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Course summary

TEF Gold

University of Essex has opted into the TEF and received a Gold award.

Find out more about the TEF.

With over 100 years of staggering advances in the field, the time to study biochemistry and biotechnology is now. At Essex, you’ll have the opportunity to explore how the processes of life function at molecular level and learn how biotechnology is addressing real-world problems and challenges. The subjects of biochemistry and biotechnology are continually expanding, and our curriculum constantly evolves to reflect the latest findings and their applications. You’ll learn in a friendly and supportive atmosphere and benefit from a research-led education, taught by world-leading experts at the forefront of their fields. At Essex, we specialise in structure-function relationships of biomolecules and use computational approaches and bioinformatics to complement our research. You’ll find that our course has a very high proportion of practical work that provides valuable experience for your career and our research-led teaching addresses the latest challenges and breakthroughs. Topics include:

Molecular enzymology

Neurodegeneration

Structural biology

Bioenergetics

Metabolism

You’ll also learn about and appraise the approaches that can be used to address the challenges facing our planet, including:

The development of biofuels, pharmaceuticals and crops to support and feed the growing human population

Industrial, plant and medical biotechnology

Gene and protein technology

Synthetic biology

Bioinformatics

With our Integrated Masters you’ll be able to fast track your degree and complete your final year in nine months compared to a regular MSc which usually takes twelve months. The course will cover key skills in biochemistry and biotechnology and provide you with the knowledge, understanding and hands-on experience required in this rapidly growing area of technology. When you combine your undergraduate and postgraduate study in one degree you’ll be equipped with a strong theoretical background, specialist expertise through independent research and practical insights into current commercial applications. This combination makes graduates from our course attractive candidates for many employers. Placement year You can spend your third year on a placement year with another external organisation. This is usually focused around your course, and enables you to learn about a particular sector, company or job role, apply your academic knowledge in a practical working environment, and receive inspiration for future career pathways. Organisations our students have recently been placed with include GlaxoSmithKline, Proctor & Gamble, Aquaterra, Astrazeneca, Genzyme, Reckitt Benckiser, Thermofisher, and Isogenica. If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. Our first-year students will have the opportunity to participate in the Science Week at Public Health England (PHE) in Colindale. We have fantastic collaboration with several hospitals in the Eastern Region and beyond, and part of this collaboration is to send all of our second-year students to visit hospitals to have a clear picture about the biomedical science profession. Our final-year undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in our Employability Day at Essex, and also contribute to the IBMS Congress.

Course details

How to apply

15Jan

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:: C099

Institution code:: E70

Campus name:: Colchester Campus

Campus code:: -

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Access to HE Diploma

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points

or three Higher Level certificates with 555. Either must include Higher Level Biology with a minimum of grade 5, plus Standard Level Maths or Maths Studies grade 4, if not taken at Higher Level. Maths in the IB is not required if you have already achieved GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above or 4 in IB Middle Years Maths. We are happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programmes at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.

In addition all applicants require GCSE Mathematics at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Channel Islands	£9250	Year 1
EU	£9250	Year 1
England	£9250	Year 1
Northern Ireland	£9250	Year 1
Scotland	£9250	Year 1
Wales	£9250	Year 1
International	£18170	Year 1

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for 2020-21 entry. Fees will increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

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University of Essex

Degree level: Undergraduate

MSci Biochemistry and Biotechnology (integrated masters) including placement year

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