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Biological Sciences (Biochemistry)

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B-A,B,B

including at least two A-levels in relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. General Studies is not accepted.

Two AS subjects may be considered in place of one A-level. Must be taken alongside two full A-levels in relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Access to HE Diploma

D:30

A strong science Access course is required. Please contact the Admissions Office before applying to check acceptability for Access module content and your overall academic profile.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3,M2,M2

including two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Considered with three A-levels. Typical offer: ABB - BBB + EPQ at grade B. A-level subjects to include at least two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Standard requirement - Grade 4/C in both GCSE English Language and Mathematics if not held at A/AS level.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

30

to include grade 6 and 5 in at least two relevant HL science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in SL Maths or 3 in HL Maths and grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language and Maths at GCSE.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H2,H2,H3

including two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. No less than five Higher Level subjects will be considered. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in Ordinary level Maths or 6 in Higher level Maths if minimum of grade 4/C not held in Maths at GCSE. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in either Ordinary level or higher level English Language if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language at GCSE.

Applied Science Diploma considered with an A-level in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology, plus standard GCSE requirements. Applied Science Diploma considered with an non-science A-level, plus five GCSEs at grade 5/B or above including two science grades. GCSE English Language and Mathematics to be held at minimum grade 4/C.

Can be considered in combination with other qualifications. Combinations must include a minimum of two Science subjects. Please contact the Admissions Office before applying to check acceptability for your particular combination of qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

D*DD

Applied Science. Plus five GCSEs at 5/B or above including two science grades. GCSE English Language and Mathematics to be held at minimum grade 4/C.

Applied Science Foundation Diploma considered alongside at least one A-level in relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology, plus standard GCSE requirements.

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B,B

including at least two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

Scottish Higher

A,A,B,B,B

including at least two relevant science subjects from from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

T Level

D

Science (with an Occupational Specialism in Laboratory technician)

Accepted in place of a third A-level at grade B or above, provided at least two relevant science A-level subjects are taken from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

UCAS Tariff

128-152

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Biochemistry

Biological sciences

All life forms are composed of a complex mixture of molecules and chemicals. What do they tell us about the baffling complexity of life and what happens when things go wrong? Welcome to the fascinating world of biochemistry.

The basic principle of biochemistry is that the processes of living things are ultimately explicable in terms of the properties and interactions of the molecules from which they are made. Biochemists study molecular processes in all types of organisms - and how errors in these processes can cause disease.

In your first year, you will focus on understanding of the fundamental biological processes that occur in cells, including DNA and protein synthesis, as well as the metabolic reactions that sustain cells and organisms. In your second and final years you will develop a greater understanding of how molecular processes are exquisitely controlled to ensure that the right process occurs in the right location – and at the right time. This control is essential to the correct functioning of cells, and the body as a whole, and errors can lead to disastrous consequences. One example of this is in cancer formation, where genetic mutations lead to loss of control of proteins that govern when cells replicate. You will learn how our knowledge of these molecular processes is leading to breakthroughs in disease treatment, through targeting and inactivating key molecules in defective pathways.

Moreover, much of our understanding of molecules, their interactions with each other, and effective therapeutic drug design, now comes from studying molecular structures at the atomic level. Opportunities to learn how we use and generate molecular structures are embedded throughout the course and this is the focus of a final year module, which benefits from the expert knowledge of academic staff associated with the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology.

On this course you will develop a range of skills that are valued by employers, including practical, analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as gaining experience in handling complex information. You will also develop transferable skills in time-management, meeting deadlines, giving oral presentations and working in teams to achieve a goal. By studying biochemistry alongside options in other biological sciences specialisms, you will be able to apply your knowledge across the boundaries of traditional disciplines and become a valuable and powerful asset in scientific environments and in many other walks of life.

This course is identical to the first three years of the MBiolSci in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry).

What's the difference?
At the University of Leicester, we offer seven Biological Science subjects and four Medical Bioscience subjects, all as both BSc (three years) and MBiolSci (four years), plus a Foundation Year option, giving you an impressive range of 23 different courses to choose from.

Biological Science covers major aspects of biology and molecular science across a wide range of organisms from bacteria and fungi to humans and plants. All 14 courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1.
Medical Science allows you to select specialist modules that focus more closely on the application of biological principles to medicine. All eight courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1.
It is possible to switch between a Biological Science course and a Medical Bioscience course during the first half of your first year, but after that the two fields diverge.

Modules

For more information on this course and a full list of modules, visit the course information page on our website

Assessment methods

For more information on the methods of assessment on this course, visit the course information page on our website

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Leicester

Department:

School of Biological Sciences

Read full university profile

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.

71%
Biochemistry
67%
Biological sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below 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

Teaching and learning

64%
Staff make the subject interesting
86%
Staff are good at explaining things
64%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
67%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

75%
Library resources
82%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
68%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

95%
UK students
5%
International students
39%
Male students
61%
Female students
78%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
B
B

Biosciences (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

73%
Staff make the subject interesting
83%
Staff are good at explaining things
77%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
66%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

76%
Library resources
87%
IT resources
90%
Course specific equipment and facilities
50%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

93%
UK students
7%
International students
39%
Male students
61%
Female students
78%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

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.

£20,000
med
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education
51%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

18%
Science, engineering and production technicians
14%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
9%
Teaching and educational professionals

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.

Biosciences (non-specific)

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.

£20,000
med
Average annual salary
97%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

17%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
9%
Caring personal services
9%
Other elementary services occupations

These stats refer to the prospects of graduates from general courses in biosciences. About a quarter go into further study and for those who go into work, bioscience, teaching and finance jobs are the most common types of employment. But you can go into most careers with this kind of degree — the majority of jobs for graduates don’t ask for a particular degree subject - and you will acquire a wide range of skills valued by many employers. If you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do.

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.

£19k

£19k

£29k

£29k

£31k

£31k

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.

Biosciences (non-specific)

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£19k

£19k

£29k

£29k

£31k

£31k

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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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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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