Program Overview

---

Biochemistry

Develop a detailed understanding of the molecular basis for life. Combining elements of biology and chemistry, Biochemistry is an ideal route into a career in the health sciences, forensics, product development, food and nutrition, pharmaceuticals and more.

Start Dates

• September 2026
• September 2025

Degree Type

BSc

Course Length

3 years full-time

Location

Durham City

UCAS Code

C702

Typical Offers

A Level	BTEC	International Baccalaureate
AAA	DDD	37

Course Details

Biochemistry plays a vital role in scientific and medical developments. It is the force behind many life-improving advances, from vaccines that protect against disease to the analysis of forensic samples used to help solve crimes.

Combining aspects of life sciences and chemical sciences, the BSc in Biochemistry explores processes that are key to our understanding of life at a molecular level. This wide-ranging degree will build your understanding of a diverse range of topics from genetics and biotechnology to physiology and metabolism. It develops the analytical and practical skills you will need to address the challenges of the modern world.

Biochemistry is a great choice if you are interested in both biology and chemistry. It leads to many careers including product development, health sciences, forensics, pharmaceuticals, food and nutrition. The transferable skills gained also prepare you for a career in sectors such as business, finance and education.

Year 1 Modules

Core Modules

• Molecules and Cells: Examines the fundamentals of life at the level of cells and their molecular components.
• Genetics: Looks at the development of genetics as a science, from the experiments of Mendel to genome sequencing.
• Introduction to Physiology: Studies mammals as a model for physiological processes in other organisms.
• Core Chemistry I: Introduces the fundamentals of chemistry.
• Practical Chemistry 1A: Develops the basic manipulative, procedural and soft skills required for practical chemistry.

Year 2 Modules

Core Modules

• Metabolism: Provides a global view of the functioning of the metabolic network in the cell.
• Biomolecules – Structure and Function: Includes the analysis of biomolecular structures; enzyme catalysed reactions; enzyme inhibition and regulation; protein-nucleic acid interactions; and enzyme catalysis and replication, repair, transcription and translation.
• Molecular Biology: Examines the central role of molecular biology in modern biosciences and methods of gene analysis and gene manipulation.
• Cell Signalling: Looks at the different mechanisms by which cells respond to external stimuli.
• Research Skills for Biosciences: Explores the whole biological research process from generating ideas to disseminating results.

Optional Modules

• Plant and Algal Physiology
• Development
• Cell Biology
• Integrated Physiological Systems
• Microbiology
• Immune Systems

Year 3 Modules

Core Modules

• Biochemistry and Biotechnology: Looks at recombinant protein production and manipulation in industrial, pharmaceutical and research uses.
• Advanced Biochemistry: Examines the biomolecular processes involved in cellular function and molecular communication in representative organisms.
• Literature Review: Carries out research in a topic associated with biological sciences and presents the results as a critical review article.
• Workshop: Develops your knowledge of the advanced practical techniques used to undertake research in biological sciences.

Optional Modules

• Research Project
• Biological Enterprise
• Advanced Topics in Development
• Stress and Responses to the Environment
• Crops for the Future
• Ageing
• Advanced Cell Biology
• Genomics
• Biology of Disease

Additional Pathways

Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with Year Abroad or with Placement pathway. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four or four to five depending on course.

Learning

Lectures, form the factual basis of this science subject. Hands-on learning is an essential part of training in an experimental subject so you will also spend a proportion of contact hours in practical classes.

Year 1 classes teach basic knowledge required for studying biochemistry and molecular biology. Building on this knowledge and understanding, Years 2 and 3 focus on more specialised modules and experimental techniques.

Year 3 sees more research-led lecturing so practical classes are replaced with workshops, research-based projects and literature reviews. This independent approach to learning provides an opportunity to further develop your interests and research skills as you start to prepare for postgraduate life and employment.

At all stages of the course the Department offers small-group tutorials. This allows for greater academic support and is supplemented by one-to-one support from academic advisers.

Assessment

Modules are assessed via a combination of examinations and coursework including essays, practical reports, analytical exercises, case studies and oral presentations.

Literature reviews, project reports and laboratory workshop reports also play an important part in Biochemistry.

Entry Requirements

A Level Offer

• AAA including A in Chemistry and A in Mathematics.

Contextual Offer

• ABB including A in Mathematics and B in Chemistry.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

• DDD and A level requirements as above.

IB Diploma Score

• 37 with 666 in higher level subjects including Chemistry and Mathematics.

Fees and Funding

The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study.

Career Opportunities

Biosciences

Students receive an outstanding education in biosciences, also gaining valuable transferable skills to prepare them for future challenges, enhancing personal development and improving their employment prospects. These skills can be applied to roles across a range of sectors preparing students to be active thinkers and future leaders.

Graduates have gone on to roles in teaching, the health sector, industrial R&D and biotechnology, management, accountancy, conservation, ecological and environmental services, broadcast and print science journalism, environmental and biological patent law, the pharmaceutical industry, the civil service, and the armed services. Graduates have also entered the NHS scientist training program. A large number also progress to postgraduate study at universities across the UK and overseas.

Department Information

Biosciences

The ever-changing discipline of Biosciences gives us a valuable insight into life in its many different forms, from molecules to global populations. Biosciences explores many of the fundamentally important questions facing humankind – finding the answers will shape the future of life on Earth.

The discipline of Biosciences is wide ranging, with many different branches of study. Spanning topics from botany to food science, immunology to zoology, it has the potential to transform societies, economies and tackle global challenges. In a changing world, bioscience has never been more important.

We are a community that shares a passion for education and development. Our work addresses many of the important challenges facing humankind, including climate change and biodiversity conservation, developing new technologies for healthcare, and feeding an increasing human population.

Our research-led approach to teaching has been designed to immerse you in a mix of theoretical and practical learning from day one, equipping you with a wide range of analytical and practical skills that will prepare you to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

You can choose to follow a three-year BSc route, add a work placement year or a year abroad, or take a four-year MBiol route with a research focus. Students have the option to undertake a residential field course as part of the degree, with recent locations ranging from South Africa to Scotland and the neo-tropics where students learn how to use tools that can measure the carbon flux induced by climate change.

Rankings

• 5th in The Complete University Guide 2025
• 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2025
• 6th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see our department web pages.

Facilities

We are located at Upper Mountjoy on the main University campus, just a short walk from the historic centre of Durham, with other academic departments and university services nearby, including the Bill Bryson library and the Teaching and Learning Centre.