transferable skills. Creative cross-year, work-relevant activities ensure a close-knit group. The extensive laboratory programme also helps students to career plan by providing networking opportunities with experts from industry, institutes, and academia.

We offer a three or four year programme: You can opt for a three-year BSc programme or a four-year BSc programme, Medical Biosciences with Management, where the fourth year is spent in the Imperial College Business School.

Curriculum

Explore the curriculum

Explore our innovative curriculum yourself! Click here to access our interactive curriculum e-module.

Our pioneering BMB course was launched in 2017, and has been designed to meet the emerging healthcare challenges of the 21st century, and the changing pattern of evidence-based medical education.

Year 1 & 2

The first two years cover topics in fundamental human biology and the molecular basis of human disease. The syllabus will be taught online and face-to-face using the principles of active learning and will not involve traditional lectures.

During the unique and exciting Lab Pod modules, you will work on real-life research questions in a learning environment that mirrors an authentic research laboratory.

Year 3

In your third year, you can choose from a range of specialist modules, each of which examines a global health problem, and you will also complete a final-year project. This can be an intensive research project, a placement, or a dissertation on a biomedical science-related topic.

Placement possibilities may include industry, hospitals, publishing houses, museums, charities and government agencies

Hear more from students and staff in these videos

LabPods Year 1

Year 1 students sharing their experiences with LabPods

LabPods Year 1

Year 1 students sharing their experiences with LabPods

An Introduction to BSc Medical Biosciences

An Introduction to BSc Medical Biosciences

Professor Alison McGregor introduces the BMB programme

An overview of Medical Biosciences Admissions

An overview of Medical Biosciences Admissions

Admissions Tutor, Dr Anabel Varela Carver, takes you through the BMB admissions process

Leo Year 1 BMB

Leo Year 1 BMB

Leo shares his experiences from year 1 on BMB

Student Support & Welfare

Student Support & Welfare

Director of Student Support at Imperial, Rebecca Salter

Rosanne Year 1 BMB Experience

Rosanne Year 1 BMB Experience

Rosanne in year 1 on the BMB shares her experience

 BMB Teaching Demonstration - recording of a live session

BMB Teaching Demonstration

BMB Teaching Demonstration - recording of a live session with teaching staff

Iulia Kis

Iulia Kis

Second Year BMB Student Iulia Kis talks about her experience on the course.

Lucia Friscioni

Lucia Friscioni

Third year BMB student Lucia Friscioni talks about her experience on the course.

Student Experience: Caitlin Davies

Student Experience: Caitlin Davies

BMB student Caitlin talks about her experience of the programme

Student Experience: Kah Yan

Student Experience: Kah Yan

BMB international student Kah Yan talks about her experience of the programme

Admissions and Selection

What is the School looking for?

Medical Biosciences sits within the School of Medicine at Imperial.  From this course, you will be equipped with scientific rigour and skills, analytical mindset and an overall professional outlook to succeed in a changing world.

The attributes to come with are:

  • Determination
  • Resourcefulness
  • Team-working capability
  • Passion and Drive to learn and grow within the field of medical biosciences

BMB Admissions Advice

We welcome applications to the course irrespective of colour, ethnic or national origin, gender, religion, politics or disability. The School of Medicine has a diverse student community which we value highly. 

 

What do we assess you on?

You can refer to our  selection process and how your applications are reviewed via our Study Guide: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/medical-biosciences/

What are our Entry Requirements?

You can refer to the types of qualifications our course accepts via our Study Guide: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/medical-biosciences/

Please remember that there are English language requirements for this course. If English is not your first subject, please check what proficiency tests are accepted at Imperial here: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/apply/english-language/

Admissions Schemes

Each year, we aim to admit students from a wide range of backgrounds with at least 15% of our home-fee status students cohort coming from a widening participation background.

You can check if you would be considered a widening participation student via Imperial’s eligibility tool checker here.  We understand that circumstances are all unique. If you find that you do not meet the criteria but feel your personal circumstances have disadvantaged you, please contact the department directly via the Medical Biosciences Admissions email account.

The Medical Biosciences Admissions team offers guaranteed offers to widening participation students if they met a specific set of criteria. To learn more about our scheme, please read here.

Your dedicated School of Medicine Students' Union

One of the most amazing things about School of Medicine is the bespoke Student Union – you get access to a dedicated Student Union focused on the needs of students within the School of Medicine, with student officers elected by you to work with the Faculty and College to make positive change to your student experience.

This builds a clear camaraderie and closeness amongst our students. We have a thriving community full of amazing clubs or societies for everyone to find their niche. There is a phenomenal level of peer-to-peer support, especially with education, where we have several academic societies organising phenomenally useful tutorials, lecture series and mock exams.   

Imperial College School of Medicine Student Union Officers

From Anant Singh, BMB President 2024-25

"Hey Everyone! I'm Anant, the BMB President this year. I’m very glad you’re exploring Medical Biosciences (BMB) as your course of study!

This is a super collaborative, lab-intensive course that helps to train us for careers in science and beyond very well. 

Instead of regular lectures, prepare to learn in a very different way by doing pre-sessional material and then using the face-to-face sessions to discuss, deliberate, and debate content and case studies. 

Instead of regular labs, prepare to take on your own lab project for a year where you explore cellular pathways of your choice, using experiments that you decide. 

Take full advantage of all that Imperial has to offer with clubs and societies for literally anything you could imagine, as well as the brilliant research networks and careers service we have. 

The BMBSoc and ICSMSU are two student organisations you’ll be part of automatically and this gives you tons to do socially and to help develop yourself personally. 

Hope you see you here soon!"

From Brian Matsuhashi, Vice Chair Wellbeing for BMB

“Hi everyone! I'm Brian, the Welfare Vice Chair for BMB. BSc Medical Biosciences is an exciting, research-driven programme where students have a unique opportunity to actively engage in highly independent, group-based learning. Studying on the programme is rewarding, of course, but life in university is not without its challenges - both inside and outside of academics. 

The Wellbeing Representation Network is integral to the welfare of BMB students. We aim to raise awareness of issues within the course that may adversely affect the overall university life of BMB students beyond academics in areas like diversity and equality, finance, mental health, and personal safety.

The primary responsibility of wellbeing representatives is to relay the ideas and concerns of BMB students to the faculty at regular meetings. This student-centred process enables the faculty and wellbeing representatives to provide BMB students the best possible environment for learning on the course. 

In short: the highest priority of us BMB welfare officers is to support all BMB students - to ensure that everyone has a rewarding experience at Imperial.

I hope to see you all soon in BMB at Imperial!”

Student Experience and our Community

In the School of Medicine, we take your wellbeing support extremely seriously. From day one of the course, you will be allocated to a tutor who will be your point of contact for academic and wellbeing support.  Meeting in small tutor groups and on a one-to-one basis, they will be working with you to hone key skills which will allow you to perform at the best of your ability – through reinforcing study skills teaching, reviewing your academic performance and checking in on your wellbeing – and being someone who is interested in youAll of our tutors have a passion for mentoring and coaching and have many years of experience, so you are in safe hands. 

We know that sometimes circumstances beyond our control happen: you can get ill, financial problems occur or you hit a crisis. In these situations, the School has a team of Senior Tutors who support students going through these more complex stages. Acting confidentially, the Senior Tutor and the Welfare team are advocates for you to make the reasonable adjustments you need.

The School of Medicine also invests highly in your student experience – we work with your student elected reps (for both academia and wellbeing) to hear the student voice – your concerns, your successes and what you want the course to be. We work on regular wellbeing campaigns and support many student-led initiatives.

Imperial College is highly invested in looking after its students, and the Student Support Zone  is your first resource for success.