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LSC-30044 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 19 September 2026

LSC-30044 - Double Applied Biomedical Science Placement - ISP
Coordinator: Trish Procter Room: Hux168 Tel: +44 1782 7 33771
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 6
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module is the culmination of your Applied Biomedical Science Placement.
On returning to Keele for your final year of study, you will have completed your IBMS registration portfolio, demonstrating that you meet the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Biomedical Scientists.
Whilst on placement, you will have engaged with a series of placement activities, learning with and from other students and healthcare professionals.
During this final year, you will complete a scientific report positioning your placement work within the context of existing knowledge and NHS Pathology services for the provision of high-class patient care. You will also co-deliver ABMS information workshops for the level 5 LSC-20040 cohort promoting the Biomedical Science profession.
At the end of semester 2 you will present your research in the form of an oral presentation and poster at the Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference.

Aims
To complete and achieve successful verification of the ABMS Placement Portfolio, incorporating the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Biomedical Scientists.
To consolidate learning from the Applied Biomedical Science (ABMS) placement, by the preparation of a detailed scientific report based on project work carried out on placement.
To complete and achieve successful verification of the ABMS Placement Portfolio, incorporating the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Biomedical Scientists.
To consolidate learning from the Applied Biomedical Science (ABMS) placement, by the preparation of a detailed scientific report based on project work carried out on placement.
To provide students with the opportunity to enhance their evidence-based approach to solving problems and further develop both their analytical skills in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating scientific problems and ability to independently gather and analyse experimental data.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically review current literature to provide up-to-date, scientific context to a research problem within NHS Pathology services
: 1
design a robust methodological approach to investigate a scientific problem within NHS Pathology services: 1
identify potential ethical challenges and develop appropriate justification for scientific pursuit within an appropriate framework: 1,2
identify risks and hazards and apply fundamental principles of health and safety legislation to devise appropriate risk assessments: 2
generate and analyse appropriate data set(s) and present to a scientific audience:: 1,4
interpret complex scientific dat and relate that to current literature
: 1,4
appraise your own work to identify strengths, limitations and ways to improve
: 1
conduct yourself in the research environment in a professional manner (for example, technical competence, note taking, record-keeping, time-keeping etc): 2
communicate complex findings effectively to a mixed audience: 3,4
demonstrate how you have met the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Biomedical Scientists, including maintaining professional conduct within the laboratory through adherence to research ethics, effective record-keeping, punctuality, and engagement in continuing professional development, and critically evaluate the role of Pathology in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of disease: 5

Study hours

PLACEMENT HOURS
175 hours:
100 hours lab work
50 Portfolio preparation
5 hours portfolio verification/lab tour
20 Planning and data generation for dissertation
IN-SITU LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
5 hours learning/teaching activities, comprising:
level 5 workshop development and delivery
12 hours: meetings with supervisor
8 hours attendance to Level 6 undergraduate student conference
INDEPENDENT STUDY AND ASSESSMENT:
50 hours preparation of dissertation
10 hours preparation of oral presentation
10 hours preparation of research poster
30 hours independent learning

School Rules

Conditional on satisfactory verification of the Applied Biomedical Science Placement Portfolio as evidence of meeting the HCPC Standards of Proficiency whilst on placement.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Dissertation weighted 60%
9,000 word research report
The dissertation should comprise: a critical review of the background literature contextualising your problem and bringing the subject up-to-date; accurate methodologies demonstrating understanding of underlying principles, ensuring quality assurance, recognising and limiting potential risks and hazards and justifying ethical concerns and statistical approach; accurate and concise data presentation and a frank analysis of all findings linked to current literature and the potential for future work.

2: Competence weighted 20%
Professional Skills Assessment
Marks are awarded to each student based on a range of professional skills that the student is able to demonstrate across the project. Skills include: awareness of and compliance with health and safety; ethics; time keeping; organisation; independence; preparation; technical competence; problem solving and communication skills.

3: Presentation weighted 0%
5-10-minute oral presentation
Students will present a 5-10 minute summary of their research during the Level 6 undergraduate student conference. Weighting is set at pass/fail to mitigate student anxiety around presentations, given the higher stakes format of presenting during an undergraduate conference.

4: Poster weighted 20%
Poster
Students will produce a research poster to summarise and contextualise the key findings of their research project. These will be displayed during the Level 6 undergraduate student conference.

5: Portfolio weighted 0%
Successful verification of the ABMS Portfolio incorporating HCPC SOPs for BMSs with supporting evidence
The ABMS Placement Portfolio incorporates all of the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Biomedical Scientists. The assessment requires the successful verification of a completed portfolio, with all standards signed off as completed by placement training officers and/or academic placement officer.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 19 September 2026