Course summary

Our five-year MBiolSci is designed to give you the best start for a career in industrial or academic research. You'll combine the research-focused integrated masters with a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree. Investigate biological systems at the molecular level, and the role biochemistry can play in humanity’s future. Gain invaluable research experience in your final year working alongside world-leading academics. Learn to apply that knowledge during a placement year in industry, government or the charity sector. Studying biochemistry at the University of Sheffield allows you to investigate the structure and function of biological systems at the molecular level. Our masters degree gives you an opportunity to focus on a major research project that builds on the broad and vibrant spectrum of modules you’ve studied in your first three years. From your first year you’ll study modules that span the molecular biosciences, with the option to explore additional topics that build on your molecular understanding from across the whole of bioscience. This flexibility allows you to learn how life works in the area that interests you. At Sheffield, you’ll be encouraged to be creative, think independently, and express your ideas. You’ll be in the lab completing practicals across molecular genetics, DNA manipulation and protein structure analysis. You’ll get the chance to use cutting-edge equipment to run your own in-depth research projects in an area such as clinical diagnostics or brewing biotechnology. As you progress through your degree, you’ll learn about 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. Your personal tutor will support you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals. Your placement year is a great opportunity to test out a career path and work alongside professionals to acquire skills that will make you a great candidate for future jobs, be that research-focussed or moving towards business or management. You'll pay reduced fees while you're on placement, and we do everything we can with you and our partners to ensure it’s paid. Our students have found placements at GSK and Pfizer, or in areas like market research, communications or business development. Your final year is devoted to a major research project in the lab or in the field. You’ll work alongside our world-leading academics and explore a topic of your choosing in depth. Why study this course?

• Five year course - the ultimate kick-start to your career, resulting in a masters degree, with your fifth year focusing on a major research project.

• Build connections and a career - placement organisations include GSK, Thermofisher, and Labcorp or at government research institutes such as the UK Health Security Agency and the Institute of Cancer Research.

• 4th in the UK for research quality - the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 rated 98% of research and impact from the School of Biosciences as world-leading or internationally excellent.

• Make the course your own - study the full range of biochemistry or specialise in areas such as biotechnology, molecular genetics, antibiotic resistance or sustainability.

• State-of-the-art facilities - including multi-million pound microscopy equipment, NMR imaging and facilities for genomics, proteomics and metabolomics research.