Jonika Edgecombe:

Talofa lava, my name is Jonika, and I have just finished my Bachelor of Biomedical Science. My major was reproduction, genetics, and development.

The thing I really enjoyed about this degree was that I got to experience a broad range of topics within my major. I discovered that I really enjoyed genetics, and I got to explore that way more in depth. I discovered areas of the subject that I didn’t even know existed, and I’m now pursuing that at a postgraduate level, doing my honours this year.

If you’re thinking about biomedical sciences, I really recommend you talk to a careers advisor at your school or any students who have gone to Otago that you know of, who can maybe give you some advice about it.

Associate Professor Liz Ledgerwood:

Kia ora, I’m Liz Ledgerwood, and I’m the Director of the Biomedical Sciences Programme at Otago University.

So, what is biomedical science? Biomedical science is the study of the human body, from what’s happening in the individual cells through to the whole body, and then how we might diagnose diseases and how we might treat diseases.

If you’re really interested in how our body works and how we can understand how our body works, you might be interested in doing a degree in Biomedical Sciences at Otago.

The Biomedical Sciences degree is a three-year programme. In your first year, you study biology subjects, as well as chemistry and physics. You can take these subjects either as part of Health Sciences First Year or the Biomedical Sciences First Year programme. After this, you have the opportunity in Biomedical Sciences to choose a combination of subjects that really interests you.

We have six majors. For example, you might combine anatomy and genetics to study reproduction, development, and genetics, or you might combine physiology and pharmacology in your study of drugs and human health. It’s really a degree that you can tailor to your interests.

Our graduates in Biomedical Science go on to a wide range of careers, both in New Zealand and internationally. Many of our students go on to further study—this could be with us, as we have postgraduate programmes in Dunedin, Wellington, and Christchurch. Other students go on to study in health professional programmes such as medicine, dentistry, or audiology.

We also have students who become involved in education—some become secondary school teachers, others university lecturers like me. Some go on to work for the government, and try and put into practice, what we learn in research, into government policy.

Otago University is a world leader in Biomedical Sciences. When you come to study Biomedical Science at Otago, you’ll be taught by researchers who are at the forefront of this field, whether it’s in infectious diseases or in cancer genetics, for example. You’ll really get the opportunity for hands-on learning—not just lectures, but also a lot of practical work—so you can truly understand how we discover what we know about our bodies.

So, if this sounds like you—if you’re really interested in how our body works and how we can treat people—really think about coming to Otago and doing a degree in Biomedical Sciences.