Course summary
Overview Immerse yourself in the wonder of biological organisms and processes at the molecular level. Explore all aspects of life from molecules to cells, tissues and organisms, right up to populations and ecosystems. Learn from leading research scientists who are specialists in their fields of study. This version of the BSc Biochemistry degree allows you to spend a year working on placement, gaining valuable experience, contacts and insight. This course is for you if you have a strong background in chemistry and are enthusiastic about applying this to the study of biological systems. It is ideal if you want to go on to work in industry, or to progress to a PhD and a career in research. As a biochemist, you’ll have the potential to make an impact on many areas of contemporary science, including health, nutrition, clean energy and tackling pollution. Biochemists are frequent winners of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry and Michael Houghton, an alumnus of the UEA School of Biological Sciences and Biochemistry PhD, won the Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2020. About This Course On this course, you’ll follow the same programme as our BSc Biochemistry students, but you will spend your third year on a work placement relevant to your interests – perhaps in a pharmaceutical company, or a biotechnology or research institute laboratory. For example, our students have worked in large pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline, small biotechnology companies such as Phico Therapeutics, research institutes like the John Innes Centre, educational and science communication placements with the Field Studies Council. Your placement can be in the UK or abroad, with recent students travelling to Europe, Australia and North America. During your placement you’ll gain experience and insight that’s highly valued by future employers, putting you one step ahead of other graduates. Upon returning in your final year, you’ll have the chance to further develop your laboratory and technical skills with an independent research project in a unique area of science. You could even see your research published. Our biochemistry degrees are taught jointly by the Schools of Biological Sciences and Chemistry. This dual approach means that in all elements of the course you benefit from subject-specific experts who inform our undergraduate teaching. Both Schools have research environments recognized to be internationally excellent and with researchers generating outputs of international standing. Our research makes use of a wide array of facilities such as multi-photon and laser scanning confocal microscopes for the study of cells and tissues at the molecular level, high-field magnetic resonance spectrometers (both NMR and EPR) and X-ray diffractometers for the study of molecular structure, mass spectrometers, liquid and gas chromatography systems, and fluorescence and electron microscopes. You will benefit from our enviable position as an integral partner of the Norwich Research Park, which is also home to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and independent, world-renowned research institutes such as the John Innes Centre (research in plant and microbial sciences), the Sainsbury Laboratory (plant-microbe interactions), the Earlham Institute (computational biosciences and biotechnology) and the Quadram Institute (gut health, microbiology and food science). Disclaimer Course details are subject to change. You should always confirm the details on the provider's website: www.uea.ac.uk
Modules
Year 1 will give you a grounding in fundamental biochemistry with six compulsory modules such as Bonding, Structure and Periodicity and Chemistry of Carbon-Based Compounds. In Year 2, you build on the knowledge you have acquired in your first year with further compulsory modules as well as optional modules such as Cell Biology and Genetics. Your third year will be spent in industry on a year-long placement, gaining relevant experience. You could gain experience in biotechnology, a hospital or a research institute laboratory. Our students have completed placements with GlaxoSmithKline, Cellzome and the John Innes Centre amongst others. In your final year, you will be given a wide range of optional modules to tailor your studies to your interests. Modules that can be chosen range from Plant Biology to Protein Structure, Chemistry and Engineering.
How to apply
You can no longer submit a new application for courses starting in 2024.
If you already have a 2024 application and are in Clearing, you can add this course as a Clearing choice – contact the university or college first to check they have places.
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- C720
- Institution code:
- E14
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - AAB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - Not accepted
Scottish Higher - AAAAA
Scottish Advanced Higher - BBC
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 33 points
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
T Level
GCSE Requirements: GCSE English Language grade 4 or C and GCSE Mathematics grade 4 or C. We welcome a wide range of qualifications and combinations of qualifications - for further information please contact us at https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-biochemistry-with-a-placement-year
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6 | 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component) |
We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including speaking, listening, reading and writing). We will also accept a number of other English language qualifications. Please check our website for details https://www.uea.ac.uk/apply/our-admissions-policy/english-language-equivalencies
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £9250 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
International | £26100 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of East Anglia UEA
Norwich Research Park
Norwich
NR4 7TJ