BSc Hons Biomedical & Bio-industrial Sciences (ATU Sligo award)(Online)

Course Summary

Studying on your chosen course

This is a part-time course, with a typical duration of four years, over 2 semesters in Years 1 to 3, and 3 semesters in Year 4.Year 1 provides you with a foundation in biological and chemical sciences, applied mathematics and complementary IT and laboratory skills.

Year 2 enables you to meet fundamental requirements in physiology and anatomy, and biochemistry, and to further develop your laboratory and scientific communication skills, and knowledge of medical biotechnology.

Year 3 deepens your knowledge of molecular and bio-analytical sciences, and provides you with an understanding of the legislative and quality control system frameworks which underpin clinical and industrial environments. You further develop professional practice, laboratory, enterprise and research skills, and select a final year Project topic.

Year 4 provides you with the opportunity to pursue an investigative project. Where possible, for the benefit of your employer, you are encouraged to carry out a work based project. Depending on your chosen course, your other Year 4 studies are as follows:

BSc Hons Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences (Ulster University award)

In line with requirements of the Institute of Biomedical Science, you will study the subject specialisms, namely cellular pathology, clinical biochemistry, clinical immunology, haematology and transfusion science, and medical microbiology, and an additional biology of disease module with a molecular-pathology emphasis.

BSc Hons Biomedical and Bio-industrial Sciences (ATU Sligo award)

In line with the needs of the medical biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, you will study critical aspects of biopharmaceutical processing including cell culture processing, protein purification, and formulation fill finish and delivery biopharmaceuticals, and of support services, including quality systems and regulatory affairs, validation of biopharmaceutical systems and bio-contamination monitoring and control.

BSc Hons Biomedical Sciences (Joint ATU Sligo and Ulster University award)

In recognition of a convergence of needs at the clinical and biopharmaceutical interface, you will study the molecular aspects of disease, the mechanisms and processes of infectious disease and clinical biochemical measurements in health and disease, along with cell culture processing, protein purification and quality systems and regulatory affairs.

You can apply for this programme through the University of Ulster, please click here. 

Key Course Information

At some point in our lives we all benefit from Biomedical Science. For example, through the screening of patients, the diagnosis of disease and evaluation of the effectiveness of a treatment; or research to develop new healthcare technologies, diagnostic tests and treatments for disease; or development and processing of drugs utilising cell culture technologies; or education; or scientific writing.

The overall purpose of this part-time distance learning programme is to provide an academically challenging and vocationally relevant science education for those secondary education qualified scientists and technologists working in a clinical healthcare setting or the medical biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries or other areas of biomedical sciences, producing competent graduates to meet national needs in Ireland and UK.

Our programme is unique, not only as a collaboration between two leading Higher Education (HE) distance learning providers in the Ireland and UK but also in widening access to HE for healthcare science associate practitioners, and less qualified practitioners within biopharmaceutical manufacturing and research.

• Our programme meets clinical and/or industrial needs within three carefully designed BSc Honours courses, of which you would enter one for either a clinically focused award from Ulster or an industrially focused award from ATU Sligo or a clinical and industrial related joint award from Ulster and ATU Sligo.

• In addition, the industrially focused courses combine cutting-edge skills in Biopharmaceutical Science and the Biomedical Sciences with an understanding of the legislative and quality control system framework in which this takes place within these industries.

Students are required to attend ATU Sligo once per year for a 2 day lab workshop in years 1-3. They are also required to attend UU Coleraine for workshops in years 3 and 4. 

You can apply for this programme through the University of Ulster, please click here. 

If you would like to find out more about the courses, please contact Dr Philip Allsopp, the Programme Director:

T: +44 (0) 2870123125 or Email: pj.allsopp@ulster.ac.uk

or Dr. Stephen Daly, ATU Sligo Course Co-Ordinator

Tel: 353 (0)71 9305618 or Email: stephen.daly@atu.ie

Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025

Entry Requirements

You must:

• (a) satisfy the University’s general entry requirements;

AND

• (b) satisfy specific academic subject requirements for admission as detailed

below:

• GCSE: Passes at grade C or above in Mathematics, English Language and Chemistry OR Double Award Science;

AND

• A Level: A minimum of 260 UCAS Tariff Points to include grades BC (including 2 science subjects – 2 from

Group A OR 1 from Group A and 1 from Group B). Group A – Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology or Home

Economics, of which Chemistry is preferred. Group B – Physical Education, Geography, Information Technology.

Applied Science Double Award is acceptable.

OR

• Irish Leaving Certificate (ILC)(: Minimum 300 CAO points/260 UCAS Tariff Points to include BBCCC (to include 2 science subjects as above). Applicants are also required to have ILC Higher level English and Maths grade D or above ORILC Ordinary level at grade C or above;

OR

• BTEC National Diploma: 260 UCAS Tariff Points - Pass overall BTEC ND with DMM (appropriate science disciplines only acceptable);

OR

• Access courses: Certificate in Foundation Studies / Access Course (appropriate science disciplines only acceptable) with an overall average of 60%;

OR

• (c) provide evidence of their ability to undertake the programme through the accreditation of prior experiential

learning.

AND

• (d) normally be employed in a relevant healthcare science/bioscience/ bio-pharmaceutical laboratory environment in a scientific or quality assurance role. Because, 5 of the modules in Years 1 to 3, and 3 additional modules in Year 4 of BSc Hons Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences involve practicals, this programme is intended for Irish and UK residents but continental European residents will also be considered.

If you are an international student, now resident in the UK or Ireland, or a continental European student you must have a minimum acceptable score for the British Council IELTS of 6.0 (5.5 or above in reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent.

If you have a sub degree or higher qualification, respective part-time, distance learning provision in BSc Hons Biomedical Science and BSc Hons BioPharmaceutical Science at Ulster and ATU Sligo already offer articulation pathways. Thus accreditation for prior certificated learning from a sub degree such as BSc BioPharmaceutical Science from ATU Sligo or Foundation Degree in Applied Medical Sciences from Ulster or BSc Honours/Higher Degree in a related science field for entry to this course is not considered.

Career Opportunities

You will enhance your prospects for promotion within your existing work place, and be able to secure professional roles with other employers of clinical and industrial biomedical scientists, and more broadly in the area of analytical science. The industrial focus of the courses aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the critical aspects of Biopharmaceutical Processing and Support Services, with specific focus on the product lifecycle of Biological products and associated processes. There is also sufficient flexibility to allow you to move laterally into associated careers including Research and Development opportunities.

If you are a Healthcare Science assistant in the UK, the Ulster award is designed to meet the academic requirements of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) to facilitate professional registration. Furthermore, if you have the support of your employer to assess you against the required portfolio of IBMS practice competencies, you will then after graduation be in a position to apply for registration as a Biomedical Scientist by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Professional recognition

Accreditation of all three degree courses, by the Institute of Biomedical Science, is currently being sought.

Further Study

Our programmes serve a wide variety of postgraduate study opportunities including biomedical science, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sciences, molecular biosciences and biotechnology (medical).  Graduates of this course would be eligible to apply for MSc programmes or Ph.D.s in cognate science areas. 

Did you know?

ATU Sligo, as recognised by a ‘Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Award’ in 2012, is the leading higher education institute in Ireland in the development and delivery of online educational programmes. In 2014 ATU Sligo opened its new €17 million MacMunn Science Building. It also has teaching collaborations with the National Institute of Bioprocessing Research Technology for many of the Biopharmaceutical modules taught on the course.

The School of Biomedical Sciences at Ulster University enjoys a national and an international reputation for excellence in teaching. Biomedical Sciences is in the premier league of universities with “100% of our research environment judged to be world-leading, 95% of our impact judged to be world leading or internationally excellent and 81% of our research papers judged to be world leading or internationally excellent in UK Research Excellence Framework 2014. Ulster is ranked among the top five universities in the UK in terms of research power in biomedical science.

Programme Fees

Fees may be subject to change for 2024/2025 academic year.

To help make the payment of fees more manageable for students who are self-funding their studies, tuition fees can be paid through payment instalment plans at ATU Sligo. For further information on instalment plans, please visit our Fees and Funding webpage. 

If you apply and are approved for an online course at ATU Sligo, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €250 to secure your place. Your deposit will then be credited against the course fees once you are registered as a student. Students at ATU Sligo are also eligible to claim tax relief at the standard rate for tuition fees.

For further information and guidance about Fees and Funding for online and part-time courses at ATU Sligo, click here.

If you are seeking to take your exams online, and you meet the eligibility criteria (overseas students and those with extenuating circumstances), an additional examinations fee will apply. For further information, please visit our Examinations webpage. 

Course Format

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

Semester 9