Curious about pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Griffith but looking for some personal insight into the course?
Look no further as we’ve got you covered!
We’ve asked Aabha, a third year Bachelor of Biomedical Science student, to share her university experience with all of you by exploring the pros and cons of her degree.
Let’s dive in!
Why should you study a Biomedical Science degree at Griffith?
Top 3 Pros of a Biomedical Science Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Biomedical Science Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting Griffith Biomedical Science
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying Griffith Biomedical Science
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Biomedical Science degree at Griffith?
A Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Griffith is a 3-year degree that blends Biology and Medical Science to focus on the functioning and protection of the human body. Through hands-on, laboratory training, you will be prepared to put your scientific skills to the test and apply your clinical knowledge to assist with diagnosing and treating diseases.
Top 3 Pros of a Biomedical Science degree
#1: Variety of career pathways
“This degree opens up a lot of pathways, and I think the Griffith Medical Program afterwards is really good as well,” said Aabha.
A Biomedical Science degree equips you with a broad depth of knowledge in biology and medical science and opens many options for employment by not restricting you to a particular field of science. Biomedical Science is one of the most flexible degrees for career prospects and adding postgraduate qualifications is great for advancing your employability, particularly for academia.
#2: Internships
“I did my placement at a lab at Griffith, and I met them through Griffith, so I found that really nice,” said Aabha.
At Griffith, there are many opportunities for students to gain practical experience by undertaking internships and clinical placements. Community internships provides you with an opportunity to develop their personal and professional skills in a range of not-for-profit organisations, and Work Integrated Learning Placements allow you to undertake an internship within an industrial or research environment and earns credit towards your degree.
#3: Support programs
“I think there are so many support systems in place to assist new students. Really, all you need to do is ask, and someone will be able to help you,” said Aabha.
Griffith provides students with lots of different support structures to accommodate their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Whether you need accessibility support to accommodate your disability, academic mentors to assist with your studies or confidential counselling to help you with your mental health, Griffith is dedicated to helping you have the very best university experience.
Top 3 Cons of a Biomedical Science degree
#1: Lots of self-research
“Initially, I wasn’t really told what the pathways would be and that’s something that I had to research myself,” she told us.
Aabha said that the degree structure is not very informative when it comes to setting out possible career pathways, and that it would be helpful for different pathways to be advertised to new students.
#2: Rigid course structure
“At other unis, I know that the Biomed courses are much more flexible and are able to be tailored to your own taste, while the course at Griffith is much more fixed and it tells you what to do,” explained Aabha.
While there may not be as much flexibility to explore a range of electives, the core units provide varied levels of biological and medical science knowledge that is sure to grab your attention.
Genes and Disease provides students with case studies and laboratory activities to develop their skills as a scientist or health care worker, while Introduction to Biomedical Data Analysis equips you with the statistical skills to expertly analyse and report health results.
However, if you’re looking for a course that affords you with far more choice in designing your degree, Biomedical Science at Griffith may not be the best fit for you.
#3: Employment prospects
“I think that a Biomedical Science degree by itself is not very employable, and you do need to have more degrees further on,” said Aabha.
While a Biomedical Science degree opens doors in medicine, pharmacology and academia, an undergraduate degree alone may limit your employment opportunities and is often a starting point for postgraduate study.
Interested in research, Aabha said that she plans to do her Honours, Master’s, and then complete a PhD to boost her credentials.
Any regrets?
“I would have preferred to do one of the more employable degrees that are in the science field so I could have had a step up in the industry,” shared Aabha.
According to her, a Bachelor of Biomedical Science without Honours or an additional degree is not highly employable. She expresses regret over a lot of laboratories preferring to hire a Medical Laboratory Science student or a Bachelor of Science (Honours) student as they seem more qualified.
What do you wish you had known before starting Griffith Biomedical Science?
“I only picked Biomedical Science because I knew that I was interested in biology and I wanted to go into research, but I didn’t really know what I could do after this. I wish I had known more about the career pathways,” she said.
Similarly, to what she spoke about earlier, Aabha mentioned that she had to figure out her pathways through her own self-research, which led her to realise that you needed to have more qualifications and degrees to make yourself more employable. If anything, Aabha stressed that research is key!
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
“I’ve heard from friends studying Biomedical Science at other universities that the lecturers weren’t very responsive, and they pretty much had to self-teach themselves the content. I found that a very stark difference from my experience in Griffith,” she noted.
For Aabha, the supportive staff is a major factor that has contributed to her positive experience at Griffith. She told us that it’s easy to build relationships with the lecturers and they’re more than happy to give you some extra guidance if you need it!
What inspired you to choose Griffith Biomedical Science?
“As an international student, the reason I didn’t choose the other universities was because they were way more expensive, and I got offered a scholarship at Griffith [Excellence in High Schools in Australia],” Aabha shared.
What are the possible career paths?
Following your Biomedical Science, one of the most common pathways students choose is to go into Medicine by obtaining a Doctor of Medicine.
If you’re more interested in the theory side of things, you can also go into academia and research by completing a Master of Science or Master of Medical Research. Some of the career paths for this degree include:
- Biomedical laboratory technician
- Pathologist
- Biomedical scientist
- Toxicologist
- Biomedical sales representative
- Microbiologist
Ashley Sullivan is a Content Writer for Art of Smart Education and is currently undertaking a double degree in Communications (Journalism) and a Bachelor of Laws at UTS. Ashley’s articles have been published in The Comma and Central News. She is a film, fashion and fiction enthusiast who enjoys learning about philosophy, psychology and unsolved mysteries in her spare time.
