Biochemistry, BSc

Please join us for the Welcome Week, where we will tell you about the key information you need to know about your course, explain your timetable, how assessments work and how to best engage with the exciting learning we have planned.

We will tell you about the various services and support the University provides and that will make your studies fun and fascinating. 

You’ll get to meet your fellow students from all of our courses and you’ll meet your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), who will be there to guide you through your studies alongside the rest of the friendly academic and technical team that is here to support you.

Your Course

In your first semester, you will be introduced to being a student in higher education and develop yourself as a learner through three small Success Modules (5 credits each), which you will choose from a selection according to your interests.

The Success Modules are largely delivered online, giving you flexibility as you settle into your new life as a student.

You will learn the core chemistry you need as student of biochemistry in the Principles of Chemistry module (15 credits) led by Emilia Bertolo.

This module is delivered in campus and uses a combination of lectures/seminars and primarily practicals that are all about doing hands-on chemistry in the laboratory and the basic scientific methods that set you up for success.

Alongside this you will be studying the Genes, Cells and Microbes module (30 credits) led by Cornelia Wilson.

In weekly lectures, you will explore the how cells of different organisms are made up, how they interact with the world and the genetic mechanisms by which they inherit their features. In extensive laboratory practicals, you will be investigating cells under the microscope and culture cells and bacteria. 

In your second semester, in the Biochemistry module (30 credits), you will learn about the biochemical molecules, pathways and reactions that are essential to life and derive from the chemistry you learned in semester 1.

In the Introduction to Anatomy, Development and Research module, you will learn about human development and anatomy that forms the basis for later modules on nutrition, metabolism and diagnostic biochemistry.

You will also cover research methods, how to work with data and carry out statistical analysis, essential skills for employment.

Blackboard

Learning materials, recordings of your lectures and other resources will be made available to you via Blackboard pages for each module. You’ll receive guidance on how to use this resource when you begin your studies.

To help you prepare

As you prepare for joining us, there are some short online courses you can complete on our Learning Skills Hub that will help you get ready.

You will find many modules on the learning skills hub page that will help you get familiar with student life and how to get the most out of your studies, including modules about neurodiversity and dealing with anxiety.

​​You don’t have to ready any textbooks to prepare, but if you want to get into the mindset of biochemistry drives all life on the planet, I recommend you read the book What is Life?: How Chemistry Becomes Biology by Addy Pross

​And/or watch the documentary series ’The Cell‘ on BBC.