BSc in Biochemistry
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 9,535 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* UK students: £9,535 per year | international: £19,200 for the first year
Key Summary
Do you want to contribute to work that could help solve many of life's biggest challenges?
This course will help you to understand the molecular processes that control life. From molecules (such as DNA and proteins) and cells, to the complex structures of whole organisms, discover the integral aspects of our world.
Our School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry offers an outstanding and diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. We've invested heavily in state-of-the-art facilities. Our £6.8 million laboratories enable students to gain practical experience with cutting-edge equipment.
Studying Biochemistry can form the first step towards a wide range of careers. Our students go on to pursue academic research, or impactful jobs in the health, food, and agriculture industries.
By studying Biochemistry at our Penrhyn Road campus, you will have access to a modern environment with a wide range of the latest equipment. Our expert equipment includes gas and liquid chromatography, electron and confocal microscopy, and a range of spectrometers, to survey mass, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance. Working closely with our team of technicians, you’ll gain hands-on experience for a career in Biochemistry.
Why choose this course?
Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, we’re also accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). What’s more, in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2024, 100% of students on our Biochemistry course were positive about how their course challenged them to achieve their best work.
Throughout the course, you'll acquire the knowledge and technical skills to work in a wide variety of roles, including those in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. We encourage students to pursue further research, to contribute to our understanding of how biochemistry underpins all human life.
In your final year, you will immerse yourself in a lab setting and experience what it is like to test various clinical testing as well as studying the blood of patients. You'll also have the opportunity to work on an independent research project on a specialist topic that inspires you.
We have updated our modules to enhance student-centred teaching and align course content with industry needs, helping you become a future-proof graduate.
Accreditation
This course has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). Kingston University graduates from this programme will receive one year's free membership of the Royal Society of Biology.
We want to ensure anyone with potential and drive has the opportunity to study with us, no matter their background or financial situation. That's why each year, we provide a number of bursaries to help our undergraduate students gain their degree.
- The Kingston bursary
- Bursaries for care leavers
- Bursaries for estranged students
- Bursaries for young adult carers
- Bursaries for Sanctuary Scholars
- Chancerygate Foundation bursary
- Salutem scholarships
- AVSH scholarship
Year 1
Year 1 provides you with a firm foundation in the biological and chemical principles on which life is based. You will gain a comprehensive overview of biochemistry, from the atomic level to that of the whole body. Subject areas include the fundamentals of chemistry, cells and tissues, genetics and molecular biology. A scientific and practical skills module will also introduce you to important laboratory techniques and the necessary mathematics, statistics and IT required by biochemists.
Core modules
- Chemical Foundations: From Atoms to Pharmaceuticals
- Genes to Tissues
- Introduction to Biochemistry
- Scientific and Laboratory Skills
Year 2
Year 2 introduces some of the more specialised aspects of biochemistry. You will gain a detailed knowledge of protein function, structure and analysis; the major metabolic pathways; organisation and physiology of cells including cell signalling; genes and their expression; microbiology; and the application of research methods. You will also explore a range of bioanalytical techniques employed in the pharmaceutical industry.
Core modules
- Analytical Techniques for Molecular Science
- Microbiology, Research Methods and Skills
- Molecular Biology of the Cell
- Proteins and Metabolism
Year 3
In Year 3, you will explore current concepts in biomolecular science, immerse yourself with bioinformatics and learn the functions of a hospital laboratory with clinical biochemistry and haematology. You will also undertake an independent research project, providing an opportunity to research a topic of your choice within your specialism as either a laboratory, data project or a systematic review.
Core modules
- Bioinformatics: Decoding Life’s Data
- Clinical Biochemistry and Blood Sciences
- Current Concepts in Biomolecular Science
- Project (Bioscience)
After graduating from this course, you'll be ready for graduate entry to a career in:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biotechnology
- Forensics
- Medicine
- Teaching
- Business management
This degree also provides a great base if you choose to go on to further study at postgraduate level.
Embedded within this course and throughout the whole Kingston experience is our Future Skills programme. The Future Skills programme was developed to respond to the ever-evolving demands from modern day employment.
It will help you obtain the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability, and learn how to apply these skills in different scenarios. You’ll also learn how to articulate to employers how being able to do so gives you the edge.