Student testimonials

"The degree programme is varied and provides a range of modules, which allowed me to sample various subjects and future career disciplines within the field of Science." - Saaira Gill - BSc Biochemistry

"During my time at Queen Mary I had the chance to receive teaching from lecturers who were themselves deeply involved with the topics they were teaching. It is a source of inspiration and wonder to be on the very edge of our understanding of nature, and this was conveyed expertly on diverse topics such as protein structure, neuroscience and genetics. The opportunity in the final year to delve into a real research project and try to plan and execute longer, coherent lab work was an amazing experience, and opens your eyes to what science is really about." - Silas Mellor – BSc Biochemistry

Careers

Many opportunities exist for biochemists in research. This may be university-based, undertaken in the laboratory of a commercial company developing products such as pharmaceuticals, or involve working in a government-run laboratory in a hospital or in the public health service.

Biochemists are also employed in monitoring environmental pollutants, testing biological samples provided by health or forensic services, and quality control in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries.

Careers outside of the laboratory include patent registration and intellectual property law (due to the explosion in biotechnology industries), technical book and magazine publishing (including editing scientific journals) and library-based research for non-scientific organizations such as construction companies and the House of Commons!

BSc Biochemistry (C700)

C700 Images

Biochemistry integrates biology and chemistry, providing a molecular-level description of the living world. The application of molecular concepts to complex biological systems is at the cutting edge of science in the twenty-first century. Students following this programme receive instruction not only in key biochemical concepts, but also in the chemistry underpinning these concepts and the applications of biochemistry in biotechnology and the treatment of disease. The programme is further enhanced by instruction in related subjects such as neuroscience, immunology and cell biology.

Programme structure

In BSc Biochemistry, it is the combination of the main strengths of the School, Biology and Chemistry, that equips students on this programme with the forefront knowledge required to explore all aspects of living organisms.

Year 1
Required Modules – Essential skills for biologists, Cell dynamics, Foundations of organic chemistry, Heredity and gene action, Physical chemistry for biologists, Basic biochemistry, Kinetics and coordination chemistry, Organic functional group chemistry.

Year 2
Required Modules – General microbiology, Membrane biochemistry, Techniques for biological and chemical sciences, Chemistry of biological molecules, Genes and bioinformatics, Metabolic pathways.
Options – Animal physiology, Cell biology and development genetics, Fundamentals of neurobiology, Microbial physiology and growth.

Year 3
Required Modules – Integrative studies in biological science, Membrane proteins, Molecular basis of disease, Enzyme catalysis, Protein structure, folding and assemblies, and either Biochemistry research project or Investigative project or Project skills in the life sciences,
Options – Endocrine physiology and biochemistry, Developmental biology and cell signalling, Functional genomics and epigenetics, Neuroscience: from molecules to behaviour.

Entry requirements

Normally 300 points at A2 level.
Biology (or equivalent) A2 is required (grade C or above)
Chemistry (or equivalent) A2 is required (grade C or above)
AVCE Applied Science is not accepted.
International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall. Must include Biology (HL) and Chemistry (HL) with a grade 5 and another subject to be specified (HL or SL) at grade 5
For more information on entry requirements visit the SBCS general entry requirement page.