Course summary

Foundation courses A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if: You don’t have the grades for a full degree course You have non-traditional qualifications or experience You’re starting university after some time away from education You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study. Life as a foundation year student During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course. As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support. Why choose this course -Explore the fundamental processes of life at a cellular level, from simple existence to the coordination of billions of living cells. -Learn how technology and genetic principles can be used to tackle global challenges like world hunger, insulin shortages and vaccine production. -Play a crucial role in the development of new treatments for a range of diseases, including cancer and Parkinson's disease.  -Immerse yourself in some of the ground-breaking research being done at Surrey on sleep, ageing, immunology, pharmacology, virology and more. -Choose our integrated masters pathway and complete an extended laboratory-based dissertation, preparing you for a technical research career in industry or academia. What you will study During your first two years, you’ll develop a broad understanding of biochemistry, its methodology and some of its most intriguing applications. You’ll get to choose optional modules in bacteriology, biodiversity, neuroscience and virology. In your third year, you’ll select five optional modules, exploring topics such as genetics, immunology, pharmacology, systems biology and toxicology. You’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical and presentation skills you’ve developed. Previous students have had their work published in top-tier journals, including the European Journal of Neuroscience and the Journal of Virology and Sleep. If you choose to complete an integrated masters you will have an additional research-focused year of study. You’ll cover advanced techniques in biochemistry and you’ll enhance your scientific communication skills. During the year, you’ll be presented with several therapy areas and drug targets that you’ll develop a portfolio review for. You’ll then present your work to industry experts in a bid for funding. You'll also be given a research problem that you’ll propose a critical experimental plan for, incorporating a range of appropriate biochemical techniques. You’ll complete a laboratory-based dissertation investigating topics like antibody class switching in B cells and neurodegenerative diseases.