College of Biomedical Science

In 2006 the IBMS, in association with the Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Science (HUCBMS), founded the College of Biomedical Science; an independent organisation established to determine the value of the Institute’s professional qualifications through the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).

CATS is a points system recognised by all UK higher education institutions as a method of quantifying credit for a particular course. Points can be collected at undergraduate, Masters and Doctorate level. The value of a CATS unit is based on the learning time attached to the learning outcomes and credit level. One credit is assigned to learning outcomes achievable in 10 hours of notional learning time.

The College of Biomedical Science has worked closely with the University of Wales, Cardiff (UWIC), in assessing the CATS value of the Institute’s Higher Specialist Diploma (HSD), and the Department of Lifelong Learning at UWIC recently attributed 40 Masters-level CATS points for the award of the HSD and an additional 40M1 level credit points for the work based learning aligned to each specific diplomas.

The College is chaired by Sir Duncan Nichol, the former CEO of the NHS and the current chairman of CPA (UK) Ltd.

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