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Course type: Diploma

Diploma

Widely recognised qualification.

Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree.

Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject.

Study for interest or career development.

Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.
Credits: 240

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.

One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.

You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Entry requirements: Find out more about; Entry requirements

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Diploma of Higher Education in Biomedical Sciences

: Course code: W24

Biomedical sciences is a broad area of modern science and underpins much of contemporary medicine. By studying a biomedical sciences diploma, you’ll understand how the human body works and how illnesses are diagnosed. Learn more about how cells, tissues, organs, and body systems function together and their impact on health and disease. You’ll learn how the human body works by studying anatomy and physiology, and how we prevent and diagnose diseases. Our biomedical sciences diploma will also teach you practical skills through our award-winning OpenSTEM Labs and, in some cases, extended reality.

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Key features

Gain a contemporary understanding of the biomedical sciences
Explore health and disease from a multidisciplinary, evidence-based perspective
Develop investigative and laboratory skills using our state-of-the-art multi-award-winning OpenSTEM labs
Participate in innovative online collaborative and virtual experiences, including extended reality
Develop transferable skills that enhance your employability in a variety of settings

This Diploma of Higher Education is the same as Stages 1 and 2 of our BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences (R87).

Course type

Diploma

Credits

240

How long it takes

Part-time study – 4 years

Full-time study – 2 years

Time limit – 12 years

Study method

Distance learning

Entry requirements

Find out more about Entry requirements

Ask a question

Course details

This biomedical sciences diploma has two stages, each comprising 120 credits.

In Stage 1, you’ll study two 60-credit modules.
In Stage 2, you’ll study two 60-credit modules.

You’ll begin by studying one 60-credit health sciences module and one 60-credit human biology module.

Stage 1 modules
Modules	Credits
You'll study the following:
Science and health: an evidence-based approach (SDK100)	60
Human biology: a body in balance (SK190)	60

You’ll study one 60-credit module exploring health and disease and one 60-credit module focused on disease diagnosis.

Stage 2 modules
Modules	Credits
You’ll study the following:
Investigating human health and disease (S290)	60
Clinical laboratory diagnostics (S291)	60

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 18 March 2025.

Accessibility

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services. Our Diploma of Higher Education in Biomedical Sciences uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:

Online study – most modules are online; some have a mix of printed and online material. Online learning resources could include websites, audio/video, and interactive activities
Pre-determined schedules – we’ll help you to develop your time-management skills
Assessment in the form of short-answer questions, essays, and examinations
Feedback – continuous assessment includes feedback from your tutor and using this to improve your performance
Using and producing diagrams and screenshots
Finding external/third-party material online
Accessing online catalogues and databases
Specialist software
Mathematical and scientific expressions, notations and associated techniques
Online tutorials
Group-work
Practical work

Every module has its own Accessibility Statement with more detailed accessibility information – you’ll find these on individual module descriptions.

Visit our Disability support page to learn about our services.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

Knowledge and understanding
Cognitive skills
Practical and professional skills
Key skills

Read the detailed learning outcomes here

Credit transfer

If you’ve already completed some university-level study somewhere else, you may be able to count it towards this qualification – which could save you time and money by reducing the number of modules you need to study. At the OU we call this credit transfer.

It’s not just university study that can be considered, you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications such as HNCs and HNDs.

You should apply for credit transfer before you register, at least 4 weeks before the registration closing date. For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

On completion

On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Diploma of Higher Education in Biomedical Sciences.

You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

International recognition

If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Find out more about international recognition of Open University qualifications.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Diploma of Higher Education in Biomedical Sciences

Compare this course

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

At The Open University we believe education should be open to all, so we provide a high-quality university education to anyone who wishes to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.

Even though there are no entry requirements, there are some skills that you’ll need to succeed. If you’re not quite ready for OU study we can guide you to resources that prepare you, many of which are free.

Answer a few quick questions to check whether you’re ready for study success

Stage 1 comprises two modules: Science and health: an evidence-based approach  (SDK100) and Human biology: a body in balance (SK190). Check you’re ready for these modules with the resources below:

Biomedical Sciences or Health Sciences?

Biomedical Sciences and Health Sciences are related but distinct fields that vary in focus and scope.

Biomedical Sciences focuses on the underlying physiology of human health and disease and how diseases are diagnosed and treated.
Health Sciences has a broader scope that considers the science behind the health, healthcare and wellbeing of mind and body.

Find out more about our health sciences qualifications:

How much time do I need?

Most of our students study part time, completing 60 credits a year.
This will usually mean studying for 16–18 hours a week.

Find out if you have enough time to study with our time planner

Preparing for study with an Access module

Students who start their study with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to Stage 1 of their qualification. They’re specially designed to give you a gentle introduction to OU study, boost confidence in your study skills, and help you gain a broad overview of your chosen subject area.

You’ll also benefit from:

feedback from your tutor through regular one-to-one phone tutorials
support from a dedicated team throughout your study
detailed written feedback on your work.

The Access module we’d recommend studying in preparation for this qualification is our:

Science, technology and maths Access module

What you will study

This multidisciplinary module is an ideal starting point if you have little or no previous knowledge of the sciences, technology and mathematics. It’ll help develop your study skills in advance of your OU qualification, and you get to explore a number of STEM subjects including science, engineering and design, environment, mathematics, and computing and IT.

View full details of Science, technology and maths Access module

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Fees and funding

Compare the cost of studying at the OU with other campus-based universities in England.

Qualification	Total cost at campus university*	Total cost at The Open University**	Saving with The Open University
Honours Degree	£28,605	£23,352	£5,253 (18%)
Diploma of Higher Education	£19,070	£15,568	£3,502 (18%)
Certificate of Higher Education	£9,535	£7,784	£1,751 (18%)

Honours Degree

Total cost at campus university* £28,605

Total cost at The Open University** £23,352

Saving with The Open University £5,253 (18%)

Diploma of Higher Education

Total cost at campus university* £19,070

Total cost at The Open University** £15,568

Saving with The Open University £3,502 (18%)

Certificate of Higher Education

Total cost at campus university* £9,535

Total cost at The Open University** £7,784

Saving with The Open University £1,751 (18%)

*Based on maximum chargeable fees for 25/26 academic year.

**The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section 5 of the University's Fee Rules.

How you'll study

How will I study this course?

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

a week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
details of each assignment and their due dates
a tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
online versions of some printed module materials and resources.

If you have additional needs, we can also provide most module materials in alternative formats. Find out more about materials on our accessibility webpage.

Tutor support

You’ll have a tutor for each module, who will introduce themselves before the module begins.

Throughout the module, they will:

mark your assignments and give feedback to help you improve
guide you to learning resources
support you, whether with general study skills or help with a specific topic.

Tutorials

Tutorials usually take place online, and they’re always optional.

Online tutorials are live presentations with module tutors in dedicated online tutorial rooms and are sometimes recorded.

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.
If a module has an in-person exam (that you must take at one of our exam centres) or is invigilated online, we’ll make this clear in the module description.

Progressing to a point where I felt more comfortable writing my assignments, and having my scores reflecting that, made me quite happy because it showed the hard work was being rewarded.
Patrick ‘Ricky’ Skene, BSc (Hons) Sport, Fitness and Coaching

Other support and resources

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to our subject-specific Student Support Teams.

They’ll help you with any general questions about your study and updates to your OU account.

To help with your studies, you’ll also have access to:

our online library, with high-quality online resources to support your study
other university libraries in the UK and Ireland
the online Help Centre, which has general information about OU study and support, along with study skills advice
free Microsoft Office 365 software
IT and computing support from our Computing Helpdesk.

Find out more about student support and being a part of the OU community.

Careers

Skills for career development

This qualification develops key skills for biomedical sciences, including intellectual, communication, presentation, information technology, interpersonal, teamwork, self-management and professional development skills. Through interactive online experiments and activities, you’ll develop your initiative and practical and professional skills. You’ll develop analytical, data interpretation and problem-solving skills through recording and analysing data in the laboratory or elsewhere; preparing, processing, interpreting and presenting data; and evaluating published claims by interpreting methodology and experimental data.

Career relevance

The qualification allows you to explore how the human body works and how illnesses are diagnosed. It focuses on how cells, organs and body systems function together and considers their impact on each other in health and disease. It explores current developments in biomedical sciences and considers wider implications on a local, regional, national and global scale. This qualification will stand you in good stead for further study and various graduate-entry careers, including life science and pharmaceutical industries, research laboratories or institutes, healthcare and diagnostics sales or marketing, education, food industry and safety, forensics and the health-related regulatory sector.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice – including online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime, if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point (note that some careers may require further study, training or work experience beyond your diploma):

bioinformatician
biomedical researcher
clinical trials assistant
further education lecturer
healthcare marketing
healthcare sales
health promotion specialist
health services administrator
laboratory technician
medical sales representative
medical writer
research assistant.

Register for this course

Start dates

Oct 2025 - Registration closes 11/09/2025
Feb 2026 - Registration closes 08/01/2026

Credit transfer: apply by 14/08/2025

Credit transfer: apply by 04/12/2025

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