If you think taking a health science course means memorising body parts and dreaming of lab coats, you’re in for a surprise. This path often gets misunderstood, and frankly, it deserves better PR. From career myths to confusion with biomedical science courses in Singapore, let’s clear the clutter. Here are ten common blunders people make when thinking about health science.
1. A Health Science Course Is Just Medical School Lite
Let’s set the record straight. A health science course isn’t a cheaper, easier route to becoming a doctor. In fact, most students don’t even aim for medical school. They’re more interested in public health, health promotion, healthcare policy, or rehabilitation. It’s a full track on its own, not a stepping stone.
2. It’s All Muscles and Microbes
Think again. While you’ll brush up on human biology, a typical health science course explores areas like mental health, environmental health, health informatics, and healthcare systems. If you thought you’d be dissecting frogs for three years, you’ll be pleasantly mistaken.
3. You’ll Be Chained to a Hospital Job
Some imagine a health science course route leads only to clinics and wards. Graduates end up in NGOs, corporate wellness departments, insurance firms, or even government health units. This degree is for people who want to make a difference without necessarily wielding a scalpel.
4. Biomedical Science Is Basically the Same Thing
Not quite. Biomedical science courses in Singapore focus more on disease mechanisms, lab diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development. You’ll spend more time with microscopes and samples. In contrast, a health science course leans into prevention, community health, and managing systems that keep populations well. They complement each other but serve different purposes.
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5. It’s Too Broad to Be Useful
Flexibility doesn’t mean fluff. A health science course teaches you how to identify patterns in health data, improve healthcare access, and work across different systems. Whether you end up in programme planning, data analysis, or outreach, you’ll leave with skills that employers actually use.
6. It’s All Theory, No Practice
You won’t just be reading about case studies, you’ll be working with real organisations. Many health science course programmes include internships, projects, or field placements. Think health campaigns, community screenings, or policy audits. It’s hands-on without being in the ER.
7. There’s No Job Without a Postgrad Degree
While some roles, like physiotherapy or speech therapy, need more study, entry-level jobs are waiting for health science grads. Health administrator. Care coordinator. Wellness officer. If you’re looking to start a career straight out of school, a health science course can still open that door.
8. You Won’t Work in a Lab Anyway, So Why Bother?
True, most health science course grads don’t work in labs, but they often work with people who do. Understanding science, policy, and communication makes you the bridge between research and the real world. If labs aren’t your thing, this path helps you stay in science without getting elbow-deep in petri dishes.
9. Employers Don’t Know What the Degree Means
That used to be the case, but not anymore. With global health concerns growing and local systems under pressure, hiring managers across industries now value health science skills. Whether in Singapore or elsewhere, more companies understand what a health science course brings to the table.
10. Biomedical Science Courses in Singapore Offer More Options
Depends on what you want. Biomedical science courses in Singapore offer strong lab training and often lead to specialised roles in diagnostics, R&D, or pharma. But a health science course is built for those who want broader choices, whether shaping policy, managing public health programmes, or working in education. It’s not about more options, just different ones.
A future in health doesn’t have to follow a straight line. Whether you’re curious about people, policy, or prevention, a health science course might be your perfect fit. Contact MDIS to learn how you can build a career that keeps the world ticking.
