Introduction

The bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences integrates transversal knowledge from genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, cell biology and statistics, among others, to offer a global vision of the causes of pathology and the tools available for studying, diagnosing and treating it.

The bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences is designed to help students acquire the necessary knowledge of the biosciences to understand the biological bases (biochemical, molecular, genetic and physiological) for the functioning of living organisms and human beings. It aims to train and prepare professionals to work in biomedical research, biological diagnosis and disease prevention, and the design of new care strategies, as well as technologists, teachers, communicators and knowledge creators in the various biomedical fields. This bachelor's degree addresses various aspects of clinical disorders from the molecular, cellular and physiological scale to their distribution in human populations to prepare professionals capable of working in different fields: it opens the doors to careers in the pharmaceutical industry, diagnostic laboratories, hospital laboratories, the biomedical industry, forensic science and the food industry, among others.

Basic information

TypeBachelor's degrees
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Biology
Branch of knowledge
  • Sciences
Mode of delivery

face-to-face

Credits240
Number of places available

165

Length of course4 academic years
Language(s) of instructionCatalan 65.3%, Spanish 25.4%, English 9.3%
Admission grade

12.377 (July 2023, start of process, via official entrance examinations/vocational training)

 

Approximate price per credit18,46 €
Compulsory placementsNo
CoordinatorM.ESTHER ESTEBAN TORNE
Course detailsIndicators
SpecializationsYes

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences integrates transversal knowledge from genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, cell biology and statistics, among others, to offer a global vision of the causes of pathology and the tools available for studying, diagnosing and treating it.

This bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences addresses various aspects of clinical disorders from the molecular, cellular and physiological scale to their distribution in human populations to prepare professionals capable of working in different fields:

  • Biomedical Research.
  • Intern Resident Biologist (BIR)
  • Diagnosis Laboratories.
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: Drug, Vaccine, and Diagnostic Test Production.
  • Agri-food Industry: Safe Food Production in Healthcare.
  • Veterinary Industry: Drug, Vaccine, and Diagnostic Test Production.
  • Other Industries: Biotech, Product Development and Biomedical Laboratory Equipment Production.
  • Public Health Institutes.
  • Health Problem Monitoring Agencies.
  • Drug Use Control Agencies.
  • Service and Consultant Businesses in Diagnosis Products or Biomedical Research.

Competences

Competences are the capacity of a person to put knowledge, skills, ideas and values in practice in a specific context. They encompass a set of knowledge ("to know"), skills ("to know how to do"), and attitudes and values ("to be") to face problems in academic, professional and social contexts.

In accordance with the Royal Decree 861/2010, modifying Royal Decree 1393/2007, and also following the proposal of the University of Barcelona (2008), the bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences provides a series of basic and general competences (including those cross-disciplinary for all UB degrees), in addition to several specific competences acquired throughout the different subjects.

BASIC COMPETENCES:

 — Capacity to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in an area of study based on the grounding provided in general secondary education. The level is that of advanced textbooks, but also includes aspects relating to the latest knowledge in the field of study.

— Capacity to apply knowledge to your work in a professional way, and    to develop certain competences that can be used to formulate and defend arguments and to solve problems related to the area of study.

— Capacity to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within the study area) to make judgements based on reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

— Capacity to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

— Learning skills required for further study with a high degree of independence.

GENERAL AND CROSS-DISCIPLINARY COMPETENCES

— Commitment to ethical practice (critical and self-critical capabilities, and capacity to demonstrate attitudes consistent with accepted notions of ethical practice).

— Capacity for learning and responsibility (capacity for analysis and synthesis, to adopt global perspectives and to put knowledge into practice, and capacity to take decisions and to adapt to new situations).

— Ability to work in a team (capacity to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project, and capacity to work in cross-disciplinary and multicultural teams).

— Creative and entrepreneurial skills (capacity to conceive, design and manage projects, and capacity to research and integrate new knowledge and approaches).

— Concern for sustainability (capacity to assess the social and environmental impact of actions taken in a particular setting and capacity to adopt integrated and systemic approaches.

— Communication skills (capacity to understand and communicate orally and in writing).

SPECIFIC COMPETENCES are described in the bachelor's degree report (pages 5 and 6). These competences are acquired in the different subjects of the degree.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

The recommended applicant profile for all students is that of upper secondary school education in sciences and technology, as established in current education legislation. Students who come from other educational systems should have the knowledge equivalent to that of upper secondary school education in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, as well as a good level of English. Students accessing the degree through the route planned for students over 25 or from higher education vocational courses should be aware that the degree has a high level of exigency and that some subjects such as Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics that are taught in the first year must be kept up with on a daily basis, as if they had studied the upper secondary school in science and technology and passed the subjects with an excellent grade. For any doubt, students can contact the Head of Studies.

Access requirements and conditions

Admission for students with studies completed outside Spain.

Applicants holding higher educational qualifications from a university outside Spain should consult the page Admission with foreign qualifications to find out about specific admission requirements.
 

Pre-enrolment

Students that have studied abroad and who wish to study at the University of Barcelona may be admitted to EHEA bachelor's degree courses. Procedures for gaining admission will depend on the qualifications held by each applicant.

For further information about admission, consult the page Admission with foreign qualifications.
 

Enrolment

As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online via the Món UB portal. To find out the date and time you have been assigned, check the specific information for your course. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned.

Academic information

 

Welcome

Support and guidance

Pre-enrolment information and events

 

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Basic training 66
Compulsory 150
Optional 12
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 12
TOTAL 240

List of subjects

Subject Language Type Credits
Anatomy 1st semester Basic training 6
Biology: Introduction to Biomedicine 1st semester Basic training 6
Chemistry 1st semester Basic training 6
Cytology 1st semester Compulsory 6
Mathematics: Applications to Biomedicine 1st semester Basic training 6
Biochemistry 2nd semester Basic training 6
Biomedical Laboratory and Instrumentation 2nd semester Basic training 6
Biophysics 2nd semester Basic training 6
Histology and Organography 2nd semester Compulsory 6
Statistics 2nd semester Basic training 6
Subject Language Type Credits

Pathways and specializations

Biomedical Sciences: Faculty of Biology
Biomedical Sciences: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Check the planning of the different pathways of the degree

Previous years

Placements

Placements are supervised by tutors and subject to assessment.They are therefore included in the academic record.  There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 500 hours, which can be extended to 900 hours. For both curricular and non-curricular placements, an educational cooperation agreement is signed between the UB and the company, institution or other organization at which the placement will be carried out.
 

Institutional information

 

Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

Fields in which you can work

  • Biology internships.
  • Laboratory diagnosis.
  • The pharmaceutical industry, including drug development and the production of vaccinations and diagnostic tests.
  • The agrofood industry, including the production of safe foods in the area of health.
  • The veterinary industry, including drug development and the production of vaccinations and diagnostic tests.
  • Biotechnology.
  • Biomedical laboratory products and equipment.
  • Biomedical research.
  • Public health.
  • Health monitoring.
  • Drug use control.
  • Private sector services and consultancy in products used for biomedical diagnosis and research.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

Contact us

Faculty of Biology

Diagonal, 643 - 08028 Barcelona
Secretary: 934 021 087
secretaria-biologia@ub.edu

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Secretary:


​​​​​Questions mailbox