Course summary

Our five-year biochemistry course lies at the core of modern bioscience, allowing you to investigate the structure and function of biological systems at the molecular level. You’ll do a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree. Throughout the course, you'll study proteins, enzymes, hormones and receptors. Crucially, you’ll also learn about the various ways that biochemistry can be applied to major challenges affecting humanity today, from how we sustainably feed a global population, to healthy ageing and how new drugs are designed. Alongside these core ideas in biochemistry, you’ll be exposed to cutting edge ideas in genetics, microbiology and plant sciences. From your first year you’ll study modules that span the molecular biosciences. Alongside these modules you’ll have the freedom to explore complementary topics across the breadth of bioscience, such as biomedicine, ecology, plant science and zoology. This flexibility allows you to study biochemistry in greater depth, keep your interests broad or even switch to another degree in the biosciences. No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop the practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis. We’ll give you plenty of opportunities to apply your new skills and knowledge. You’ll be in the lab completing practicals across molecular genetics, DNA manipulation and protein structure analysis. You’ll get the chance to use cutting-edge equipment to run your own in-depth research projects in an area such as clinical diagnostics or brewing biotechnology. Whether you choose to focus solely on biochemistry, or study a range of topics across the molecular biosciences and beyond, your personal tutor will support you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals. Our students have found placements at global pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and Pfizer, but your placement doesn't have to be in the lab. You could look outside the bioscience industry in areas including market research, communications or business development. A placement is a great opportunity to test out a career path and many students are offered a graduate-level job at the end. You'll pay reduced fees for the year you're on placement and you'll still have the support you need from your tutor and the University.