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Why study biomedical science

5 reasons to study biomedical science at the University of Sydney

The Master of Biomedical Science is an exciting new degree designed to meet the growing demand for graduates in medical and health sciences and related industries and equip them for a career in biomedical science.

What is biomedical science?

Biomedical science sits at the intersection of science and healthcare. It is the study of the biology of human health and disease and includes specialised subject areas such as pharmacology, human physiology and human nutrition. It is underpinned by relevant basic sciences including anatomy and physiology, cell biology, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics and molecular biology, immunology, mathematics and statistics, and bioinformatics.

Why should I study biomedical science?

The future of healthcare is changing, and our workforce needs graduates with the skills to understand and use a range of cutting-edge techniques and technologies, to interpret medical and research data, and to translate scientific and laboratory findings into clinical practice.

Here are five reasons to help you decide whether a Master of Biomedical Science is the right course for you.

1. Launch a new career pathway

By offering streams that are vocationally oriented and capitalise on our core research strengths, our locations (Camperdown and Westmead), and partnerships, the Master of Biomedical Science will help recent graduates and professionals to further their scientific training and acquire the necessary skills and make you readily employable.

Some of the careers that are possible include:

Academic research
Biomedical scientist
Biosecurity
Biotechnologist
Clinical trials coordinator
Consumer health policy development
Health education
Laboratory medical scientist or technician
Patient advocacy
Science communication
Senior Hospital Scientist or Senior Scientific Officer in hospitals or pathology labs
Pharmaceutical and medical technology industries

2. Make a meaningful contribution to human health

Biomedical science graduates make meaningful contributions to human health daily. Our specialisations will allow you to work in a range of areas of health from the investigative stages through to diagnosis and treatment.

Advanced diagnostics and prognostics specialisation: Rapid and accurate diagnosis of disease is critical if we are to combat today’s health problems. Specialising in advanced diagnostics and prognostics will equip you for a career in the diagnostic sciences.
Cancer specialisation: Contribute to cancer research, participate in the latest developments to improve survival and health for cancer patients, or provide services in relation to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Genomics and precision medicine specialisation: The next breakthroughs in personalised medicine and gene therapy will require a workforce with the skills to understand and use a range of genetic techniques and technologies. Our genomics and precision medicine specialisation will help you to interpret large, high-dimensional and complex data sets, and to translate diagnostic, scientific and laboratory findings into clinical practice.
Infection and immunity specialisation: Breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and immunopathologies is now even more important in our current world climate. Our infection and immunity specialisation will teach you about host-pathogen interactions and techniques, developments and breakthroughs in immunology and immunotherapies.

3. Learn from leading clinician and laboratory scientists

Our curriculum is designed to allow you to choose from a diverse range of ‘hands-on’ experiences. You will be taught by world renowned academics, clinicians and scientists from across the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Our interdisciplinary teaching comes from a collaboration between many groups including:

4. Gain industry experience or pursue a path into research

You have the option of choosing an industry and community or a research project as your capstone experience, depending on your interests.

Undertaking an industry and community project will build connections for future job opportunities. It will enable you to bring together concepts, principles and applications learnt in the course and provide the opportunity to integrate and consolidate your learning into real-world challenges.

If you decide to undertake a research project, this will help propel you towards a PhD in your area of interest.

5. Immerse yourself in world-class clinical environments with state-of-the art facilities

There’s no better backdrop to study biomedical science than in the heart of one of Sydney’s largest health precincts. With Royal Prince Alfred and Westmead hospital right at your doorstep you can easily access leading infection and immunity or cancer treatment centres.

You will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities and learning spaces. Opening in 2021, the Susan Wakil Health Building has been designed to support multidisciplinary learning across all health disciplines to better prepare our graduates for the future health workforce.

Hands-on learning will take place in PC2 containment facilities, award winning teaching laboratories in the Charles Perkins Centre, recently refurbished wet laboratories, and brand-new learning spaces at the Westmead Education and Conference Centre and Westmead Innovation Centre.