Course summary

Discover the diverse range of biochemical, genetic and microbiological approaches needed to understand life at a molecular level. You’ll have the opportunity to do a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree. Our students have found placements at global pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and Pfizer, but your placement doesn't have to be in the lab. You could apply your scientific knowledge and transferable skills outside of the bioscience industry in areas including market research, communications or business development. A placement is a great opportunity to test out a career path and many students are offered a graduate-level job at the end. You'll pay reduced fees for the year you're on placement and you'll still have the support you need from your tutor and the University. During your time at Sheffield you'll study the methods scientists use to sequence genomes, clone and engineer genes, determine molecular structures and analyse cell growth in humans, plants and microbes. We’ll also show you how this knowledge enables us to develop novel biotechnological solutions to global challenges such as sustainable production and combating disease. From your first year you’ll study modules that span the molecular biosciences covering molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and microbiology. Alongside these modules you’ll have the freedom to explore complementary topics across the breadth of bioscience, such as biomedicine, ecology, plant science and zoology. This flexibility allows you to study molecular biology in greater depth, keep your interests broad or even switch to another biosciences degree. No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop the practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis. We’ll give you plenty of opportunities to apply your new skills and knowledge too. You’ll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals across molecular genetics, DNA manipulation and protein structure analysis, and 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. Whether you choose to study a broad overview of molecular biology topics, or focus your studies on one specialist area, your personal tutor will support you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals. If you want to study this course but don't meet the entry requirements our Biosciences with a Foundation Year could be for you. After successfully completing the one year programme, you'll progress onto the first year of one of our bioscience degrees. This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology which shows employers that you've developed the practical skills and scientific knowledge that they're looking for.