Biochemistry

Bristol's School of Biochemistry has an excellent reputation for the quality of both its teaching and its research, making it one of the best places to study Biochemistry in the UK. We provide a number of Biochemistry courses and there is also the opportunity to spend a year in an industrial placement as part of your degree. Our courses offer a great deal of flexibility and choice, allowing you to tailor your degree to your own interests.

Biochemistry courses

Why study Biochemistry at Bristol?

Biochemistry is a scientific discipline whose ultimate aim is to understand life’s processes at a molecular level. Broadly, it encompasses the chemical nature and structure of biological molecules and how they interact with each other, complex cellular reactions and the generation of energy to power cellular activity, communication and co-ordination between and within cells, and the replication and expression of genetic material.

The school’s research groups investigate some of the major challenges in modern biochemistry. The approaches used to solve these problems range from a detailed examination of these biological processes at the level of single molecules, through to exploring the complex organisation of cells and whole organisms.

Teaching is delivered through lectures and tutorials in small groups and you will receive a thorough training in experimental techniques in our modern teaching laboratories. Your research training culminates with a final-year individual practical project undertaken in one of our well-equipped research labs. You will also undertake a final-year literature project in which you review the current scientific literature and write a report on a specialist area of biochemistry.

Due to competition for places, we are normally unable to offer places to applicants whose personal statements indicate that they want to study a professional clinical degree course, such as Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science.

What kind of student would this course suit?

Our Biochemistry courses will be ideally suited for you if you have a strong interest in experimental work and biomedical research and are a motivated independent learner. Good numeracy skills are essential.

How is this course taught and assessed?

We provide an excellent teaching framework to support your learning that includes lectures, practicals, workshops and small group tutorials. Assessments usually take the form of both unseen exams (which may include essays, multiple choice questions and calculation questions) and coursework.

What are my career prospects?

You may be employed in the food, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology industries, medical or agricultural research establishments or in the forensic science service.

Biochemists are also employed in the scientific and medical publishing sector and as patent examiners. Over a third of our graduates undertake further training and gain a higher degree in Biochemistry or a related science. Other graduates enter professions such as medicine, teaching, law, finance or other non-scientific careers.