Course summary

Biochemists study the molecular basis of life. This underpins our fundamental understanding of human health and disease, and also supports applied science like drug discovery, diagnostics and biotechnology. Our Biochemistry course immerses you in ground-breaking research and gives you the opportunity to develop high-level analytical and problem-solving skills that prepare you for a diverse range of careers. In your first two years you will supplement your study of biochemistry with optional units relevant to molecular biology and biotechnology. Recent options have included Fundamentals of Molecular Microbiology, Disease and Defence, and Infection and Immunity. Your third year introduces specialist, cutting-edge aspects of biochemistry such as synthetic biology, DNA-protein interactions, and protein science in therapy and technology. Your third-year research project will be affiliated with the work of our internationally-renowned scientists, and will allow you to gain a deeper understanding by focusing on one particular aspect of biochemistry. These exciting projects include topics like the design of man-made proteins, discovering new drugs from the ocean floor, or understanding mechanisms of wound-healing. We prepare you for your future career with subject-specific employability and enterprise sessions and the chance to gain additional research experience on a summer studentship. Recent graduate destinations from our biochemistry programmes include higher degrees such as MSc or PhD, the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology companies, research institutes, the NHS, graduate medicine, teaching, forensics, civil service, medical publishing, finance, business consultancy, patent law, science communications and more.