Biochemistry (Placement Year)
Entry requirements
A level
A level Chemistry and one other science subject from Biology, Mathematics or Physics
Access to HE Diploma
in a relevant subject
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including 6 in HL Chemistry and 6 in one further HL science subject from Biology, Mathematics or Physics
Considered alongside A level Chemistry
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Biochemistry examines the structure and function of living organisms at the molecular level. It is an exciting and rapidly developing subject and the primary investigative science within biology and medicine.
The BSc Biochemistry (Placement Year) includes core modules in biochemistry and chemistry combined with a solid background in related fields.
This four-year degree is ideal if you wish to gain work experience as part of your biochemistry degree. It provides you with support to secure a paid placement for twelve months working in the type of organisation that you might aspire to join when you graduate. The placement offers you the opportunity to work as a full time employee of the organisation with the same training and opportunities as other employees, whilst still receiving both academic and pastoral support from Lancaster University.
To prepare students for their work placement year, our Careers and Placements Team will provide advice and guidance on: the skills required to create effective CVs, cover letters and applications; tips and techniques on how to make an impact at interviews and assessment centres; how to create a relevant digital profile; and how to research employers and career sectors of interest. In addition, there is great emphasis placed upon developing self-awareness and on how to present yourself in a professional manner to employers. This optional provision will be delivered via a blend of traditional and digital methods including face-to-face workshops, online webinars, e-courses and 1:1 appointments.
Although you will be supported by professional careers staff in preparing your industrial placement application, due to the competitive nature of these placements it is possible that not all students will be successful in securing these nationally-advertised opportunities. Students who have not secured an industrial placement will automatically be transferred over to the degree without the placement year - the BSc Biochemistry.
In the first year, you will study core modules such as Protein Biochemistry, Cell Structure and Function, and Genetics – all designed to give you a good overview of key modern biochemical concepts.
In your second year, you’ll focus on a range of biochemistry modules, including Cell Biology and Medical Microbiology, as well as some more practically oriented modules designed to equip you with the laboratory skills and knowledge required by a successful biochemist.
You will spend your third year on an industrial placement, which may be science or non-science based.
Returning to Lancaster University, you will have the flexibility to tailor your fourth year to your biochemical interests and can select from a diverse range of subjects including Cell Signalling, Cancer, Biology of Ageing, and Neurobiology. During your degree, you’ll conduct your own laboratory-based project and benefit from the research experience of our internationally renowned academics.
The facilities for studying biochemistry at Lancaster University are excellent. We have invested over £4 million in new life science teaching laboratories which you will use for practical learning and your dissertation project. Around 50% of the contact time on the degree is used for practical and workshop activities in the laboratory or in PC labs.
The Uni
Lancaster University
Biomedical and Life Science
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Around 2,500 graduates got degrees in this demanding but valuable subject last year. Graduates who want a career in research usually take postgraduate qualifications - over a third of graduates in the subject took this option - but those who want to start work when they graduate have a lot to choose from. Laboratory work and other jobs in the biosciences are popular, as well as in education, but many biochemistry graduates find their way into the finance industry and as a consequence, graduates from these disciplines are particularly likely to get jobs in London and the South East.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£24k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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