Best Universities for Biomedical Science in the UK 2027
Bath Spa University ranks first for biomedical science in 2027, followed by the University of Worcester in second and Bangor University in third. The Unifresher ranking compares 93 universities using eight measures built around academic outcomes and the complete student experience.
Biomedical science applicants are choosing both a degree and, in many cases, a route towards a regulated healthcare profession. Unifresher helps students compare teaching, support and graduate outcomes alongside affordability, safety, social life and sustainability, while clearly separating the ranking from the professional checks every applicant must complete.
Why this ranking is student-first: professional eligibility matters, but it is not the only part of choosing well. Unifresher also compares the teaching, support, costs and wider environment students experience throughout the degree.
Top universities for biomedical science in 2027
The top three lead for different reasons. Bath Spa has the highest complete score and excellent teaching and support, Worcester combines second place with strong graduate earnings, and Bangor records 94% teaching quality alongside third place.
Bath Spa University
Bath
The strongest combined result, with 79% satisfaction and a student-city profile that performs well across the wider measures.
University of Worcester
Worcester
Second overall, with 79% satisfaction and 92% academic support.
Bangor University
Bangor
Third overall, with £28,500 graduate earnings and a strong complete student-experience score.
How the biomedical science ranking works
Eight measures create a fuller comparison
Unifresher combines academic and graduate results with the practical factors students experience throughout university. The ranking helps applicants compare the complete course and student experience rather than relying only on institutional reputation.
Biomedical Science University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 93 universities. Sorting changes the comparison order only; every university's official published rank remains in the first column.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | 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 | Wrexham University 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 biomedical science ranking shows
Bath Spa ranks first
Bath Spa University leads with a score of 205 and matching 96% results for teaching and support.
University of Leeds
Leeds has the highest graduate-earnings figure at £37,500 and shares 23rd place overall.
Edge Hill University
Edge Hill records the strongest student-satisfaction result at 83% and ranks seventh.
Cumbria and Solent
University of Cumbria and Solent University both record 100% for teaching quality.
Gloucestershire and Solent
University of Gloucestershire and Solent University both reach 100% for academic support.
Median earnings are £28,000
The midpoint across all 93 graduate-earnings figures is £28,000.
What this ranking tells you about studying biomedical science
Biomedical science commonly covers clinical biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, immunology, cellular pathology, genetics and the scientific investigation of disease. Course titles may look similar, but professional eligibility, laboratory training, placement access and final-year research can differ substantially.
Bath Spa leads the complete student-first comparison
Bath Spa ranks first with 96% for both teaching and academic support. Worcester and Bangor follow closely, while Northumbria and Wrexham share fifth. The top positions demonstrate the value of looking beyond institutional prestige to the measures students experience directly throughout the degree.
Why Unifresher separates ranking from registration: our table helps students compare course delivery, graduate outcomes and university life. IBMS accreditation, clinical training and HCPC registration are separate professional checks, and a responsible shortlist needs both.
IBMS accreditation is only one stage of the professional route
An IBMS-accredited biomedical science degree is the most straightforward academic route towards HCPC registration, but students also need the required clinical laboratory training and IBMS Registration Training Portfolio leading to the Certificate of Competence. Some courses include a suitable placement; others leave students to secure training after graduation.
Ask exactly what the placement provides
A placement year is not automatically an HCPC-registration placement. Ask whether the laboratory is IBMS approved, whether students can complete the registration portfolio, how many places are available, whether selection is competitive and what happens if a student cannot secure one. These details can affect the length and cost of the professional route.
Alternative routes exist, but can require additional steps
Students with non-accredited degrees may be able to have their qualifications assessed by the IBMS and complete supplementary education where required. There are also HCPC-approved healthcare science routes. Applicants should choose deliberately rather than assuming any degree containing the words biomedical science leads directly to registration.
The highest earnings figure sits outside the top 20
The University of Leeds records the highest graduate-earnings figure at £37,500 and shares 23rd place. The University of Bath records £35,000 and shares 12th, while the University of the West of Scotland reaches £34,500 at rank 46. Unifresher keeps earnings visible while balancing them against teaching, support and the wider student experience.
Teaching and support reveal strengths across the table
Cumbria and Solent both record 100% for teaching quality. Gloucestershire and Solent reach 100% for academic support, while Essex records 98% for both. These findings help applicants identify strong course-level experiences beyond the most familiar institutional names.
Biomedical science and biochemistry lead to different professional questions
Biomedical science is generally more clinically applied and closely connected to diagnostic disciplines. Biochemistry usually focuses more deeply on molecular mechanisms and has a broader research orientation. Students considering NHS diagnostic laboratory work should start with the registration route; students interested in research or biotechnology may prefer to compare both subjects.
Graduate earnings need context
The table ranges from £21,000 to £37,500, with a median of £28,000. HESA Graduate Outcomes information is collected approximately 15 months after course completion. Individual outcomes vary according to registration status, role, location, placement experience, further study and whether graduates enter clinical, commercial or non-scientific work.
How to use the ranking when choosing a biomedical science degree
Verify the exact programme and intake
Check the current IBMS course directory and confirm that accreditation applies to the qualification and year in which you plan to start.
Ask whether the placement supports registration
Confirm whether students can complete the IBMS registration portfolio in an approved laboratory and how placement places are allocated.
Compare practical hours and diagnostic disciplines
Review laboratory group sizes, equipment, technical support, practical assessment and exposure to the major biomedical science disciplines.
Separate biomedical scientist and broader science careers
Decide whether HCPC registration is your priority or whether research, pharmaceuticals, clinical trials or postgraduate study better match your goals.
Related Unifresher rankings and student guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for biomedical science in the UK in 2027?
Bath Spa University ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher biomedical science ranking with an overall score of 205. The University of Worcester is second with 198, and Bangor University is third with 197.
How many universities are included in the biomedical science ranking?
The published 2027 Unifresher biomedical science ranking compares 93 universities across eight academic, career and student-experience measures. All 93 universities and every supplied result appear in the table.
What graduate earnings are shown for biomedical science?
The graduate-earnings figures range from £21,000 to £37,500, with a median of £28,000 across the 93 universities. The University of Leeds has the highest figure at £37,500. These are comparative graduate outcomes rather than guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
HESA Graduate Outcomes information is collected approximately 15 months after students complete their higher education studies. The figures describe outcomes at that survey point, not salaries six months after graduation.
Does a biomedical science degree need to be IBMS accredited?
An IBMS-accredited biomedical science degree is the most straightforward academic route towards HCPC registration as a biomedical scientist. Students must also complete the required registration training portfolio and clinical laboratory training. Alternative routes can involve an HCPC-approved healthcare science degree or IBMS assessment of a non-accredited qualification, so check the exact programme and pathway.
Is Biomedical Scientist a protected job title?
Yes. Biomedical scientist is a title protected by law in the UK. A person using that title must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. A biomedical science degree alone does not automatically provide registration.
What should I look for in a biomedical science degree?
Compare IBMS accreditation, whether a clinical placement can support completion of the registration portfolio, laboratory hours, practical class sizes, diagnostic disciplines, research projects, teaching, academic support, employer links and the total cost of studying in the university location.
What is the difference between biomedical science and biochemistry?
Biomedical science is usually more directly focused on human disease, diagnostic laboratory disciplines and healthcare applications. Biochemistry focuses more deeply on molecular and chemical processes in living systems. Students aiming for HCPC registration as biomedical scientists should choose their course around the professional route rather than relying only on the subject title.
Can biomedical science lead to graduate-entry medicine?
Biomedical science can provide relevant scientific preparation, but graduate-entry medicine requirements vary between medical schools. Some accept a broad range of degrees, while others specify scientific content, grades, admissions tests or previous qualifications. Check each medical school's current entry requirements before planning this route.
Why does Unifresher include student-life measures in a biomedical science ranking?
Biomedical science students can face long laboratory sessions, placement demands and intensive independent study. Unifresher combines teaching, support and graduate outcomes with affordability, safety, social life and sustainability so students can compare both the professional course and the environment in which they will study.
Ranking, accreditation and registration information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for the eight measures and subject-ranking process.
- HESA Graduate Outcomes 2023/24 for the approximately 15-month survey point.
- IBMS accredited degree directory for checking the exact programme and current accreditation status.
- IBMS accredited-degree registration route for the degree, training portfolio and approved-laboratory requirements.
- IBMS non-accredited degree route for qualification assessment and possible supplementary education.
- HCPC regulated professions and protected titles for the legal status of the biomedical scientist title.
