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Contact information
- Admissions Officer
- biosciences-admissions@ucl.ac.uk
- +44 (0)20 7679 7169
Biochemistry BSc
Since its emergence as a discipline, biochemistry has worked to illuminate many of the problems that have fascinated and perplexed molecular bioscientists for generations. The Biochemistry BSc aims to equip students with the essential knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology that is at the heart of much of modern life sciences research. As such, it is a valuable entry point to a range of different careers.
Covid-19 programme updates
Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.
Key Information
Programme starts
September 2020
- UCAS code
- C700
- Duration
-
Full-time: 3 years
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2020
- Location
- London, Bloomsbury
Entry requirements
A Levels
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics required.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs
Contextual offer
- Grades
- ABB (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics required with grade A in Chemistry.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs
IB Diploma
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects to include Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematic, with no score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 34 (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics with a score of 6 in Chemistry and no score below 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics required.
A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher to include Maths). Chemistry required at Advanced Higher and either Biology and Mathematics at Advanced Higher or Biology and Mathematics with one at Advanced Higher and the other at Higher.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades AAA. Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics required.
International applications
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Degree benefits
UCL is one of the world's largest academic centres for research in biochemistry, with a centre of excellence at the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology promoting multi-disciplinary research at the interface of structural, cell and chemical biology.
Our strong links with the biosciences 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.
Degree structure
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 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 so you can focus your studies on your prefered area of interest within the discipline.
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.
Covid-19 placement updates
Due to COVID-19 updates, there may need to be changes to planned placements for this programme. This will depend on social distancing measures, the availability of the relevant placements, and the relative risk of completing the placement. Your department will keep you updated if placements are able to occur and/or any alternative options available.
Modules
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Core or compulsory module(s)
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Cells and Development
Chemistry for Biologists
Introduction to Genetics
Introduction to Microbiology
Experimental Biochemistry
Optional modules
All first year modules are compulsory.
Core or compulsory module(s)
Biomolecular Structure and Function
Metabolism and its Regulation
Molecular Biology
Physical Chemistry for Life Science Students
Either The Principles of Cellular Control or The Chemistry of Biologically Important Molecules
*modules listed for 2018/19 but organisation of delivery may change in subsequent years
Optional modules
You will select 15 credits from a wide range of modules.
Core or compulsory module(s)
A specialist reserach project module provides hands on experience in metagenomics or protein biochemistry and a literature project where you will write a review of a specific area of interest.
Optional modules
You will select modules from a wide range of options to suit your interest (60 credits).
Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study.
These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only. The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August. From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system.
There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available
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.
Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme.
Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.
Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.
There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.
Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully.
In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching.
UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.
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.
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.
If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.
Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Biochemistry BSc.
Careers
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.
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
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 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 2020/21 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
- UK/EU students
- £9,250 (2020/21)
- Overseas students
- £26,490 (2020/21)
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
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).
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.
Departmental scholarships
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
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.
Application and next steps
Your application
We use your predicted or achieved academic qualifications, your personal statement and reference to decide whether to offer you a place. Evidence of sustained interest in science, such as involvement in a science debating society, and of activities that demonstrate your self-motivation and organisational skills, will be considered favourably.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Application deadline: 15 January 2020
Selection
If you live in the UK and we have made you an offer, you will be invited to attend an offer-holder open day. This will involve talks from staff about the programme and the department, a research presentation, tours of UCL and the department and a visit to a laboratory facility.
You will have the chance to talk to current students and staff about any questions you might have about studying biochemistry.
As this degree programme is very challenging, it is vital to have a deep interest in the programme to succeed, and to convey this on your application.
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.
Page last modified on 24 February 2020