Program Overview

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Biochemistry BSc (Honours) 2025 entry

The BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry entails the study of the biochemical mechanisms involved in all life processes covering a broad spectrum of fields, from viral replication to neurobiology. You will investigate the biochemical aspects of cell and organismal function, including protein structure and function, regulation, molecular genetics, membranes and cell communication, and pharmacology as well as a final-year laboratory project with one of the relevant research groups in the Biomedical Sciences Research Complex.

Entry Requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

• SQA Highers

  • Standard entry grades: AAAB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry.
  • Minimum entry grades: AABB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry.
  • Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

• GCE A-Levels

  • Standard entry grades: AAB, including Biology and Chemistry.
  • Minimum entry grades: ABB, including Biology and Chemistry.

• IB points

  • Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL6 in Chemistry.
  • Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL5 in Chemistry.

General Entry Requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

• SQA qualifications

  • SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computing science
    • Geography
    • Applications of Mathematics
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Psychology.

• GCSE qualifications

  • GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computing Science
    • Geography
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Psychology.

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

Students must have studied Biology (or Human Biology) andChemistry atSQA Higher, GCE A-Level or equivalent. Preference will be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications over and above the stated minimum requirements.

Alternative study options

Direct entry to second year

Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.

Integrated Masters

It is possible to take Biochemistry as a five-year Integrated Masters course, allowing you to graduate with a Master of Science.

Gateway programmes

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades but meet the University's contextual criteria may be interested in the Gateway to Science programme.

Study abroad

Biochemistry students may apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to apply to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry is a four-year course run by the School of Biology. Students are provided with high-tech equipment, laboratories and expertise to facilitate learning and to develop the skillset of a modern biochemist.

Modules

In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in Biochemistry alongside modules in at least one other subject.

Typically, you will take core Biochemistry modules during your first two years, and advanced modules during your third and fourth year (known as Honours).

• First year
• Second year
• Third year
• Fourth year

In first year, modules introduce you to core subject material relevant to all biology degree programmes. You will also take two introductory Chemistry modules. The following modules are compulsory.

• Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, evolution, cellular structures and fundamental processes.
• Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal, behavioural and ecological aspects of life.
• Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers origin of the elements and the periodic table, atomic structure, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, and mathematical tools for chemistry.
• Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: covers the structure and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, basic stereochemistry, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.

In second year, modules are chosen which will best prepare you for your intended degree (or group of possible degrees). Students intending to study Biochemistry at Honours level must take the following compulsory modules:

• Applied Molecular Biology: examines case studies to provide examples of how molecular biology techniques are applied in research to address real-life questions and problems.
• Biochemistry: a number of central metabolic pathways and their control are studied in detail, alongside examples of their importance in disease and recent metabolomic studies.
• Molecular Biology: provides an introduction to modern molecular biology, covering fundamental biological processes such as transcription, translation, and DNA replication and repair.
• Research Methods in Biology: develops essential academic and transferable skills, with major emphasis on problem solving. This is achieved through a combination of interactive lectures, independent data-handling workshops and group work on a mini research project.
• Organic Chemistry 2: covers methods for carbon-carbon bond formation and interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, retrosynthetic analysis, mechanistic biological chemistry and organic spectroscopy.

In third year, you will continue to specialise in Biochemistry via a wide range of modules covering core topics. Modules that have been offered in previous years include:

• Advanced Biochemistry
• Infection and Disease
• Gene Regulation
• Membranes and Cell Communication
• Protein Structure and Function

In fourth year, you will study your chosen subject area at a deeper scientific level and will also have the opportunity to select from a wide range of small-group specialised modules. These modules are taught by academics at the forefront of their discipline.

In this year, students can also undertake a substantial final year research project. This research project is designed to develop skills in experimental design and problem-solving, the evaluation and interpretation of data, and communication skills. The project is offered and supervised by a member of academic staff.

Teaching

• Teaching format
• Assessment
• Support

The BSc in Biochemistry is taught through a combination of:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• workshops, including computer-based workshops
• practical classes
• field work
• research projects

Typical class sizes include:

• First year: lectures 250 to 300 students, practicals 80 to 100 students
• Second year: lectures 80 to 175 students, practicals 40 to 60 students
• Third year: lectures 20 to 140 students, practicals 20 to 60 students
• Fourth year: 5 to 25 students per module

Students are taught in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories. Alongside the development of practical biological skills, students are also given the opportunity to expand on their presentation and IT skills.

Fourth-year teaching differs from the typical lecture, seminar and tutorial format which students will experience from years one to three. Fourth year allows you to focus on a major project which occupies half of the year. Working on this project will enable you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees. The project can also lead to your first publication in a scientific journal.

When not attending lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

• working on individual and group projects
• undertaking research in the library or in PC classrooms
• preparing coursework assignments and presentations
• preparing for examinations.

First-year Biology modules are entirely assessed by coursework.

During second and third year, most Biology modules are assessed by an equal weighting of coursework and written examinations.

In fourth year, most Biology modules are entirely assessed by coursework, while some include written examinations in addition to coursework.

Most examinations are held at the end of the semester during a dedicated exam diet, and revision time is provided beforehand.

The School of Biology aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of biochemistry and biology.

Postgraduate research students who have undertaken appropriate training may also contribute to the teaching of laboratory classes and seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

You can find contact information for all biology staff on the School of Biology’s website.

The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Additional costs

All students need to cover the costs of a laboratory coat and dissection kit.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Careers

Graduates from the School of Biology have a wide range of skills sought by employers:

• laboratory and field data collection
• data handling and presentation
• problem-solving
• teamwork
• planning
• organisation and communication skills

Graduates have secured employment as:

• clinical scientists
• consultant ecologists
• marine mammal scientists
• museum curators
• school teachers

Beyond biology, recent graduates have gained employment in a wide variety of business sectors such as marketing and finance. Others have gone on to study for a wide range of Masters and PhD programmes in the UK and overseas.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.