Course summary

Biochemists study the molecular basis of life. This underpins our fundamental understanding of human health and disease and also supports applied science such as 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. You can tailor the course to suit your interests across all years by combining your study of core biochemistry units with a choice of optional units. In the first year these include anatomy, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology. Your second year combines biochemistry and molecular genetics with a choice of units such as neurophysiology, infection and immunity, mathematics, and languages. In the final year you will select from a choice of advanced units in biochemistry, such as synthetic biology, neurobiochemistry and cancer. 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 focus on the development of your practical and research skills throughout the first two years. We also offer summer studentships and subject-specific employability and enterprise sessions. 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, the civil service, medical publishing, finance, business consultancy, patent law, science communications and more. This course is available for intercalation.