This programme seeks to understand and explain the workings of living organisms at a molecular level. By looking at molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, you will learn to understand, for example

• how cells grow and divide
• how nerve cells generate electrical signals
• how different tissues communicate with each other
• how the immune system helps us fight off infection
• how we balance food intake with our energy needs.

By understanding what happens in healthy individuals, biochemists are ideally placed to design new therapies for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and obesity.

Year 1

In your first year you will be given a general introduction to all aspects of modern biology and encouraged to acquire general scientific skills.

Year 2

In your second year, you will be introduced to the study of proteins, nucleic acids, cellular organisation and energy metabolism. You will also choose from a wide range of other courses.

Years 3 and 4

If you progress to Honours (years three and four) you will focus on proteins and nucleic acids as the key molecules in understanding living organisms including viruses, bacteria, plants and animals, including humans. There is a strong emphasis on practical laboratory work, allowing you hands-on experience of major techniques including DNA technology, characterisation of proteins and bioinformatics.

Topics you will study include

• molecular methods such as gene cloning and analysis
• nucleic acids, genomes and gene expression
• cell signalling, the cell cycle and cancer
• metabolic regulation
• hormone action
• proteins and enzymes
• muscle biochemistry
• generation of nerve signals
• immunology
• forensic toxicology.

In fourth year you will study some areas in much greater depth. The distinctive features of your final year are

• a research project carried out under the supervision of a member of academic staff.
• a dissertation
• four advanced level Honours option courses.

Projects are usually laboratory-based but can also be business-based and undertaken in conjunction with local biotechnology companies. The project gives you a real opportunity to contribute to the development of the subject and the results sometimes contribute to scientific publications.

Biochemistry can be taken as an MSci, which includes an additional placement year. This is normally spent doing research in industry or some other organisation such as a research institute. Placements are usually in the UK, but can also be taken overseas. They happen between third year and the final year of the degree.

You will have the opportunity to run your own experiments, collate and analyse your data and report results.

You will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad. There are currently two options available: the Erasmus Exchange Scheme and the International Exchange Programme.

Under the Erasmus scheme you will study at a major European university, for three to ten months. As this exchange programme is partly funded by the European Union you will receive additional financial support from the EU, to cover additional travel and living costs.

The International Exchange Programme allows you to spend a year or semester in one of our partner institutions in the following countries: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, USA.

As a Biochemistry graduate you will be well equipped for a wide variety of careers both inside and outside of science. Many of our graduates choose to work in research and diagnostic laboratories in academic institutions or industry. Many work for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Around half of our graduates go on to further study.