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Summary:
Applying through UCAS? Apply here (C7FY)
Course Code: C7FY
Applying through UCAS? Apply here (C700)
Course Code: C700
Where Are You Applying From?
How Would You Like To Study?
When Do You Want To Start Your Studies?
Which Campus Would You Like To Study At?
Which Options Would You Like With Your Course?
Why choose the School of Life Sciences
85% of our full-time UK biosciences graduates are in highly skilled employment or graduate further study, 15 months after graduating (source: HESA Graduate Outcomes for 2020/21, pub 2023).
Our students have been awarded Best Performing Student from the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) and Undergraduate Recognition Awards from the Biochemical Society.
91% of our biosciences students were satisfied with the learning opportunities their course offered, including teaching skills for the future (NSS, 2024).
About the course
Biochemistry has revolutionised our understanding of biological systems and led to ground-breaking applications in human health and disease. Our progressive degree equips you with the up-to-date knowledge, technical skills and hands-on experience you need to succeed as a practising biochemist. You first build a strong foundation in essential biochemistry then explore more specialised subjects at the forefront of modern research, all while gaining the transferable skills and real-world practice you need.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Modern STEM building complete with high-spec laboratories, group study hubs and bespoke teaching spaces
- Specialised cell culture lab and analytical science suite
- The latest technology and industry-standard equipment to emulate the requirements and practices of a professional workplace
- HPLC, FTIR and GC-MS machines, alongside facilities for qPCR and protein purification, allowing you to carry out high-end biochemistry experiments
Industry links
Our Life Sciences Liaison Board works with industry professionals across the pharma-biotech, health and food sectors, including Glaxo Smith Kline, Life Science Group and GrowPura. Our collaboration within the sector help you establish links and gain valuable work experience.
Student experience
Our focus on real-world applications and practical-based learning prepares you for fulfilling employment in this specialist field.
Study under the guidance of our research-active academic team, many of whom are leading professionals in areas such as medicines development; obesity; cancer pathways; and global food security.
Take part in the Student Skills Lab scheme, where you learn and test out cutting-edge practical techniques with the support of our recent graduates.
Participate in field trips to prominent industry and R&D settings.
In your second year, take up the opportunity to apply for a summer studentship.
Gain specialist knowledge through masterclasses and seminars held by external experts such as MSD-Merck and the UK Health Security Agency.
Connect with top employers in our annual STEM Careers Expo.
Learn alongside students from related Life Sciences courses, widening your knowledge and experience.
Expand your career prospects by developing widely transferable workplace skills, from statistical techniques and scientific communication to independent research and critical thinking.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Dr Lindsay McDermott
I joined the University of Bedfordshire in October 2015 after a short career break as an assistant to Professor Stephen Perkins at the Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London. Between 2005 and 2014, I was a Lecturer in Nutrition at King’s College London.
Course Leader - Dr Lindsay McDermott
I joined the University of Bedfordshire in October 2015 after a short career break as an assistant to Professor Stephen Perkins at the Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London. Between 2005 and 2014, I was a Lecturer in Nutrition at King’s College London.
Course Leader - Dr Lindsay McDermott
I joined the University of Bedfordshire in October 2015 after a short career break as an assistant to Professor Stephen Perkins at the Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London. Between 2005 and 2014, I was a Lecturer in Nutrition at King’s College London.
Course Leader - Dr Lindsay McDermott
I joined the University of Bedfordshire in October 2015 after a short career break as an assistant to Professor Stephen Perkins at the Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London. Between 2005 and 2014, I was a Lecturer in Nutrition at King’s College London.
What will you study?
Studying our Biochemistry BSc (Hons) course will provide you with a molecular understanding of health and disease in biological systems and prepare you for working in industry or for Master's studies. In your first year, you will study core subjects in the life sciences including the basic concepts of Chemistry, Genetics and Human Anatomy and Physiology. You will gain insight into life as a biochemist in our Skills in Biochemistry unit where you will learn how biochemistry is useful in society; discuss equality, diversity and inclusion issues in biochemistry; and understand the structure and function of biological molecules.
You will begin to explore biochemistry specific units in your second year, including Protein Structure and Function and Biological Chemistry. The latter uses chemical principles to explain metabolic reactions. Our units in Pharmacology and Immunology will expose you to the role of drugs in the treatment of disease and provide you with a detailed understanding of the human immune system. Furthermore, our Biochemical Techniques unit will train you in the use of industry-standard and biochemistry-specific instrumentation and techniques. At the end of your second year, you have the opportunity to undertake a Professional Practice Year (Life Sciences) where you can gain career-related experience while also building your professional skills.
In your final year, you will discover the latest developments in biotechnology in our Biotechnology Innovations unit. Systems Biology will allow you to study diseases at the gene, protein and metabolite level by examining how these biological molecules interact as part of complex systems. In Biology of Disease, you will apply your knowledge of anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, immunology and genetics to diagnose diseases from case studies. Finally, you will complete a final year Research Project independently in one of four themes: Biochemistry, Drug Discovery, Nutraceuticals, Human Genetics and Computational Virology. This research unit allows you to answer a research question experimentally using computers or laboratory work and equips you with a variety of graduate skills and professional experience.
How will you be assessed?
Each year the assessment types vary to enable you to develop your science communication skills. In first year (level 4) essays and lab reports are used to assess your writing skills. In second year (level 5) in addition to writing lab reports and essays you further developed by the assessment of oral and poster presentations. Biochemistry-specific lab skills are developed and assessed during all three years of the course by portfolio submissions. Some units contain in class tests while others contain end of year exams. End of year exams place are typically multiple choice questions with an emphasis on knowledge retention at level 4; short essay questions demonstrating understanding and application at level 5; and long essay questions focussed on integration and evaluation of understanding at level 6. Case studies are used within assessments where appropriate to provide real-world and employment-centred context to the assignments. The final year research project is assessed by the submission of a thesis and a reflective record.
Careers
On completing this course you are likely to progress into one of the following areas:
- Research and development in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries.
- Research and development in government or academic laboratories.
- Scientific writing publishing or sales.
- Further training e.g. medicine dentistry pharmacy.
- Teaching of science.
- Skills developed in information sourcing data analysis and presentation also allow graduates to seek employment within a broad range of non-scientific careers from managerial posts to politics.
Further study:
- MSc by research – a practical research based masters’ degree.
- MSc – a taught master’s degree in a related area.
- Within the Department of Life Sciences we run MSc courses in Biotechnology Pharmacology Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Management.
- PhD research in the biosciences.
- Within the Department of Life Sciences we have recent PhD students working in cancer research autoimmune disease protein biochemistry neurobiology and environmental bioscience and biotechnology.
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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