After You Graduate
Upon successful completion of the entire programme you will be awarded BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences, which will be conferred by Newcastle University UK.
Career Paths
There is a great demand for graduates in the biomedical and biomolecular sciences within the health services and industry, leading or working as part of research teams, and many of our students choose this career path. Industries employing bioscientists for research and development include: pharmaceuticals; biotechnology; chemical; cosmetics and toiletries; and food and drink. With a biosciences-related degree you could undertake medical, veterinary and agricultural research in universities and research institutes. Hospital and public health laboratories also employ a large number of bioscientists.
A significant proportion of our graduates choose to take a further degree (either an MSc or PhD) before embarking on permanent employment. This is a step in a career path that can lead to senior, decision-making roles. Each year a number of our students use our degrees as a route for graduate entry into medicine or dentistry. Apart from laboratory work, there are many other ways to use your degree. Some of our graduates choose to enter the legal side of the subject, using their scientific knowledge to advise on patenting, whilst others opt for careers such as scientific journalism.
Our graduates also embark on careers unrelated to the biomedical sciences, in management, accountancy and IT, for example. Whichever career you choose, you can be sure that you will receive our advice and wholehearted support. See examples of some of the careers our graduates have entered into.
As an alumnus of NUMed Malaysia and a Newcastle graduate, you are entitled to become a member of our Graduate Society and Newcastle’s Alumni Association.
My brilliant career - former Newcastle University Biomedical Sciences students share their stories
Academic research
After your degree a new world of masters and doctoral qualifications opens. Research in universities is conducted into all kinds of questions and you can expect to make a contribution to the generation of new knowledge at an early stage. With funding to pursue your own research interests you could build a team of research students and staff and work with companies, clinicians and other scientists around the world to advance the biosciences. I love my career because….I believe there isn’t a more noble profession than to save or improve the quality of a person’s life. Research at Newcastle has enabled me to learn from specialists at top universities, to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies and travel internationally to countries such as America for conferences and workshops.
Sarah - PhD Student
Medicine and Dentistry
Many students go on to apply for graduate medicine and dentistry, either the full course or via accelerated programmes. Help with the application process is provided by the School via talks from alumni, support sessions and personal statement clinics. I love my career because…. My Biomedical Sciences degree has provided me with solid foundations for a career in Medicine, I felt inspired by my three years at Newcastle University and have been fortunate in being able to apply my skills to the clinical environment.
Simon – 4th Year Medical Student
Financial sector
Bioscience graduates are successful in the financial sector because of the intellectual discipline that scientific training will give you. Accountancy, investment banking, insurance, and management consultancy are some of the options in this diverse sector. This will appeal to you if...You are interested in a commercial working environment and have good numeric skills. Most financial employers employ graduates in roles with a high degree of customer or client liaison, so your communication and interpersonal skills are also key.
Duncan – Fund Manager
Healthcare Scientist
Work with medical staff to help investigate, diagnose and treat diseases by analysing samples and developing new techniques to improve services to patients. An extensive training programme and great promotion prospects mean that top healthcare scientists are high-flying professionals within the healthcare communities, managing large labs and providing advice at health board and even governmental level. I love my career because…. I get to do science every day while aiding clinicians in the diagnosis of patients with rare genetic disorders. It’s great to know I’m helping the understanding and medical management of the patient’s condition.
Laura - Trainee Clinical Scientist
Clinical Research and Trials
UK companies, universities and hospitals generate many of the new drugs and therapies emerging globally each year. Each potential new treatment must go through an extensive clinical trial before launch, managed in pharmaceutical companies, specialist contract research organizations (which offer entry level positions to new graduates), universities and hospitals. After training, clinical research associates (CRA) can also work as freelancers,giving extra career flexibility. This will appeal to you if… you have good organisational and administrative skills and enjoy working with data and information. Attention to detail and good writing skills are critical, as are people skills to communicate with medical doctors, researchers, patients and companies. With the option to spend a year in industry, if you are interested in this area we will help you look for suitable placements.
Kim - Clinical Data Team Leader
Industrial science
A wide range of careers are open to our graduates in scientific companies. Roles in research and product development will directly use scientific knowledge and skills and we talk to the key employers regularly to ensure our graduates are “fit for purpose”. The UK has a strong and fast-growing life sciences sector with particular strengths in research and development.This will appeal to you if… you are keen to use your scientific skills in your career to develop products and therapies to improve quality of life and health care. Scientific teamwork skills are essential in these roles, so you ensure our degrees give you many opportunities to develop them. We can also help you to secure a year’s placement in industry giving you a huge advantage on graduation.
Suzanne - Research Scientist
Commercial roles
Businesses in all employment sectors and of all sizes are enthusiastic about employing graduates of all disciplines, as long as they have a sound degree and good transferable skills. Roles include sales, finance, marketing, human resources, IT, logistics, purchasing and general management. This will appeal to you if… you enjoy organising things, managing others or any manner of tasks – these roles are very diverse, but the reputation of Newcastle University and the quality of our Careers Service means that you’ll have a chance to meet many of the employers who choose to visit us to meet our students and explain their opportunities in person.
David – Account Executive
Teaching
Probably the most familiar of all the careers we mention here, teaching is a great way to use your degree, stay in science and work in a rewarding career which is never the same from one day to the next. I love my career because... like seeing the pupils’ development, teaching feels like I am making a valid contribution to a young person’s life. Biology was a subject I loved at school and it is fulfilling to see my pupils engaging with the subject. I especially enjoy seeing the pupils leave with their desired results.
Zoe – science teacher