Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Programme description

The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences is a three-year programme of professional study (180 credits). Students who complete the programme are awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, which forms the basis for authorisation as a biomedical laboratory scientist in accordance with the Act relating to Health Personnel etc. section 48.

The programme description is based on the Regulations relating to a common curriculum for health and social care education adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research. The programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

The biomedical laboratory scientist’s tasks range from routine tasks to biomedical research and development work. Biomedical laboratory scientists examine blood and other body fluids, cells and tissues from patients to obtain reliable test results for diagnostic purposes and to prevent and treat diseases. They look for microorganisms, perform cell counts, and measure medicines, chemical and biological components. They conduct gene analyses, prepare samples and look for cell and tissue changes. They also perform necessary laboratory investigations in connection with blood transfusions and transplantations.

Biomedical laboratory scientists are responsible for providing the right answers to laboratory tests at the right time. They have knowledge about biological samples, laboratory techniques, laboratory methods and analytical and biological processes that are necessary to assess the quality and medical significance of test results. Precision and honesty in laboratory work are basic requirements for the professional practice.

The work of a biomedical laboratory scientist combines knowledge of methodology and medicine with technological competence. The application of everything from simple point of care instruments to advanced laboratory equipment, automation systems and information technology are included in the professional practice.

The profession is rooted in both natural sciences and health sciences. Biomedical laboratory scientists perform their profession on the basis of values that apply to all health professionals. An overarching goal for the programme is to educate reflected professionals, through interdisciplinary cooperation, can contribute to diagnostics, reporting and follow-up of disease with the patient in focus.

A large proportion of the programme comprises practical laboratory assignments that take place in the university’s laboratories. The students also take practical training at different hospitals and research laboratories in the region. OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University's location in Oslo facilitates access competence in the relevant subject areas.

Relevance to working life

The Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences qualifies students for work in all types of medical laboratories, in the medical industry, environmental health care, infection control and medical research. Most biomedical laboratory scientists work in medical laboratories in hospitals and in the primary healthcare service.

Relevance to further education

The Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences qualifies students for admission to several master’s degree programmes. Master’s programmes in health sciences and biomedicine are particularly relevant.

The Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences covers subjects in the fields of biomedical laboratory sciences, natural sciences and the social and humanistic sciences. The programme has three main focus areas:

• laboratory medicine and medical laboratory technology
• health and disease
• professional role

The topics are closely intertwined in the teaching and form the basis for the skills that are necessary to practise the profession. Students will develop knowledge, skills and general competence that enable them to follow up and influence development of the discipline and what society requires of biomedical laboratory services.

First year of study: Fundamentals of biomedical analysis and laboratory medicine

In the first year of study, fundamental knowledge in laboratory technology and the natural sciences will be emphasised. A course in evidence-based practice is also included. Students take practical training in an outpatient clinic.

Second year of study: Biomedical analysis, methodology and diagnosis

The emphasis in this year of the programme is laboratory medicine and medical laboratory technology as a basis for diagnosis. This includes knowledge of methods, analysis, quality assurance and assessment of test results within the laboratory subjects. The students take external practical training at a laboratory for medical biochemistry.

Third year of study: Biomedical laboratory sciences and professional knowledge in practice

The last year of the programme emphasises laboratory medicine and medical laboratory technology focusing on professional knowledge in practice. Main topics are quality assurance, quality development, evidence-based practice and ethical reflection in relation to practising the profession and the practitioner’s professional role.

The students take external practical training in a blood bank and later in another laboratory for instance in microbiology, histopathology or immunology. The programme concludes with a bachelor’s thesis in biomedical laboratory science research and development work.

The structure of the programme

The programme is divided into 18 compulsory courses and incorporates both practical and theoretical teaching at the university and supervised external practical training. Each year of the programme has a scope of 60 credits.

The courses in the programme description build on each other to ensure progress, with increasing requirements for knowledge and understanding of biomedical laboratory sciences. All the courses conclude with a final assessment. The students are divided into two groups in parts of the second year of the programme. Reference is made to the course descriptions for more detailed information about of the content of the individual courses in the programme.

The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected normal workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students’ own activity and exams.

Study progress

The following progress requirements apply to the programme:

• The blood sample collection course in BIOB1000 must be approved in order to be able to take the two days’ practical training in an outpatient clinic with blood sample collection from patients.
• The first year of study must be passed before the student can start the second year*
• The second year must be passed before starting the third year**

*Exception from the progression requirement:

• The second year of study can be started even if the course BIOB1060 is not passed

** Exception from the progression requirement:

• The course BIOB1050 can be started even if the second year of study is not passed

The increasing globalisation of the labour market makes international experience and knowledge of languages and cultures more and more important. Internationalisation contributes to raising the quality of education and strengthens the academic community at the same time as it prepares the students to become global citizens.

The study programme boasts a multicultural student environment and focuses on multicultural and global issues. This approach contributes to an increased understanding and improves the students' ability to work in a professional capacity in a multicultural society. The students gain access to specialist terminology by using the English reading list, both in the form of academic literature and international research literature.

The staff’s network, research collaboration and cooperation with colleagues in other countries contribute to internationalisation. The programme is represented in international networks related to the education of biomedical laboratory scientists.

OsloMet has exchange agreements in place with universities and university colleges in Europe. Students can take parts of their study abroad, primarily in connection with the course BIOB3900 Biomedical Laboratory Science – Bachelor`s Thesis (20 credits) in the last part of the sixth semester. Similarly, foreign students can write their bachelor’s thesis as part of the programme at OsloMet.

The course BIOB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care is taught entirely in English. The course BIOB3900 Biomedical Laboratory Science – Bachelor’s Thesis will be taught in English for international students as required. The students can decide whether they wish to write their bachelor’s thesis in English or Norwegian. Students who go on exchanges must write their thesis in English if the exchange stay is in a country outside Scandinavia.

Reference is made to the criteria that apply to student exchanges and the information about stays abroad.

Coursework requirements are all types of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for being permitted to take the exam. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description.

The purpose of the coursework requirements is to:

• promote progress and academic development in the programme
• encourage students to seek out and acquire new knowledge
• facilitate cooperation and communication on nursing issues

The programme's main coursework requirements are in the form of compulsory attendance, written assignments and tests.

Compulsory attendance

There is a compulsory attendance requirement for several parts of the programme to ensure that the students have the necessary basis to achieve the learning outcomes.

A minimum attendance of 90% is required in laboratory work carried out in the education's laboratories. There is a minimum attendance requirement of 80% for scheduled group work, project work and seminars. Other activities may also be subject to compulsory attendance requirements. Detailed provisions on compulsory attendance are included in the course descriptions.

If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, the lecturer will consider whether it is possible to compensate for absence by meeting alternative requirements, for example individual written assignments. Whether or not it is possible to compensate for absence depends on the extent of the student’s absence and which activities he/she has missed. Absence from compulsory teaching that cannot be compensated for may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

The practical training courses require at least 90% attendance. For more information about the requirements that apply to the practical training, see ‘Assessment of external practical training’ below.

Written assignments

Several courses have written assignments, logs or reports as part of their coursework requirements. Written work that is not approved must be reworked before re-submission. If the work is not approved on re-submission, the student cannot take the ordinary exam/assessment.

The students are entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If a piece of required coursework is not approved, this may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

More detailed requirements for written work, deadlines etc. are set out in the teaching plan for the course in question.

Tests

Digital multiple choice tests

In some courses, the students must take individual digital tests. The tests are taken via the university learning platform and are approved when a minimum 70% of the answers are correct. The students can take the tests several times until the minimum requirement is met.

A digital test must be approved within a set deadline in order for the student to be able to take the ordinary exam. If needed, new attempts to take a new/postponed exam will be facilitated. If a piece of required coursework is not approved, this may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

Students will encounter different forms of assessment during the programme. The forms of assessment are adapted to the learning outcomes in the different courses and are intended to support learning and document that the students’ competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcomes. During the programme, the students will be given advice and guidance and their performance will be assessed. It is important and necessary to assess students’ knowledge and skills often, so that the students receive feedback on whether their performance is in line with the programme's requirements and whether they have achieved the learning outcomes.

The assessment of exams and practical training is carried out in accordance with the applicable rules set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description. All exams taken and the title of the bachelor’s thesis will be stated on the diploma.

Exam

All courses conclude with an exam. The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course, and what is assessed is whether the student has achieved the stipulated learning outcomes. The grades used are pass/fail or letter grades from A to F, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam.

Most courses have coursework requirements that must be approved before the student can take the exam. See the course descriptions for more details.

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description.

For exams where a percentage of the exam papers are assessed by an external examiner, the external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students. In such cases, one external and one internal examiner will first grade the selected papers. The internal examiner then continues grading the rest of the papers together with another internal examiner. The assessments from the first part are summarised to serve as guidelines for the assessments carried out by the two internal examiners.

Grades awarded for written exams can be appealed, cf. Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. For a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who submitted the appeal. This means that all members of the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Assessment of external practical training

External practical training is assessed as pass/fail. The assessment is based on the course’s learning outcomes, assessment criteria and the continuous suitability assessment throughout the practical training. To pass the practical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirement. The attendance requirement includes both the time spent at the practical training establishment and any teaching provided as part of the programme. The practical training requires at least 90% attendance. The following also applies for absence:

• less than 10% absence: The student can complete the practical training course as normal.
• between 10–20% absence: The student can make up for the practical training/teaching missed, if this is doable. This must be agreed with the practical training supervisor and the contact lecturer at the university.
• more than 20% absence: The student must normally retake the practical training course. This will result in delayed progress in the programme.

If the student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, the practical course will be registered as failed and count as an attempt.

Suitability

Diplomas for the completed programme will only be awarded to graduates who are suited to practise the profession. A student who represents a potential threat to the physical or mental health, rights and safety of his/her patients and colleagues is not suited for the profession.

Suitability assessments are made on a continuous basis throughout the study programme, and will be included in the overall assessment of the students' professional and personal suitability for work as health personnel. Students who demonstrate little ability to master the biomedical laboratory scientists profession must be informed of this at the earliest possible stage of the programme. They will be given supervision and advice on how to improve, or be advised to leave the programme. Special suitability assessments are used in special cases, cf. Regulation to the University and College Act, Chapter 7.