Biochemistry BSc
  • Undergraduate
  • BSc

Biochemistry

Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries.

  • Undergraduate
  • BSc

Biochemistry with Research Abroad

Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries.

  • Undergraduate
  • BSc

Biochemistry with a Year in Industry/Research

Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries.

Focus on biology at the molecular and cellular level and understand chemical processes within living organisms

Develop your research expertise through the completion of a substantial project or dissertation

Enrich your learning on an optional research year abroad or year in industry

How would you like to study?

Study option:

Showing course information for 2024 View 2025 course information

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • BSc

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Start date

    October 2024

  • UCAS course code

    C700

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £9,250 Home

    • £41,650 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • South Kensington

  • Applications: places

    10 : 1 (2022)

Minimum entry standard

  • AAA (A-level)

  • 38 points (International Baccalaureate)

View full entry requirements
  • Qualification

    • BSc

  • Duration

    4 years

  • Start date

    October 2024

  • UCAS course code

    Apply to C700

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £9,250 Home

    • £41,650 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • South Kensington

  • Applications: places

    10 : 1 (2022)

Minimum entry standard

  • AAA (A-level)

  • 38 points (International Baccalaureate)

View full entry requirements
  • Qualification

    • BSc

  • Duration

    4 years

  • Start date

    October 2024

  • UCAS course code

    Apply to C700

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £9,250 Home

    • £41,650 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • South Kensington

  • Applications: places

    10 : 1 (2022)

Minimum entry standard

  • AAA (A-level)

  • 38 points (International Baccalaureate)

View full entry requirements

Study option:

Course overview

Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries on this three-year course.

With teaching delivered through lectures and case studies from business leaders and academics, this course will prepare you for advanced study or a career in the field.

You'll build familiarity with key aspects of both industries, including commercialising technology, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property and patents.

Through laboratory and computational work, you'll acquire the skills required to design, carry out and analyse data from biochemical experiments.

You'll also benefit from close interaction with the department's internationally leading research programme, with access to facilities including modern microscopes and tissue culture suites.

Your third year offers increased freedom to follow your own interests in chosen subject areas.

You'll choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as synthetic biology, cancer and bioinformatics. You'll then apply your expertise to a substantial project or dissertation.

Your studies will be complemented by a Life Science Skills programme that will provide training in quantitative skills, programming, statistics, and scientific writing and presentation.

Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries on this three-year course.

With teaching delivered through lectures and case studies from business leaders and academics, this course will prepare you for advanced study or a career in the field.

You'll build familiarity with key aspects of both industries, including commercialising technology, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property and patents.

Through laboratory and computational work, you'll acquire the skills required to design, carry out and analyse data from biochemical experiments.

You'll also benefit from close interaction with the department's internationally leading research programme, with access to facilities including modern microscopes and tissue culture suites.

Your third year will be spent carrying out research with an approved university abroad.

This integrated year with a partner institution will enable you to challenge yourself in a different cultural environment.

Your final year offers increased freedom to follow your own interests in chosen subject areas. You'll choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as synthetic biology, cancer and bioinformatics.

You'll then apply your expertise to a substantial project or dissertation.

Your studies will be complemented by a Life Science Skills programme that will provide training in quantitative skills, programming, statistics, and scientific writing and presentation.

Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries on this three-year course.

With teaching delivered through lectures and case studies from business leaders and academics, this course will prepare you for advanced study or a career in the field.

You'll build familiarity with key aspects of both industries, including commercialising technology, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property and patents.

You'll also benefit from close interaction with the department's internationally leading research programme, with access to facilities including modern microscopes and tissue culture suites.

Through laboratory and computational work, you'll acquire the skills required to design, carry out and analyse data from biochemical experiments.

Your third year will be spent carrying out a year in industry, or embedded within a research setting.

This usually takes place in an industrial, medical or other appropriate biochemical or biotechnological work environment.

Your final year offers increased freedom to follow your own interests in chosen subject areas.

You'll choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as synthetic biology, cancer and bioinformatics.

You'll then apply your expertise to a substantial project or dissertation.

Your studies will be complemented by a Life Science Skills programme that will provide training in quantitative skills, programming, statistics, and scientific writing and presentation.

Study option:

Structure

This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about potential course changes.

Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

You’ll study all core modules.

 

Core modules

  • Biological Chemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Enzymes and Metabolism
  • Molecular Biology

You’ll study all core modules.

You’ll also choose one optional module.


 

Core modules

  • Structural Biology
  • Genes and Genomics
  • Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming 
  • Tutored Dissertation
  • Protein Science
  • Integrative Cell Biology
  • I-Explore

 

Optional modules

  • Topics in Biotechnology
  • Challenges in Cell Biology
  • Applied Molecular Biochemistry
  • Computational ‘Omics


I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.

All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.

You'll study three optional modules, one from each of Groups A, B and C.

You'll also select a research project option from Group D.

 



 

Optional modules

Group A

  • Structural Biology and Drug Design
  • Mechanisms of Gene Expression
  • Stem Cells, Regeneration & Ageing
  • Metabolic & Network Engineering
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Biodiversity Genomics

 

Group B

  • Cancer
  • Bacterial Molecular Machines
  • Integrative Systems Biology
  • Evolutionary Applications
  • Advanced Topics in Parasitology & Vector Biology
  • Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
  • Disease Ecology and Epidemiology

 

Group C

  • Medical Glycobiology
  • Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
  • Bioinformatics
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Sytems Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain in Health & Disease
  • The Microbiome
  • Advanced Immunology
  • Plant Biotechnology & Development

 

Group D

  • Practical Research Project (Lab, Computational, Field) or
  • Science Communication plus Literature Research Project (Research Proposal)

You’ll study all core modules.

 

Core modules

  • Biological Chemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Enzymes and Metabolism
  • Molecular Biology

You’ll study all core modules.

You’ll also choose one optional module.


 

Core modules

  • Structural Biology
  • Genes and Genomics
  • Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming 
  • Tutored Dissertation
  • Protein Science
  • Integrative Cell Biology
  • I-Explore

 

Optional modules

  • Topics in Biotechnology
  • Challenges in Cell Biology
  • Applied Molecular Biochemistry
  • Computational ‘Omics


I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.

All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.

The third year consists of an agreed programme of study at an approved university in either Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, or Switzerland. 

We currently have exchange agreements with:

  • University of Vienna, Austria
  • University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, France
  • SupAgro, France
  • University of Paris, France
  • University of Paris Saclay, France
  • University of Strasbourg, France
  • University of Toulouse 3, France
  • University of Heidelberg, Germany
  • University of Padova, Italy
  • University of Leiden, Netherlands
  • Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
  • University of Valencia, Spain
  • Karolinska Institute, Sweden
  • ETH Zurich, Switzerland

This is an integrated year abroad so the grades you achieve will count directly towards your Imperial degree.

You'll study three optional modules, one from each of Groups A, B and C.

You'll also select a research project option from Group D.

Optional modules

Group A

  • Stem Cells, Regeneration & Ageing
  • Metabolic & Network Engineering
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Plant Biotechnology & Development
  • Current Topics in Development Biology
  • Structural Biology and Drug Design
  • Evolutionary Applications
  • Mechanisms of Gene Expression

 

Group B

  • Advanced Bacterial & Eukaryotic Cell Biology
  • Integrative Systems Biology
  • Advanced Topics in Parasitology & Vector Biology
  • Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
  • Advanced Topics in Infection & Immunity 
  • Cancer
  • Disease Ecology and Epidemiology 

 

Group C

  • The Microbiome
  • Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
  • Bioinformatics
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Systems Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain in Health & Disease
  • Biodiversity Genomics
  • Advanced Immunology
  • Medical Glycobiology

 

Group D

  • Practical Research Project (Lab, Computational, Field) or
  • Science Communication plus Literature Research Project (Research Proposal)

You’ll study all core modules.

 

Core modules

  • Biological Chemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Enzymes and Metabolism
  • Molecular Biology

You’ll study all core modules.

You’ll also choose one optional module.


 

Core modules

  • Structural Biology
  • Genes and Genomics
  • Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming 
  • Tutored Dissertation
  • Protein Science
  • Integrative Cell Biology
  • I-Explore

 

Optional modules

  • Topics in Biotechnology
  • Challenges in Cell Biology
  • Applied Molecular Biochemistry
  • Computational ‘Omics


I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.

All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.

You will spend this year either working in industry or completing research.



 

This will be an integrated, 12-month placement in industry or a research organisation.

This can be in a variety of areas, such as medical research, conservation biology, marine biology or the pharmaceutical industry.

Students from the Department have previously completed placements with:

  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Oxford University
  • Novartis
  • Institute of Cancer Research
  • Natural History Museum

The employer can often be in a location of your choice – including outside the UK – as long as you are successful in obtaining a position there and the placement is approved by the Department.

You'll study three optional modules, one from each of Groups A, B and C.

You'll also select a research project option from Group D.

Optional modules

Group A

  • Stem Cells, Regeneration & Ageing
  • Metabolic & Network Engineering
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Plant Biotechnology & Development
  • Current Topics in Development Biology
  • Structural Biology and Drug Design
  • Evolutionary Applications
  • Mechanisms of Gene Expression

Group B

  • Advanced Bacterial & Eukaryotic Cell Biology
  • Integrative Systems Biology
  • Advanced Topics in Parasitology & Vector Biology
  • Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
  • Advanced Topics in Infection & Immunity 
  • Cancer
  • Disease Ecology and Epidemiology 

 

Group C

  • The Microbiome
  • Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
  • Bioinformatics
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Systems Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain in Health & Disease
  • Biodiversity Genomics
  • Advanced Immunology
  • Medical Glycobiology

 

Group D

  • Practical Research Project (Lab, Computational, Field) or
  • Science Communication plus Literature Research Project (Research Proposal)

Study option:

Teaching and assessment

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • Independent study

Years 1 and 2

  • 30% Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • 70% Independent study

Teaching and learning methods

  • Laboratory
  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Person giving seminar
    Seminars
  • ID badge for site visit or facility tour
    Site visits
  • A group of people interacting
    Group project
  • Individual research project
    Research project

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Examination
  • Coursework

Year 1

  • 60% Examination
  • 40% Coursework

Year 2

  • 48% Examination
  • 52% Coursework

Year 3

  • 56% Examination
  • 44% Coursework

Assessment methods

  • Person completing coursework
    Coursework
  • Essays
  • Individual research
  • Laboratory write-ups
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written examinations

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • Independent study

Years 1 and 2

  • 30% Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • 70% Independent study

Teaching and learning methods

  • Laboratory
  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Person giving seminar
    Seminars
  • ID badge for site visit or facility tour
    Site visits
  • A group of people interacting
    Group project
  • Individual research project
    Research project

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Examination
  • Coursework

Year 1

  • 60% Examination
  • 40% Coursework

Year 2

  • 48% Examination
  • 52% Coursework

Year 4

  • 56% Examination
  • 44% Coursework

Assessment methods

  • Person completing coursework
    Coursework
  • Essays
  • Individual research
  • Laboratory write-ups
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written examinations

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • Independent study

Years 1 and 2

  • 30% Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • 70% Independent study

Teaching and learning methods

  • Laboratory
  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Person giving seminar
    Seminars
  • ID badge for site visit or facility tour
    Site visits
  • A group of people interacting
    Group project
  • Individual research project
    Research project

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Examination
  • Coursework

Year 1

  • 60% Examination
  • 40% Coursework

Year 2

  • 48% Examination
  • 52% Coursework

Year 4

  • 56% Examination
  • 44% Coursework

Assessment methods

  • Person completing coursework
    Coursework
  • Essays
  • Individual research
  • Laboratory write-ups
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written examinations

Study option:

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

Study option:

How to apply

Applications for 2024 entry are now closed

Applications are closed for 2024 entry.

Applications are closed for 2024 entry.

Applications are closed for 2024 entry.

Tuition fees

Home fee

2024 entry

£9,250 per year

Year abroad

£1,385 for that year

Year in industry

2024 entry

£1,850 for that year

Overseas fee

2024 entry

£41,650 per year

Year abroad

15% of the fee for that year

Year in industry

20% of the fee for that year

Your future career

Test tube with plant growing from it next to another test tube

Gain an excellent grounding in biochemistry towards more advanced study.

Graduate Cap above rolled Degree

Graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.

Management organisational chart

Many others advance to roles in business, government and industrial research, or public health.

Man standing under a sign pointing different directions

Other potential career paths include healthcare, management consulting, biochemistry, and medical communications.

Course data

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Terms and conditions

There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications