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Biochemistry BSc

Key information
Additional information
Why Birmingham?

Summary

This flexible degree programme offers you the opportunity to specialise in areas such as medical biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology and molecular cell biology, and to tailor a bespoke programme of study that matches individual interests and goals. In addition to a solid knowledge base, the course emphasises practical work and the development of a wide range of transferable skills..

Key facts

UCAS code: C700

Duration: 3 years

Start date: September 2012

Places available: 75 (Total number of places for all Biochemistry courses)

Applications in 2010: 464

Entry requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: AAB-ABB

Required subjects and grades: Chemistry A level and one other from Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Geography, Geology and Sports Science. GCSE Grade C (minimum) in Biology or Double Integrated Science, and Mathematics if not offered at A or AS level

General Studies: not accepted, but a good performance may be taken into account if you fail to meet the conditions of the offer

Additional information:

Other qualifications are considered – learn more about entry requirements|

International students:

International Baccalaureate Diploma: 32–34 points including Chemistry and one other science at HL

Standard English language requirements apply
Learn more about international entry requirements|

Contact details

Admissions Tutor: Dr Klaus Fütterer
Telephone enquiries: +44 (0)121 414 5922
Email: biosciences-admissions@bham.ac.uk|
Web: www.birmingham.ac.uk/biosciences|

How to apply

Apply through UCAS at www.ucas.com|
Learn more about applying|

Fees and funding

Standard fees| apply
Learn more about fees and funding|

Scholarships
Learn more about our scholarships and awards|

Programme overview

At the interface between chemistry, biology and medicine, biochemists seek to explore and understand the molecular underpinnings of living organisms and of disease. Biochemistry makes an impact on many fronts, offering graduates exciting and varied careers.

Our flexible degree programme offers you the opportunity to specialise in areas such as medical biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology and molecular cell biology, providing ample scope to tailor a programme of study that matches individual interests and goals. The course particularly emphasises practical training and the development of transferable skills that can be deployed in a wide range of professional settings.

About the School of Biosciences

When joining our Biochemistry programme students become an integral part of the community of the School of Biosciences. Our internationally recognised department covers a broad range of topics in the life sciences, with research excellence in molecular and cell biology, molecular microbiology and organismal and environmental biology.

Our excellence in both teaching and research is recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency and the Research Assessment Exercise. This ensures that we can offer a sound training in biochemistry, and help our students to gain first-hand experience of research and to develop key transferable skills.

The course structure for Biochemistry Bsc can be found here|.

Central to your final year studies is your research project, which makes up one-sixth of your final year. We offer you the opportunity to join one of our research groups, of which there are almost 60, providing the fascinating prospect to experience research first hand and to contribute to the current research projects in the department. Project work does not necessarily mean you are in the laboratory; some students will do computer-based projects, others carry out a detailed analysis of the research literature in a particular area.

Teaching and assessment

The opportunity to interact with staff and fellow students, and to question, discuss and explore your subject, is an important part of the course. You will be able to accomplish this in individual and small group tutorials, discussion groups, and problem solving classes. In lectures, staff with specialist knowledge will be teaching you key concepts, which you will follow up through independent study.

Laboratory-based practical work is an integral part of our degree programme; in the first year you will learn many basic practical skills and have the chance to apply them in a range of investigations. Later, these basic skills will be complemented with advanced research skills.

The formal end-of-year examinations (in May/June of each year) are complemented by course work in the form of essays or reports, data handling or interpretation exercises, poster presentations, seminar presentations, group work and lab reports.

More information about Teaching and Learning can be found Why Birmingham? page here|.

Career opportunities

Our overriding goal is to enable our graduates to embark on successful professional careers in the life sciences and beyond. Common career destinations include the pharmaceutical and food industries, medical research and toxicology, medical diagnostics, animal conservation, teaching, and IT. However, atypical careers, for instance in accounting and consulting, are increasingly common as well. A significant number of our graduates proceed to graduate-entry programmes in Medicine at various UK universities. (See Medicine and Surgery MBChB Graduate Entry Course|)

More information about employability can be found on the Why Birmingham? page here|.

Which courses should I apply for?

Applicants may apply either for the main programme or for one of the specialist degree labels eg, Biochemistry (Genetics) BSc|. The selection criteria are identical in either case. The design of our courses allows you to delay what you choose to specialise in until the second year or to transfer between specialisations as interests develop or change.

Course structure

Our programmes are modular with a wide range of options in the latter stages of the degree. These choices build on the core knowledge and skills developed through Years One and Two. We aim to ensure that all our students leave Birmingham with highly developed written, oral and IT skills, and the ability to work and communicate effectively with others.

These choices build on the core knowledge and skills developed through Years One and Two. We aim to ensure that all our students leave Birmingham with highly developed written, oral and IT skills, and the ability to work and communicate effectively with others.These choices build on the core knowledge and skills developed through Years One and Two. We aim to ensure that all our students leave Birmingham with highly developed written, oral and IT skills, and the ability to work and communicate effectively with others.

Biochemistry students in the lab If you have chosen one of our specialist degree programmes in biochemistry second and third year options allow you to choose an appropriate pathways through the degree

First Year

In the first year you will study key areas such as Cell Biology, Metabolism, Chemistry, Physiology and Genetics. In practical classes you will get hands on experience of a wide range of Biochemical techniques.

Modules

Genetics I
Cell Biology and Physiology
Biochemistry
Enzymes and Metabolism
Physical Biochemistry
Chemistry
Skills for Biosciences

Nora Miroslavova, Biochemistry graduate "The modules were taught by expert members of staff involved in the research field, which I found very interesting and stimulating."

Second Year

At this more advanced level, you complete the core of essential training in biochemistry and you begin to specialise.

Choose optional modules that allow you to follow your own particular interests.

Core modules

Proteins and Enzymes
Membranes, Energy and Metabolism
Molecular Biology and its Applications
Chemistry
Core Skills

Optional modules - choose 2 from:

Developmental Biology
Topics in Medical Biosciences
Genetics II
Cell Biology
Microbes and Man

Final Year

This is the year of specialisation as you devote most of your time to specialist modules. No matter which Biochemistry degree you choose there will always be a choice of final-year modules. These modules integrate different aspects of biochemistry and illustrate the relationships between these and their applications to industry and medicine. In addition, all students take a module covering key aspects of Biochemistry.

Your final year project is one of the most exciting parts of your degree. You choose from a very broad range offered by the staff according to ongoing research activities. You may opt for a laboratory project or a two-part project involving laboratory and library research or a literature review project or a computing project. Most students enjoy project work as a highlight of their academic training and experience.

Project

Advanced Topics in Biochemistry

Optional modules - choose 3 from:

Structures of Destruction
Pumps, Permeases and Pores
Prokaryotic Gene Regulation
Cellular Signalling
Mechanisms of Toxicity and Human Disease
Processes
Cancer Biology
Eukaryotic Gene Expression
Omics - Exploiting Genomic Data
Cellular Neurobiology
Human Reproductive Biology and
Development
Molecular and Cellular Immunology
Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
Genetic Variation in Humans and other
Eukaryotes
Plant Cell Biology and Development
Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Why study Biochemistry BSc at Birmingham?

We have a large and internationally recognised School of Biosciences offering expertise that is the foundation of our research-led teaching.

You will encounter a broad range of topics on our courses, ranging from studies on the three-dimensional structure of individual molecules through to the study of whole ecosystems. We pride ourselves in our ‘enquiry-based learning’ strategy that will equip you with the skills to achieve full potential in your future career.

We increasingly incorporate new areas of science relating to biology, such as bioinformatics, and the School has major high-technology facilities for research in genomics, structural biology and optical imaging.

Specialist field courses for those involved in the study of animals, plants and ecological aspects are also available. You also have the opportunity to study part of the course abroad or in industry.

2011 National Student Survey "92% of students said that overall they were satisfied with the quality of our Biochemistry courses"

Teaching and Learning

As a science student you will have plenty of contact with the staff who teach you. In your first year you should expect 10–12 lectures and 1 or 2 practicals each week.

Lectures - As well as traditional whiteboard and pen, our lecture theatres are equipped with the latest techology including movies and animations, molecular graphics and ‘ask the audience’ style electronic voting systems.
Practical classes - Laboratory-based practical work is an integral part of our degree. A typical practical session will last 3 hours allowing you to complete the work at your own pace. In addition to delivering important transferable skills, experience of practical work is essential if you wish to move into a research career and is valued by a wide range of employers.
Field courses - Biological Sciences students have the opportunity to develop their field skills on a range of field courses in environments including Shropshire, Arctic Norway, the Brazilian Panatanal and Florida.
Tutorials - A personal tutorial system is an essential feature of our degree programme and your Tutors will help you in three important areas: supporting your academic progress, developing transferable skills and helping with any welfare issues.
Assessment - Each module is assessed independently and all contain some components of continuous assessment, which usually account for about one-third of the marks.
Feedback – You will make use of a wide range of types of feedback, such as: written feedback on your assessments, class feedback sessions and discussion with your tutor.
Examinations - The formal end-of-year examinations (in May/June of each year) are complemented by course work in the form of essays or reports, data handling or interpretation exercises, poster presentations, seminar presentations, group work and lab reports.
Projects and dissertations - Most students enjoy project work as a highlight of their academic training and experience. We offer a range of projects: practical work in the laboratory, field work, computer based projects, or literature reviews. You choose the topic of your project from a wide range of titles.

Employability

A Biosciences degree from the University of Birmingham is an excellent qualification for securing your future career in a diverse range of industries and employment sectors.

First destinations of University of Birmingham Biosciences graduates six months after graduation

Bioscience UG students career destinations 2009/10

Destinations of Leavers of Higher Education report (DHLE) 2009/10

Advances in the biosciences are having a profound impact on our daily lives in areas from human health to conservation. As such, biosciences has become a really rewarding and exciting area of study and employment. In studying the biosciences, you are given the opportunity to develop the skills to advance human knowledge and understanding allowing you to make a contribution in environments as varied as a laboratory, a zoo, a classroom, a TV studio or in industry.

A large number of our students enjoy their subject so much that they choose to take a further degree, a Masters or PhD. This is an important step in many career paths for scientists particularly those who want a career in research. Our graduates are highly sought after by universities around the world, many stay in Birmingham and join one of our prestigious research groups. Did you know that PhDs are fully funded and that graduate students receive a tax free stipend equivalent to a salary?

Our students are an adventurous bunch; nearly 10% go travelling or work on conservation projects for a time after graduation before settling onto their permanent career path.

Helping you find the right career

The School of Biosciences Careers and Employability Coordinator and the University’s Careers and Employability Centre (CEC) are there to help you to improve your employability and to find the right career for you. Even if you are not yet sure what you want to do, an appointment with a Careers Advisor at the CEC will help you to clarify the kind of direction you want to take, and provide a plan for how to get there.

Professor Bob Michell, FRS, Royal Society Research Professor, School of Biosciences
"When I came to study Medical Biochemistry at Birmingham, I had no idea that almost half a century later I would still be researching and teaching here. Relatively little of what we now teach students was then known, so I have had a wonderful time trying to fill some of those gaps – but there is plenty still to learn!"

2011 National Student Survey "92% of students said that overall they were satisfied with the quality of our Biochemistry course"

University of Birmingham|