Healthcare Science Practitioner Apprenticeship - Applied Biomedical Science BSc Honours

Our degree apprenticeship courses

We currently offer a range of degree apprenticeship courses. For the full range of courses visit our apprenticeships page for applicants or for business partners.

Course summary

This apprenticeship is available only to applicants with Relevant Prior Learning (RPL) eligible for direct entry into Year 2 or Year 3. If you do not have RPL, please visit our Biomedical Scientist Apprenticeship - Applied Biomedical Science BSc Honours page.

Our Applied Biomedical Science BSc offers an integrated approach to the study of human health and disease, with an emphasis on the diagnosis and understanding of disease processes from a medical diagnostic perspective. This course is only open to you if you are employed in a suitable accredited biomedical laboratory able to support work-based learning, and you'll need a written statement of support from your employer.

The course builds on the practical knowledge developed within the workplace and provides underpinning knowledge essential to the development of practising biomedical scientists.

Initially, you'll study the important fundamental sciences, including biochemistry, cell biology, and human anatomy and physiology.

You'll develop your understanding of disease processes and the biology of the associated molecular changes, combined with the principles of laboratory procedures used to aid diagnosis.

As the course progresses, you'll focus increasingly on the complex nature of disease as it affects particular biological systems, and the study of disease processes.

Register apprentices here

Course structure

Teaching includes lectures and seminars, practical laboratory work, group activities and tutorials, and supervised use of facilities.

Assessment is through a combination of exams and coursework (including essays, practical work, group work, presentations and reports).

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course. Integrated with this programme is the Institute of Biomedical Science Registration Training Portfolio. This must be completed by the final year (Year 4).

Accreditations

The degree is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), enabling you to fulfil all requirements for HCPC registration and membership of the Institute. This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting in part the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).

Programme specification

For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the programme specification.

To request an accessible version of the programme specification, please email [email protected].

Download the programme specification

Entry requirements and eligibility

Our apprenticeships are only available to those employed as part of an agreed apprenticeship scheme in a related role, who are aged 18 or over on the first day, are not in full-time education and meet the ESFA funding eligibility criteria. Further details are available on our How to apply page.

Applicants must also meet the academic entry requirements of the course:

•  A levels – BBC to ABB (112 to 128 UCAS Tariff points) to include two science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths
• International Baccalaureate – 112 to 128 UCAS Tariff points from the IB, to include a minimum of IB Grade 4 in two higher level science subjects
• BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM to DDM in Applied Science
• BTEC Diploma – D*D*
• Access – 112 to 128 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
• Level 4 Healthcare Science Associate Apprenticeship
• Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship

In addition to the above, it is a requirement that all applicants can demonstrate competency at a Level 2 standard in English and maths. This will be assessed during the application process, as part of the initial assessment stage.

It is a mandatory requirement, that in order for an apprentice to reach End Point Assessment, they must hold a Level 2 achievement in English and maths and be able to provide a copy of the original certificate of achievement.

Current acceptable evidence can be found on the Education and Skills Funding Agency's list of acceptable qualifications for English and maths requirements.

Those who are able to demonstrate competence at Level 2 but who are unable to provide evidence of prior attainment, such as a GCSE at grade C or 4 and above in English and Maths, will be required to obtain this during their first year of the apprenticeship. The University of Westminster will support any apprentice this affects, by facilitating an option to study for Level 2 Functional Skills English and maths with a partner organisation, in order to meet the requirement to progress to year two of the apprenticeship.

If an applicant’s first language is not English, they will need an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with 6.5 in each component, in addition to the above in line with the HCPC regulatory requirements.

Fees

Employers who pay the levy are able to use their available levy funds to cover the training and assessment costs. Employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy share the cost of training and assessing their apprentices with the government – this is called 'co-investment'. Non-levy paying employers will contribute 5% towards the cost of apprenticeship training and the government will pay the rest (95%) up to the funding band maximum.

University module retakes are not included in apprenticeship levy funding. Employers will be charged separately. The current fee is £1,540 (price per 20-credit module).

Any End Point Assessment (EPA) resits are payable by the employer outside the levy. The EPA resit fees are:

• Readiness for Practice Test £400
• Professional discussion £400
• Research Project Presentation and Review £400
• Resit of full EPA - £1,300

Careers/professional development

Students on the Applied Biomedical Science degree pathway need to already be employed as healthcare professionals in approved laboratories, whether in hospital or private diagnostic practices. Our aim is to foster a culture of gathering expertise, building professional networks, and expanding academic learning with the knowledge and skills gained in laboratory environments.

Course Leader

Dr Anjali Ghosh

Lecturer

Anjali's background and main area of study has been recombinant gene technology in microorganism. She completed a MSc in Animal Biotechnology and Biomedical Science. She then went on to study her PhD where her thesis focused on recombinant DNA technology with genes acquired for heavy metals in strains of Salmonella. Anjali's research interests lie in cancer cell biology and gene polymorphism studies, linked to ACE gene, as well as biofilm studies in Salmonella. She is also a trained Biomedical Scientist and completed her IBMS training portfolio in 2011.

Anjali has been teaching in higher education for 15 years at various institutes in the UK. Since moving to University of Westminster, she has taken on the role of deputy module leader for Foundation Applied Biomedical Science, module leader for Advanced learning in Professional Practice and co-course leader for Applied Biomedical Science. 

Teaching and assessment

This is how you can expect to be taught and assessed at the University of Westminster. Your apprenticeship will include additional requirements, agreed in partnership with your employer, designed to develop and evidence your skills in the workplace.

How you'll be taught

Teaching methods focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

• Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
• Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
• Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision

How you'll be assessed

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
• Written exams: end of semester exams
• Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Course location

With state-of-the-art science and psychology labs and refurbished computer suites, our Cavendish Campus offers our science and technology students a range of learning spaces that are both dynamic and inspiring.

Located in central London, our Cavendish Campus is just a five-minute walk from Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.

For more details, visit our Cavendish Campus page.

Contact us

We are keen to establish new relationships with employers from a wide range of sectors and welcome enquiries. For more information please contact our dedicated apprenticeships team on:

+44 (0) 207 911 5027
[email protected]