Membership help

Any degree in a subject that is referred to as being within the biomedical science QAA benchmark statement*.

Subjects related to biomedical science include:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Genetics
• Molecular and cell biology
• Biochemistry (including medical biochemistry)
• Immunology (including clinical immunology)
• Microbiology (including biotechnology)
• Reproductive science (e.g embryology)
• Cellular pathology
• Medical microbiology
• Haematology

Please note, this list is indicative and not exclusive.

If you have any questions about whether your qualification makes you eligible for Licentiate membership please email the Membership Team. 

*Please see subjects listed under Defining Principles 2.2 of the QAA benchmark statement.

If your professional qualification is not listed under the IBMS membership grades, please email the Membership Team. 

Yes - we will accept official notification of your degree results on University headed paper. However, you must send in a copy of your degree certificate as soon as it is issued.

Please visit our overseas membership page for information on how to join the IBMS or upgrade your membership with qualifications gained overseas.

To provide evidence of your professional biomedical science related experience, you will need to send us a supporting statement from your laboratory manager confirming that your professional experience equates to that of an honours graduate, along with your application form and a copy of your degree certificate.

Your laboratory manager needs to complete the supporting statement form, confirming that you demonstrate the higher level skills and other attributes of an honours graduate biomedical scientist. If your laboratory manager is not an IBMS member, the supporting statement will need to be sent as an attachment to subs@ibms.org from your laboratory manager’s work email address or on official letter headed paper.

These skills and attributes are included in the supporting statement that your laboratory manager needs to complete as part of your application to join the IBMS. 

No - your professional experience gained abroad can count towards any professional experience requirements for IBMS membership.

You can pay by sterling bank draft, credit or debit card or by setting up an annual or monthly direct debit.

Please note
It is not possible to pay by direct debit if you are joining in the last quarter of the year (i.e. Oct start date). 

Overseas members without a UK bank account will be required to pay their membership subscription fee by sterling bank draft or credit card.

A registration fee is payable when you join us for the first time, or if you rejoin us after your membership has lapsed. 

Please include the £20 registration fee with your initial membership fee payment.

Please send an email to subs@ibms.org with your IBMS number and date of birth to confirm that you would like to cancel your membership.

Cancellations cannot be back dated and will only be actioned on or after the date the request is received.

Please refer to the IBMS cancellation and refunds policy for further information. 

No - when your IBMS membership ceases you can no longer use the IBMS’s designatory initials (LIBMS/MIBMS/FIBMS). Your access to services in the members’ area of the website will also cease, including our CPD scheme.

Please note: If you have Science Council membership that has been awarded through the IBMS you can no longer use their designatory initials either.

Yes - to rejoin the IBMS at the same grade of membership you must reapply and make payment of your subscription fees and the £20 registration fee.

You will not need to resubmit any copies of qualification certificates that you have previously sent to us, unless requested. 

Please note
If you apply to re-join in the same year that your membership lapsed, the full year's membership fee will apply

Yes - providing you meet the requirements you will be admitted to the higher grade of membership at the point of rejoining.

If you are rejoining and/or upgrading you will need to pay a £20 registration fee.  

Please email subs@ibms.org with a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate or deed poll confirming your change of name and we will action it for you.

Please send an email to subs@ibms.org with a copy of the relevant certificate and we will action it for you.