Best Universities for Biomedical Science in the UK 2027
Bath Spa University tops our 2027 biomedical science ranking with 205 points — the highest score in this field — achieving 96% on both teaching quality and academic support while leading on sustainability and cost of living. University of Worcester comes second with 198 points and Bangor University third with 197. We ranked 93 UK universities across eight metrics: graduate earnings, teaching quality, student satisfaction, academic support, safety, cost of living, social life and sustainability.
Biomedical science is the most widely studied healthcare science degree in the UK, with 93 universities in this ranking. Graduate earnings range from £21,000 (Leeds Trinity) to £37,500 (University of Leeds). University of Bath produces the highest-earning biomedical science graduates overall at £35,000 and ranks joint 12th. Oxford ranks 9th. University of Cumbria, a relatively unknown name in this field, achieves 100% teaching quality and ranks 33rd. This is a subject where the data challenges assumptions at every level of the prestige hierarchy.
For how these universities compare across all subjects, see the Unifresher best universities overall ranking and our best universities for employability.
Biomedical Science University Rankings 2027
| # | University | Grad Earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching Quality | Academic Support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bath Spa University Bath |
£22,500 | 79% | 96% | 96% | 205 |
| 2 | University of Worcester Worcester |
£28,500 | 79% | 84% | 92% | 198 |
| 3 | Bangor University Bangor |
£28,500 | 76% | 94% | 85% | 197 |
| 4 | University of Exeter Exeter |
£29,000 | 79% | 88% | 91% | 196 |
| 5 | Northumbria University, Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne |
£28,500 | 74% | 85% | 95% | 195 |
| 5 | Glyndwr University, Wrexham Wrexham |
£28,500 | 74% | 92% | 91% | 195 |
| 6 | York St John University York |
£28,500 | 80% | 89% | 89% | 194 |
| 7 | Edge Hill University Ormskirk |
£27,000 | 83% | 93% | 89% | 185 |
| 8 | University of Essex Colchester |
£28,500 | 74% | 98% | 98% | 180 |
| 9 | University of Lincoln Lincoln |
£28,000 | 78% | 87% | 87% | 177 |
| 9 | University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham / Gloucester |
£28,500 | 76% | 91% | 100% | 177 |
| 9 | University of Oxford Oxford |
£29,500 | 76% | 92% | 95% | 177 |
| 10 | University of South Wales Pontypridd |
£28,500 | 72% | 88% | 93% | 176 |
| 11 | Edinburgh Napier University Edinburgh |
£28,000 | 72% | 95% | 95% | 175 |
| 12 | Bournemouth University Bournemouth |
£28,500 | 71% | 85% | 83% | 171 |
| 12 | Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow |
£31,000 | 71% | 92% | 91% | 171 |
| 12 | University of Bath Bath |
£35,000 | 80% | 94% | 96% | 171 |
| 13 | University of the West of England, Bristol Bristol |
£28,500 | 74% | 84% | 80% | 170 |
| 13 | University of East Anglia (UEA) Norwich |
£28,500 | 79% | 87% | 91% | 170 |
| 13 | University of Sunderland Sunderland |
£29,000 | 74% | 93% | 95% | 170 |
| 14 | University of Reading Reading |
£25,000 | 74% | 87% | 83% | 169 |
| 14 | University of Bristol Bristol |
£25,000 | 73% | 88% | 89% | 169 |
| 15 | Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff |
£28,000 | 75% | 75% | 68% | 168 |
| 15 | Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury |
£29,000 | 73% | 87% | 85% | 168 |
| 16 | Cardiff University Cardiff |
£26,000 | 71% | 91% | 86% | 167 |
| 17 | University of Plymouth Plymouth |
£26,000 | 75% | 84% | 82% | 166 |
| 17 | Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester |
£27,000 | 73% | 85% | 84% | 166 |
| 18 | University of Liverpool Liverpool |
£28,500 | 71% | 90% | 87% | 163 |
| 19 | De Montfort University Leicester |
£28,500 | 70% | 83% | 81% | 161 |
| 20 | Leeds Beckett University Leeds |
£28,500 | 70% | 88% | 93% | 159 |
| 20 | University of West London London |
£30,000 | 72% | 89% | 87% | 159 |
| 21 | University of Salford Salford |
£28,000 | 73% | 87% | 82% | 157 |
| 22 | Robert Gordon University Aberdeen |
£30,000 | 77% | 85% | 85% | 156 |
| 22 | Royal Holloway, University of London Egham |
£26,000 | 74% | 92% | 91% | 156 |
| 23 | University of Leeds Leeds |
£37,500 | 74% | 84% | 82% | 155 |
| 23 | University of York York |
£27,500 | 77% | 90% | 89% | 155 |
| 24 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool |
£28,000 | 72% | 79% | 78% | 154 |
| 25 | Lancaster University Lancaster |
£27,500 | 82% | 90% | 94% | 153 |
| 26 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham |
£25,000 | 76% | 83% | 85% | 152 |
| 26 | Keele University Newcastle-under-Lyme |
£24,500 | 81% | 92% | 93% | 152 |
| 27 | Oxford Brookes University Oxford |
£25,000 | 74% | 86% | 88% | 149 |
| 28 | University of Manchester Manchester |
£26,000 | 70% | 88% | 91% | 148 |
| 29 | University of Surrey Guildford |
£28,000 | 78% | 94% | 93% | 146 |
| 30 | University of Aberdeen Aberdeen |
£30,000 | 76% | 92% | 93% | 145 |
| 31 | Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield |
£28,500 | 73% | 84% | 82% | 144 |
| 32 | Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne |
£25,000 | 75% | 82% | 86% | 143 |
| 32 | University of Sheffield Sheffield |
£28,000 | 75% | 91% | 88% | 143 |
| 33 | Birmingham City University Birmingham |
£28,000 | 69% | 85% | 85% | 142 |
| 33 | Kingston University Kingston upon Thames |
£30,000 | 71% | 88% | 89% | 142 |
| 33 | University of Cumbria Carlisle |
£28,000 | 77% | 100% | 95% | 142 |
| 34 | Coventry University Coventry |
£23,500 | 72% | 89% | 89% | 139 |
| 35 | University of Edinburgh Edinburgh |
£30,000 | 74% | 86% | 86% | 138 |
| 36 | Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge |
£25,000 | 70% | 84% | 80% | 137 |
| 36 | University of Bedfordshire Luton |
£23,000 | 68% | 84% | 89% | 137 |
| 36 | King's College London London |
£28,000 | 67% | 88% | 84% | 137 |
| 37 | University of Derby Derby |
£25,500 | 74% | 83% | 95% | 136 |
| 37 | University of Hertfordshire Hertfordshire |
£28,500 | 71% | 85% | 80% | 136 |
| 38 | University of Kent Canterbury |
£25,000 | 72% | 81% | 80% | 134 |
| 38 | University of Warwick Coventry |
£30,000 | 74% | 88% | 83% | 134 |
| 39 | University of Sussex Brighton and Hove |
£26,500 | 77% | 90% | 91% | 131 |
| 40 | University of Greenwich London |
£26,000 | 69% | 84% | 76% | 130 |
| 41 | UCL (University College London) London |
£31,000 | 68% | 84% | 80% | 129 |
| 42 | University of Strathclyde Glasgow |
£30,000 | 75% | 89% | 92% | 126 |
| 42 | University of Nottingham Nottingham |
£30,000 | 74% | 90% | 87% | 126 |
| 43 | Solent University Southampton |
£27,000 | 71% | 100% | 100% | 124 |
| 44 | Queen Mary University of London London |
£27,000 | 69% | 89% | 93% | 120 |
| 45 | University of Brighton Brighton |
£25,000 | 72% | 75% | 82% | 118 |
| 45 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield |
£26,000 | 74% | 80% | 85% | 118 |
| 46 | University of the West of Scotland Glasgow |
£34,500 | 73% | 81% | 97% | 116 |
| 47 | University of Bradford Bradford |
£26,000 | 71% | 82% | 76% | 114 |
| 48 | Staffordshire University Stoke-on-Trent |
£27,500 | 72% | 85% | 90% | 110 |
| 48 | University of East London London |
£30,000 | 68% | 89% | 88% | 110 |
| 48 | Teesside University Middlesbrough |
£26,000 | 78% | 96% | 96% | 110 |
| 49 | Abertay University Dundee |
£30,000 | 72% | 90% | 91% | 109 |
| 49 | University of Dundee Dundee |
£25,500 | 75% | 90% | 95% | 109 |
| 50 | University of Chester Chester |
£28,000 | 78% | 73% | 58% | 106 |
| 50 | University of Southampton Southampton |
£27,000 | 76% | 84% | 85% | 105 |
| 51 | University of Portsmouth Portsmouth |
£25,000 | 77% | 87% | 83% | 103 |
| 51 | Aston University Birmingham |
£26,000 | 75% | 90% | 92% | 103 |
| 52 | Brunel University London Uxbridge |
£28,000 | 68% | 76% | 85% | 102 |
| 52 | University of Central Lancashire Preston |
£24,000 | 71% | 79% | 93% | 102 |
| 53 | University of Suffolk Ipswich |
£28,500 | 76% | 78% | 80% | 99 |
| 54 | University of Northampton Northampton |
£28,000 | 75% | 86% | 87% | 98 |
| 55 | University of Hull Hull |
£28,000 | 76% | 91% | 89% | 96 |
| 56 | University of Birmingham Birmingham |
£28,500 | 72% | 82% | 81% | 95 |
| 57 | City St George's, University of London London |
£33,000 | 67% | 84% | 87% | 91 |
| 58 | Middlesex University Middlesex |
£30,000 | 69% | 83% | 81% | 90 |
| 59 | Leeds Trinity University Leeds |
£21,000 | 78% | 68% | 87% | 84 |
| 60 | University of Westminster London |
£27,500 | 68% | 79% | 76% | 81 |
| 61 | London South Bank University London |
£32,000 | 68% | 83% | 88% | 78 |
| 62 | University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton |
£28,000 | 71% | 83% | 86% | 76 |
| 63 | University of Roehampton London |
£28,000 | 72% | 83% | 77% | 65 |
| 64 | London Metropolitan University London |
£28,000 | 66% | 74% | 76% | 56 |
What the ranking tells you about studying biomedical science
Biomedical science is the most widely studied healthcare science degree in the UK and one of the most consequential to pick well. With 93 universities in this ranking, the variation in course quality, IBMS accreditation, NHS pathway access and graduate outcomes is substantial. This ranking scores all 93 across the same eight metrics — giving you a data-driven basis for comparing institutions that most applicant guides treat as interchangeable.
Why IBMS accreditation matters more than prestige for biomedical science
The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accredits biomedical science programmes in the UK, and an IBMS-accredited degree is the standard route to registration as a Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Without HCPC registration, you cannot practise as a biomedical scientist in NHS or private healthcare laboratories in the UK. Before applying to any biomedical science programme, confirm that it holds current IBMS accreditation. This is separate from any university ranking and does not correlate neatly with institutional prestige. Always verify IBMS accreditation directly on the IBMS website for the specific course you are considering, as accreditation status can change between programme restructures.
Bath Spa at the top: what 205 points actually means
Bath Spa University tops this ranking with the highest score of any institution in the field. Its biomedical science programme achieves 96% on both teaching quality and academic support, while Bath's cost of living advantage, sustainability score (80.2 — the highest in this ranking) and social life scores contribute strongly to its total. Graduate earnings of £22,500 are the joint-lowest in this dataset, which reflects the starting salaries typical of healthcare science trainee roles in the NHS South West rather than a weakness in the programme. For students who want the best-measured teaching experience and a genuinely high-quality student life, Bath Spa's data profile is the strongest available. For students who want to maximise starting salary above all else, the University of Leeds (£37,500, 23rd) or City St George's (£33,000, 57th) tell a different story.
The earnings paradox: high pay and low rank
University of Leeds produces the highest-earning biomedical science graduates in this dataset at £37,500 — a significant gap above the next highest, University of Bath at £35,000. Leeds ranks 23rd overall because its cost of living, social life and safety scores hold it back. University of Bath (£35,000) ranks joint 12th. University of West Scotland (£34,500) ranks 46th. City St George's (£33,000) ranks 57th. London South Bank University (£32,000) ranks 61st. The pattern is consistent: high starting salaries are concentrated among institutions whose graduates enter laboratory-based NHS roles in major cities — London, Leeds, Glasgow — where pay scales and cost of living both reflect the urban premium. This is genuinely useful context for students deciding between programme locations.
University of Oxford ranks joint 9th with 177 points — lower than you might expect, but not because its biomedical science programme is weak. Oxford's biomedical sciences degree (note the plural, covering a broader set of programmes) achieves 92% teaching quality, 95% academic support and graduate earnings of £29,500. What holds it back on this ranking is cost of living (Oxford index 80 — expensive) and a sustainability score that is mid-table. The course is genuinely excellent. If you are considering Oxford, the data here tells you it performs well on the course metrics and that the overall student experience ranking penalises the city's costs, not the academic programme.
University of Cumbria: 100% teaching quality at rank 33
University of Cumbria is one of three universities in this ranking to achieve 100% teaching quality. It ranks 33rd overall — a position that does not reflect its course delivery strength. Cumbria's biomedical science programme is small and based in Carlisle, which benefits from strong safety scores and a low cost of living. Its sustainability score (29.2) is among the lowest in the dataset, which significantly reduces its total. For students who want an IBMS-accredited programme with exceptional teaching quality in a genuinely affordable city, University of Cumbria is worth serious consideration and is very rarely mentioned in biomedical science guidance. Also achieving 100% teaching quality: Solent University (43rd, Southampton) and Gloucestershire (9th) — both with 100% academic support as well.
For a broader view of how these universities perform across all subjects, see the Unifresher overall best universities ranking and the employability ranking.
