Also referred to as 'The Biomaterials Course', the programme is multidisciplinary and taught in several departments, including Dentistry, Medicine, and Metallurgy and Materials. It is administered by the Biomaterials Unit within the School of Dentistry which links clinical work with both clinical and scientific research. Most of the state of the art laboratories used have been recently refurbished. 

First year

You will study the structure and properties of materials – including polymers, ceramics and metals – anatomy, physiology, introduction to cell and molecular biology and bacteriology, alongside biomechanics and a general introduction to the development and clinical use of biomaterials. The first year also includes a study skills course providing you with a basic working knowledge of the use of search engines, IT and statistics.  Wherever possible, lecture material is reinforced with practical classes.  After the examination period in the summer you will visit local hospitals where you will observe, for example, a hip or knee replacement operation being performed.

Second year

In this year you focus on the reactions of the body to biomaterials, how these materials are designed and made into components to be used in medical treatments, and the factors that affect performance of materials in service. Modules include cell and molecular biology, orthopaedic and dental biomaterials, microscopy, infection and immunology and materials design.  Practical sessions will give you further experience of handling and testing biomaterials.

Third year

Your final year gives you the opportunity to undertake an original piece of laboratory research as part of your two-semester project, learn more about tissue engineering and biomaterial design, develop your clinical background and deepen your scientific knowledge. You will ultimately present your research project as a dissertation accompanied by a poster, both of which draw on your scientific writing and presentation skills acquired in the first and second year.  Your work may ultimately be published in a scientific journal.

As a Birmingham student you are part of an academic elite and will learn from world-leading experts. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.

Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates).

To begin with you may find this way of working challenging, but rest assured that we’ll enable you to make this transition. You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues, and a formal transition review during your first year to check on your progress and offer you help for any particular areas where you need support.

This programme enjoys access to excellent facilities, including a dedicated computer cluster within the Biomaterials Unit and a range of state-of-the-art research equipment and instrumentation. Teaching strategies include a combination of lectures, small group teaching and laboratory sessions. Throughout your programme you will gain considerable experience in oral presentation but emphasis is also placed on acquiring skills in scientific writing. Study support material is available online.

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our Biomedical Materials Science graduates have little problem in securing employment or further training. Many go on to do medical and biological research, while others have followed a variety of career options in health care and related areas, such as blood perfusion, optometry, audiology and work in medical device regulatory authorities. Some graduates continue their studies in pursuit of degrees in Medicine or Dentistry. A significant proportion have also entered traditional graduate career areas such as finance, publishing, accounting and IT.

Have a look at our alumni profile page to see what some of our students have gone on to do after completing their programme.

Your Birmingham degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target Birmingham students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CV’s and job applications will help give you the edge. In addition, our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.

Find out more about Careers Network.