Biochemistry with Foundation
University of Reading
UCAS Code: C701 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Reading
UCAS Code: C701 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
CCC with Chemistry and a second science. Or BBB without Chemistry and a second science. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science. Students taking Science subjects at A Level are encouraged to consider entry to the BSc without Foundation option.
Access to HE Diploma
Students taking Science subjects are encouraged to consider entry to the BSc without Foundation option.
Extended Project
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer. Eligible applicants would receive two offers, our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths C (or 4), English Language or English Literature C (or 4), Science C (or 4)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
30 points without higher level Chemistry and a second science. Or 24 points with higher level Chemistry and a second science. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science. Students taking Science subjects at A Level are encouraged to consider entry to the BSc without Foundation option.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Students taking Science subjects are encouraged to consider entry to the BSc without Foundation option.
Scottish Higher
B,B,B,C,C-A,B,B,B,B
BBBCC with Chemistry and a second science. Or ABBBB without Chemistry and a second science. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science. Students taking Science subjects at A Level are encouraged to consider entry to the BSc without Foundation option.
T Level
Minimum grade C in the Core Component.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Learn about the molecular foundations of life itself with our BSc Biochemistry with Foundation course.
Our BSc Biochemistry with Foundation degree is a four-year programme that includes a year of foundational study that leads directly into the three-year course.
You'll study biochemistry in a layered approach where you will focus on the molecular and cellular concepts of biochemistry in the first year, followed by discussions of the organ and organism effects of biochemical processes in the second year. In the final year, you will study topics at the forefront of biochemistry - from cutting-edge research to human disease and structural biology. Our flexible course enables you to choose optional modules to tailor your degree to your interests.
For more information, please visit our course page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/biological-sciences-ug/bsc-biochemistry-with-foundation
Modules
The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change. Please check our website for more details about the course structure.
Sample modules for this course include:
- Mathematics Foundation
- Foundation Biology
- Foundation in Academic Skills
- Fundamentals of Biochemistry
- Cellular and Molecular Principles of Life
- Research and Professional Skills.
The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Reading
School of 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)
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.
£18k
£23k
£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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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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