Biochemistry BSc

• UCL is one of the world's largest academic centres for research in biochemistry, with three major research units based here: the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, the Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and the interdisciplinary Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering.

• Our strong links with the bioscience community in London (including the Francis Crick Institute, the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, the UCL Cancer Institute and Cancer Research UK) enhance the range of research opportunities available to our students.

• You will have the opportunity to take out a one-year placement in industry before your final year of study (working in a suitable industrial or research laboratory), or to transfer to the research intensive MSci programme.

• Our excellent resources include the Darwin Research Facility, which provides state of the art centrifugation, cell culture, imaging and biomolecular structural analysis facilities and a drug discovery facility.

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

In the first year of the programme you will take compulsory core modules that are similar to those taken in the first year of other biosciences programmes. In year two, you take a number of compulsory modules, but with some optional flexibility. This flexibility to select your own modules increases in year three.

You may also choose to transfer to Biotechnology BSc or the Molecular Biology BSc after your first year, which deals more specifically with the way genetic information is stored in nucleic acids and with the controlled expression of this information and its implications for health and disease.

You may elect to spend an additional year (after year two) gaining invaluable experience in an industrial or research laboratory. Or, after year two, you may transfer to the research intensive MSci programme for a degree programme totalling four years. The final year of the BSc will focus principally on areas of the molecular biosciences selected by you and include the opportunity to carry out an investigative data-analysis project.

Modules

An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.

Your learning

Biochemistry is a practical science. You can expect to spend a significant portion of your time either in wet laboratories, where you will handle chemicals and biological materials, or in dry laboratories, where computer simulations and exercises are carried out.

You will also take part in seminars, presentations, lectures and group tutorials. You will use an online virtual learning environment (Moodle) to support your studies.

Assessment

Your assessment will include a combination of examinations, coursework, practical work, tutorial work and presentations. Many modules have in-course tests (web-based or written) and most modules have an unseen final examination.

Further Information

Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Biochemistry BSc.

Throughout your degree you will acquire a range of specific and transferable key skills, including time management and planning, technical laboratory competencies such as manual dexterity and analysis of data, and skills in teamwork, negotiation and decision-making.

Our graduates have found themselves roles in diverse fields such as toxicology, clinical biochemistry, drug and food research, industrial biotechnology, virus research and agricultural research. Some students have used their degrees to become school science teachers; others have entered other fields such as science journalism, business management, accountancy and business computing.

Destinations

First career destinations of recent graduates (2013-2015) of this programme include:

• MPhil Biochemistry, UCL
• MRes / PhD Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge
• PhD Structural, Computational and Chemical Biology,UCL

Data taken from the 'Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education' survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013-2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.

UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.

Student view

“I chose Biochemistry because it gives me a strong base to go into many different sectors after university - from research to business. I like the programme because it gives you some freedom in what you would like to learn more about.” Marc Vangerven - Biochemistry BSc Second Year

Tuition fees

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2019/20 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2019/20 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

UK/EU students

£9,250 (2019/20)

Overseas students

£24,760 (2019/20)

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Funding

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Additional costs

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Departmental scholarships

The scholarships listed below are for 2018 entry. Funding opportunities for students applying for 2019 entry will be published when they are available.

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.