Medical Biochemistry
Entry requirements
A level
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
A strong science Access course is required. Please contact Admissions Office before applying to check acceptability for Access module content and your overall academic profile.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
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. General Studies not accepted.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Grade C/4 in GCSE English and Mathematics if not held at A/AS level
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
to include grade 6 and 5 in at least two Higher Level science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. Minimum of 3 in HL Mathematics, or 4 in SL Mathematics, or 5 in SL Maths Studies required if grade C/4 not held at GCSE. Minimum of 4 in English Language required if IELTS 6.5 or equivalent not held.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
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 GCSE's at grade B/5 or above including two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. English Language and Mathematics to be held at minimum grade C/4.
Considered alongside two A-levels in relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Applied Science. Applied Science (Medical Science), Applied Science (Forensic Science) diploma accepted, plus five GCSE's at grade B/5 or above including two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. English Language and Mathematics to be held at minimum grade C/4. Other subjects may be considered if supplemented by a relevant A-level science grade B or above. This is reviewed on a case-by-case subject to review of your overall academic portfolio and application.
Considered alongside two A-levels in relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
Scottish Advanced Higher
including at least two relevant science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
Scottish Higher
including at least two relevant science subjects from from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
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
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Many of today’s common diseases are linked to defects in the molecular processes that occur in the body. To make big breakthroughs in diagnosing and treating disease, we therefore often have to look at life at the molecular level. Studying biochemistry in this way will give you an understanding of some of the world’s most pressing health issues.
Your Medical Biochemistry BSc will give you a firm grounding in modern biochemistry, covering a broad range of topics with particular emphasis on how the subject relates to medicine and health issues. By understanding the molecular defects that occur in a particular disease state, you will learn how scientists and clinicians can work together to design appropriate drugs that target the affected molecules. Along the way you will gain not only subject knowledge but also important transferable skills that should make you an attractive prospect for future employers.
At the University of Leicester, you can apply for this degree in Medical Biochemistry or any of the three degrees listed below. All courses are also available as four-year MBiolSci degrees.
Whichever degree you choose, your first year will be the same, allowing you to transfer to a different degree stream. The modules taken in your second and final years will ensure you graduate in your chosen degree.
The other available specialisms are:
Medical Genetics
Medical Microbiology
Medical Physiology
Our four Medical Sciences degrees allow selection of specialist modules that focus more closely on the application of biological principles to medicine. Our seven Biological Sciences degree programmes cover major aspects of biology and molecular sciences across a wide range of organisms from bacteria and fungi to humans and plants.
There is the possibility of transferring across from our Medical Sciences degrees to our Biological Sciences degrees within the first semester of Year 1.
Modules
At the University of Leicester, you can apply for this degree in Medical Biochemistry or any of our other three Medical Science degrees.
Whichever degree you choose, your first year will be the same, allowing you to transfer to a different degree stream. The modules taken in your second and final years will ensure you graduate in your chosen degree.
The Uni
University of Leicester
Biological Sciences
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?
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
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)
Biosciences
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
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.
Biosciences
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
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.
Biosciences
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
£32k
£34k
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 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).
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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