• This flexible programme enables you to choose different options from an approved list, thereby tailoring your degree towards the engineering, biological or business aspects of new medicine development.

• The department has amongst the most modern and comprehensive biochemical engineering facilities of any university in the world. Valued at over £35 million, they attract leading industrial collaborators.

• Our teaching is designed to help you work at a detailed analytical level, and also to see the bigger picture in terms of addressing environmental and ethical issues.

• We have been pioneers in providing our undergraduates with training to help them understand the business environment in which life science industries operate. This prepares you better for your future career.

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, you will study the fundamentals of biochemistry and cell biology, which are required to understand the technologies used in early stages of new medicine development. Case studies will look at the challenges of creating new medicines, disease states and the ethical considerations of working in the biopharmaceutical industry.

The second year examines the intricate signalling structures within the human body, and looks at the immune memory that new vaccines seek to stimulate. In addition, you will be required to consider the commercialisation of new medicines and will develop your knowledge of intellectual property and how to manage it in a global market.

The research project is a core component of the third year, along with modules in business planning and the bioprocessing of new medicines. At least one optional module is offered every year of your programme, enabling you to tailor your degree towards the business side of the new medicines industry or the biomolecular side.

Modules

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

Your learning

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, case studies, team-based projects and experiments. Leading industrialists and researchers regularly visit the department to provide guest lectures. Case studies are conducted in small teams, and your personal and departmental tutors are available to offer individual support.

Assessment

Written examinations, individual reports, coursework and oral presentations all contribute towards your assessment.

Further Information

Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Bioprocessing of New Medicines (Science and Engineering) BSc.

The core science, engineering, business and leadership skills that you acquire on the programme will provide you with excellent and diverse career prospects. In addition to your core subject knowledge, the programme will provide you with skills such as innovative thinking, team-working and computing.

The excitement of advances towards new medicines and greener sustainable processes is creating an ever-growing need for biochemical engineering graduates in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, biofuels, chemical, environment and food industries.

You may be based in a university, or you may work in company research and development activity involved with the design of facilities and creating safe materials. The programme teaches skills in systematic thinking and precise calculation, which leads some graduates to enter the financial sector (particularly those companies that invest in healthcare).

Destinations

The first cohort of students admitted to the Bioprocessing of New Medicines (Science and Engineering) BSc programme graduated in 2015. Therefore, information about career destinations for students on this programme is currently emerging. Many of our students have gone on to further study in a particular specialism, such as bioscience enterprise. Others have gone on to take MRes programmes and are now embarking upon PhDs.

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.

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

£26,740 (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.

Several major international companies have established a trust fund with the department. This fund provides five bursaries, each worth at least £1,500, which are open to all applicants of this programme.

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.