BSc Biochemistry
-
UCAS code
C700 -
A level offer
Course closed for September 2023 entry -
Year of entry
2023/24 See 2024/25 entry -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 years, with the option to include a placement year
-
Year of entry
2023/24 See 2024/25 entry -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 years, with the option to include a placement year
Learn about the molecular foundations of life itself with our BSc Biochemistry course.
Molecules are at the centre of all life from the smallest virus to the largest animal. Biochemists seek to understand how molecular processes control life at various levels; how do molecules make cells work, how do these cells coordinate in an organ and finally, how do these organs signal and work together for life to function? Biochemistry is at the forefront of understanding how molecules control and affect life, and an appreciation of these concepts allows biochemists to answer life’s fundamental questions and contribute to resolving critical biological problems such as designing drugs to treat cancer or even bacteria that can clean up an oil spill.
Through your lectures at Reading you will explore and discuss these biochemical concepts accumulating in an in-depth understanding of the subject. You will have the opportunity to study your subject in a layered approach where you will focus on the molecular and cellular concepts of biochemistry in Year 1, followed by discussions of the organ and organism effects of these biochemical processes in Year 2. Finally, in Year 3 you will study topics at the forefront of biochemistry from cutting-edge research to human disease and structural biology. During Year 3, you will also take part in an 11-week research project where you will draw on all your skills and knowledge to tackle a biochemical research question. All graduates are eligible for membership of The Royal Society of Biology and can apply for Chartered Biologist status.
Our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building is the home of the School of Biological Sciences. It offers state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café. The building also houses the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, featuring more than 3,500 natural history specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community. 98% of students in the School of Biological Sciences said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (National Student Survey, 2023).
Placement
You will have the opportunity to carry out a year-long industrial placement between your second and final year. There is also the opportunity to undertake a 3-8 week summer placement between either Part 1 and 2 or Part 2 and 3. Students in previous years have worked on industrial and summer placements at Diamond Light Source (the UK’s national synchrotron), Public Health England, GSK, AstraZeneca and Covance. You can also choose to spend a year abroad.
You will also have the opportunity to undertake paid vacation studentships funded by external organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Biochemical Society. Additionally, the University of Reading offers the UROP scheme (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme) that also offers paid studentships at the University. These studentships take place over a period of 6-10 weeks during the summer break. During studentships you will normally work on a set project and benefit from valuable training in techniques, experimental design and the interpretation of data.
Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.
For more information, please visit the School of Biological Sciences website.
Overview
Learn about the molecular foundations of life itself with our BSc Biochemistry course.
Molecules are at the centre of all life from the smallest virus to the largest animal. Biochemists seek to understand how molecular processes control life at various levels; how do molecules make cells work, how do these cells coordinate in an organ and finally, how do these organs signal and work together for life to function? Biochemistry is at the forefront of understanding how molecules control and affect life, and an appreciation of these concepts allows biochemists to answer life’s fundamental questions and contribute to resolving critical biological problems such as designing drugs to treat cancer or even bacteria that can clean up an oil spill.
Through your lectures at Reading you will explore and discuss these biochemical concepts accumulating in an in-depth understanding of the subject. You will have the opportunity to study your subject in a layered approach where you will focus on the molecular and cellular concepts of biochemistry in Year 1, followed by discussions of the organ and organism effects of these biochemical processes in Year 2. Finally, in Year 3 you will study topics at the forefront of biochemistry from cutting-edge research to human disease and structural biology. During Year 3, you will also take part in an 11-week research project where you will draw on all your skills and knowledge to tackle a biochemical research question. All graduates are eligible for membership of The Royal Society of Biology and can apply for Chartered Biologist status.
Our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building is the home of the School of Biological Sciences. It offers state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café. The building also houses the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, featuring more than 3,500 natural history specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community. 98% of students in the School of Biological Sciences said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (National Student Survey, 2023).
Placement
You will have the opportunity to carry out a year-long industrial placement between your second and final year. There is also the opportunity to undertake a 3-8 week summer placement between either Part 1 and 2 or Part 2 and 3. Students in previous years have worked on industrial and summer placements at Diamond Light Source (the UK’s national synchrotron), Public Health England, GSK, AstraZeneca and Covance. You can also choose to spend a year abroad.
You will also have the opportunity to undertake paid vacation studentships funded by external organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Biochemical Society. Additionally, the University of Reading offers the UROP scheme (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme) that also offers paid studentships at the University. These studentships take place over a period of 6-10 weeks during the summer break. During studentships you will normally work on a set project and benefit from valuable training in techniques, experimental design and the interpretation of data.
Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.
For more information, please visit the School of Biological Sciences website.
Entry requirements Course closed for September 2023 entry
Applications for 2023/24 entry (September start dates) are now closed. Please view the 2024/25 course page for information about the next year of entry.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI1BAB2 | Metabolic and Practical Biochemistry | DR Alice Pollitt |
BI1BEC1 | Building Blocks of Life | PROF Phillip Dash |
BI1BF1 | Laboratory and Study Skills for Biomedicine | DR Francoise Mazet |
BI1BM12 | Key Skills in Biomedicine | DR Chris Jones |
BI1S1 | Introductory Microbiology | DR Geraldine Mulley |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI1AP12 | Anatomy & Physiology | DR Natasha Barrett |
BI1BAC2 | Bacteriology and Virology | DR Geraldine Mulley |
BI1BP2 | Pathology | DR Sam Boateng |
BI1EPM | Fundamentals of Physics for Medicine | DR Lindsey Thompson |
CH1OR2 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry | DR Jessica Gusthart |
CH1ORB | Organic Chemistry for Biologists | DR Jessica Gusthart |
CH1PH2 | Physical Processes for Biologists | DR Joanne Elliott |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI2BC45 | Cells and Immunity | DR Mike Fry |
BI2BE4 | Pharmacology and Toxicology | PROF David Leake |
BI2BL5 | Protein Structure and Function | PROF Kimberly Watson |
BI2BM45 | Key Skills in Biomedicine 2 | DR Renee Lee |
BI2BMG4 | Molecular Genetics | DR Eva Kevei |
BI2BPB5 | Physiological Biochemistry | DR Francoise Mazet |
BI2BT5 | Introduction to Bioinformatics & Computational Biology | PROF Liam McGuffin |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI2AP12 | Anatomy & Physiology 2 | DR Natasha Barrett |
BI2BB4 | Endocrinology | PROF Phil Knight |
BI2BR5 | The Bacterial Cell | PROF Simon Andrews |
BI2EVP5 | Venoms and Poisons | PROF Phillip Dash |
BI2PLA | Summer Placement | DR Renee Lee |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI3BAI8 | Applied and Integrated Biochemistry | DR Chris Jones |
BI3BR7 | Structural Proteomics | PROF Kimberly Watson |
BI3PRO | Research Project | DR Renee Lee |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI3BA7 | Medical Genetics | DR Dyan Sellayah |
BI3BB7 | Selected Topics in Endocrinology and Endocrine Disease | DR Andrew Bicknell |
BI3BC7 | Bacterial Pathogens | DR Simon Clarke |
BI3BDI2 | Radiation in Medicine | DR Lindsey Thompson |
BI3BE8 | Cardiovascular Disease | PROF David Leake |
BI3BG8 | Mechanisms for Microbial Function | DR Glyn Barrett |
BI3BH8 | Mammalian Reproduction | PROF Phil Knight |
BI3BI8 | Neurobiology | DR Nandini Vasudevan |
BI3BJ8 | Viral Pathogens | PROF Ian Jones |
BI3BQ78 | Bacterial Pathogens & Experimental Approaches | DR Simon Clarke |
BI3BT78 | Cancer and Cell Communication | DR Mike Fry |
BI3EHD | Evolution in Health and Disease: Lessons from the Natural World | DR Dyan Sellayah |
BI3S78 | Seminars in Biology | DR Louise Johnson |
BI3ZE8 | Zoonotic Epidemiology | DR Francoise Mazet |
ED3TS4 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 4 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
FB3LNPA | Lifestyle, Nutrigenetics and Personalised Nutrition | DR Vimal Karani |
FB3NDH | Nutrition in Health and Disease | PROF Julie Lovegrove |
PM3IPD1 | Innovation and Product Development | DR Al Edwards |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*
New international students: £24,500
*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes
UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
EU student fees
With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.
Additional costs
Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
Careers
This course will prepare you for a range of science-related careers, including research, laboratory work, science sales and management, science communication and patenting.
This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) following an independent and rigorous assessment.
Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and establish a profile of key skills that bioscience employers can recognise in accredited graduates, including technical and transferable skills.
Recent employers include the Medical Research Council, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Boots, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the University itself.
92% of our graduates are in work or study 15 months after the end of their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018/19; First Degree responders from Biological Sciences).