Biochemistry
University of Sheffield
UCAS Code: C700 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Sheffield
UCAS Code: C700 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
including Chemistry and a second science (second science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology or Geography)
Access to HE Diploma
Award of Access to HE Diploma in Science, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction (to include Chemistry and Biology units), and 9 at Merit
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths and English grade 4/C
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
with 6,5 in Higher Level Chemistry and a second science
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including Chemistry and a second science (second science subjects include Biology, Maths, or Physics)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Applied Science + A in A Level Chemistry
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Applied Science (Basic, Biomedical Science, or Analytical & Forensic Science streams only). Additional module requirements also apply.
Scottish Advanced Higher
in Chemistry and a second science + AABBB in Scottish Highers (second science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Maths, Physics, Psychology or Geography)
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
+ AA in Chemistry and a second science (second science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology or Geography)
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Explore the basis of life at the molecular level, from cells, proteins and DNA, to how these molecules interact to sustain life, before putting your knowledge and skills into practice in the lab.
**Why study this course?**
- Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology: Shows employers that you've developed the practical skills and scientific knowledge that they're looking for.
- Make the course your own: Study the full range of biochemistry or specialise in areas such as biotechnology, molecular genetics, antibiotic resistance or sustainability.
- Real lab experience: Bring all your knowledge and skills together with your third-year research project.
**On our three-year BSc Biochemistry course, you’ll investigate the structure and function of biological systems at a molecular level.**
Bringing together biology and chemistry, you’ll study the science that’s behind many medical discoveries. You'll learn about proteins, enzymes, hormones, and receptors, and explore the various ways that biochemistry can be applied to major challenges affecting humanity today, from how we sustainably feed a global population, to healthy ageing and how new drugs are designed.
At Sheffield, you’ll be encouraged to be creative, think independently, and express your ideas. In the lab you’ll be studying the basis of life right down to the atomic level, completing practicals across molecular genetics, DNA manipulation, and protein structure analysis.
Outside of the lab, you'll get the chance to develop IT solutions to global challenges that could range from how we deliver a sustainable food supply, to how we detect and treat heritable disease.
As you progress through your degree, you'll have the option to specialise in the area of molecular bioscience that interests you across biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, or even biotechnology.
No matter what areas of biochemistry you choose to study at Sheffield, you'll develop practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem-solving, communication skills, and data analysis.
All this experience will prepare you for your third-year research project where you could be laboratory based, focus on computer modelling, science education, or even science communication.
**Gain extra experience as part of your degree**
You can add an extra year of research experience with an integrated masters (MBiolSci), or spend a year on a work placement and gain transferable skills working with a top employer.
Tuition fees
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What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score 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.
£22k
£28k
£29k
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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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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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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