BMS will be accommodating applications for the third intake of the BTEC Higher National Diploma in Biomedical Science programme, which serves as a bridging programme to a degree in Biomedical Sciences. An undergraduate Biomedical Science degree facilitates entry to a subsequent Medical Higher Degree programme.

In an era where young people are constantly in search of new professions and career development within the chosen professions, a Higher National Diploma in Biomedical Science provides attractive career options for such lateral thinkers as well as for students who harbour dreams of becoming a professional Medical Doctor. In an ever-changing cosmopolitan world, it is important that new professions are introduced in Sri Lanka to sustain the country on par with the evolving trends of the global employment market.

BMS offers Edexcel HND in Biomedical Science in Sri Lanka - BMS- BTEC HND in Biomedical Science students (batch 2 ) with Dr. Dilantha Gunawardana, Academic Registrar BMS and Dr. Kevin Robertson of Northumbria University UK.

In Biomedical Science programmes, a student will undertake a comprehensive study of the structure and function of the human body, chemistry and biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, non-communicable (cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc.) and infectious diseases (AIDS, TB, etc.) and the diagnosis of disease through morphological and molecular methods. Subjects covered in the BTEC Higher National Diploma in the Biomedical Science programme are broadly similar to the pre-clinical components of a medical degree (Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Physiology, Histology, Pharmacology, etc) with the addition of accessory areas such as Molecular Biology, Statistics, Information Sciences and Laboratory Management, for the provision of skills specific for a biomedical practitioner or scientist.

Graduates from Biomedical undergraduate qualifications (diploma/degree) could function in diverse professional roles including laboratory technicians and scientists, researchers, quality controllers, scientists based in the food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, forensic scientists, university lecturers, school teachers, scientific authors/journalists, project and business managers, nutritionists, sports physiologists and patent attorneys, some of which require further study in their respective fields.

Although the modern trends in employment within the Biomedical Sciences have opened numerous doors to aspiring graduates, medicine remains a traditional favourite. In the current tertiary education setup, medicine can be pursued either as a direct undergraduate degree programme or following the completion of a subject combination that lays a foundation in the biomedical sciences, such as that performed by the HND diploma leading to an undergraduate Biomedical Science degree. Recently, Northumbria University Head of Student Recruitment, Mr. Neil Slater, while presenting possible pathways to a Medical Degree, stated that the BTEC Higher National Diploma in Biomedical Science (with the subsequent completion of a Biomedical Sciences Honours degree at Northumbria University) is one of the highly recognised pathways to a medical qualification with opportunities for clinical practice in UK or USA.

The Higher National Diploma programme permits students to commence studies in Sri Lanka, subsequently complete the Biomedical Degree in the UK and finally graduate with a Medical Higher Degree (Doctor of Medicine) from St George's University in Grenada. Students who have completed Biomedical Science Honours degree from Northumbria University are allowed entry to the second year of the Medical Higher Degree programme at St George's University.

BMS will also introduce Diploma programmes in Biotechnology and Applied Chemistry during the course of 2011, giving opportunities for Sri Lankan students to complete undergraduate scientific qualifications in a diverse range of fields.