(Full time) 2022 start
Biochemistry MBiol, BSc
Overview
Biochemistry is the endeavour to understand life in molecular detail and sits at the heart of modern bioscience helping to tackle global challenges such as maintaining health in ageing populations, developing effective treatments to combat emerging diseases and antibiotic resistance, producing economic green biofuels and developing drought-tolerant crops.
You’ll learn how the structures of DNA and the ribosome were found, to understand the molecular mechanisms of diseases, and how DNA fingerprinting and highly effective protein-based medicines are produced.
You will be taught by experts at the forefront of their research field, and together we will develop the theoretical knowledge, practical, problem-solving and analytical skills that are critical to your development as a scientist. These subject-specific and transferable skills are highly valued by employers.
You’ll develop a deep understanding of life at the molecular and cellular level covering topics including biochemical reaction mechanisms, genetic engineering, protein structure and function, biophysical methods and biochemistry of health and disease.
Our optional integrated Masters (MBiol) offers you an additional year of specialist training, to study advanced research topics and undertake your own extended research project.
Course highlights
Develop your skills in biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, and cell and molecular biology.
Gain practical skills and industry experience through our year in industry programme.
Carry out an independent research project under the supervision of a field-leading academic, further developing the transferable skills that will set you apart in the graduate job market.
Develop a wide-range of transferable skills including the ability to think rationally and scientifically, to analyse and understand data, solve problems and to communicate effectively.
Flexible degrees
Biochemistry is a specialist degree within the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, which offers you flexibility throughout your time at Leeds.
Many of our Molecular and Cellular Biology courses share the same set of compulsory modules in the first year. A key benefit of having a common first year is that at the end of year 1, there are opportunities to transfer onto degree courses in medical biochemistry. Additional degree courses may be available depending on your academic background.
Accreditation
This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. Advanced Degree Accreditation by the Society recognises academic excellence in the biosciences, and highlights degrees that educate the research and development leaders and innovators of the future. The Advanced Accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from the programme meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including gaining a substantial period of research experience.
This accreditation is applicable to the following course variants: BSc Biochemistry (Industrial); MBiol BSc Biochemistry; MBiol BSc Biochemistry (Industrial); MBiol BSc Biochemistry (International).
Course content
Year 1
You will be provided with the deep foundations of core knowledge, practical skills and competence in data handling that will be required for the more specialised subsequent years and your future career. This mirrors year 1 of our medical biochemistry programme.
You will learn about the structures and reactions of molecules essential for life (amino-acids, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids) and fundamental chemistry including thermodynamics, bio-inorganic chemistry and acids, bases and buffers. You will also learn about the experimental, analytical and computational methods used by our academics to investigate life in molecular detail. This includes recombinant DNA techniques, a wide variety of spectroscopies, mass spectrometry and bioinformatics. Finally, these core concepts will be used to explain the biochemical basis for enzyme function, protein synthesis, energy production in the cell and selected metabolic pathways.
Knowledge learned in lectures is re-enforced and augmented during six hours of laboratory work per week. Experiments will develop both your core practical skills (making buffers, taking measurements, analysing data) and introduce you to designing experiments to test hypotheses. Experiments include the separation and visualisation of protein mixtures, measurement and characterisation of enzyme catalysed reactions and quantifying serum cholesterol levels using a fluorescence assay.
Weekly small-group tutorials with your personal tutor will enhance your skills in numeracy, data handling and report writing. You will be asked to either write an essay on a specific topic or to answer a series of problems focussed on a recently taught topic. In addition to this formal interaction, this module provides you with an opportunity to discuss the subject and develop your scientific understanding with an expert in the field. You will also have the option to select optional modules and discovery modules from across the University.
At the end of year 1, our flexible degree structure offers you the opportunity to transfer onto other suitable degree courses.
Year 2
You will focus on in-depth and increasingly research-led study of the major areas that underpin modern biochemistry taught by experts in each topic.
In lectures, you will be taught around the following three themes:
Genetic engineering – explains how the recent advances in DNA cloning together with methods to perturb gene expression complement the core methods of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzymes described in year 1. You will also learn how the proteins encoded by these synthetic genes are over-expressed and purified so that their function and structure can be deduced.
Protein structure and function – continues to develop an understanding of how proteins work via lectures on their dynamics, folding and aggregation. You will also learn about analytical techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), electron microscopy and mass spectrometry. Finally, you will be taught advanced enzyme kinetics and their catalytic mechanisms, rational and directed evolution protein engineering, and be introduced to the molecular mechanisms of chaperones, antibodies and antibiotics.
Biochemistry of health and disease – integrates these concepts to understand the structure, dynamics and function of organelles, cells and tissues. In addition you will learn cell biology techniques, basic innate and adaptive immunology and cellular control mechanisms and dysfunction including the cell cycle, gene regulation, genetic disease, cell signalling and cellular communication.
You will further develop your laboratory skills and take greater responsibility for your experimental design as you undertake a number of mini-projects. In level 2, your weekly six hours in the laboratory run in one day-long session, often over several weeks, allowing the integration of multiple approaches to answer a single question, reflecting the approach of modern research science.
Practicals include: cell biology project to analyse the effects of epidermal growth factors on the cell cycle, and drug discovery project where you will identify potential inhibitors of a therapeutic target protein by a computational method, testing the potency of selected inhibitors by using a high-throughput plate reader assay. These longer assignments run alongside more traditional biochemistry experiments such as determination the stoichiometry and specific activity of an enzyme.
Topics of tutorials used to secure your learning from the lecture and practical modules include organic reaction mechanisms, plant biology, and strategies for gene cloning and protein expression. Alongside this subject-specific knowledge, other tutorials start training in transferable skills required to compete successfully in the employment market. These include mock interviews, report writing and, with your personal tutor, the design and delivery of presentations. You will again have the option to select optional modules and discovery modules from across the University in year 2.
At the end of year 2, you will have the opportunity to complete an industrial work placement, study abroad, or combined study and work abroad. This will add an additional year of study to your degree.
Year 3
Your lectures will be given as three advanced topic modules. Each module comprises of 6-8 topics covering molecular life sciences in its broadest sense. This enables you to study subjects most relevant to your interests and future career. As advanced topics are given by research leaders, the lecture content is research-led and often describes recent discoveries yet to appear modern textbooks. These topics range from:
biophysics (e.g. membrane proteins, molecular motors)
biotechnology (e.g. natural product biosynthesis, synthetic biology and enzymes for biofuels)
mechanisms of disease
cell biology
modern biochemical methods (structural, computational and ‘omics methods).
Your tutorial module will encompass tutorials, group work and presentations on critical analysis of scientific literature and writing, attendance at School research seminars, problem sets and self-directed learning projects. The latter exercises are based on model data that culminate in you analysing a real dataset obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy or X-ray diffraction.
In the first semester, you will undertake an independent or group research project which further develops your analytical and communication skills. It will be a laboratory, literature or computer-based project, under the supervision of one of our expert research academics and will hypothesis-driven.
Recent laboratory projects include:
Investigating the function of a centrosomal protein by electron microscopy.
Using bioinformatics to understand proofreading thioesterases in natural product biosynthesis.
Using transcriptomics and proteomics to identify viral proteins that affect host cells.
Using NMR to understand fusidic acid resistance in bacteria.
Recent literature projects include:
Rhythms of life – are circadian rhythms important in infection and can they be exploited in anti-microbial therapy?
Cancer Stem Cells, Fact or Fiction?
Programmable Nucleases: The Future of Gene Therapy?
BAM – a catalyst for outer membrane protein insertion?
The specialisation and depth of your final year studies, together with your involvement in choosing the direction of your studies leaves you well placed to pursue your specialist interests and future career.
Integrated Masters (MBiol)
Our integrated Masters MBiol programme shares the same year 1 and 2 studying with our BSc programme, providing a foundation knowledge and skills.
Year 3 (MBiol)
You will study the same advanced topic modules and skill modules as BSc students. You will undertake advanced research practical training, which develops tailored biochemistry skills and provides the opportunity to become familiar with the cutting-edge research facilities available at Leeds. You'll also begin preparing for your extended research project which you take in year 4 by undertaking a literature review of the subject.
Year 4 (MBiol)
You’ll undertake an extended research project in one of the research laboratories under the supervision of one of our academics. Studying specialist research topics and a skills module will prepare you for life as a professional scientist. As you are fully integrated into a group, you will contribute to internationally-competitive research which can result in CV-enhancing publications. Previous projects resulting in publications included the use directed evolution to identify candidate protein biopharmaceuticals that are amenable to large scale manufacture and investigating bacterial outer membrane protein folding.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Discovery modules
Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.
This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.
Learning and teaching
You’ll experience a wide range of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials and practicals. Your first and second years will focus on these three teaching methods, building your skills, understanding and knowledge in preparation for your final year research project, which will see you take on independent research and learning with the guidance of leading experts.
Across all years, additional workshop and seminar sessions will complement your lectures and lab practicals, and you will also undertake private study.
As a guide, a typical week in your first year includes nine to twelve hours of lectures, three to six hours of practical sessions in the laboratory, tutorials, workshop and seminar sessions, plus private study.
Independent study and research are also crucial to every year of the course. We have excellent library and computing facilities to support your learning, and the University Library offers training to help you make the most of them.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
We use a variety of assessment methods to help you develop a broad range of skills. These include practical work, data handling and problem-solving exercises, multiple-choice tests, group work, online and face-to-face discussion groups, computer-based simulations, essays, posters and oral presentations.
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: AAB
BSc: AAB
MBiol: AAA
Including chemistry and another science subject. Critical thinking and general studies excluded.
We accept the following:
Science: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics.
Science-related: computing, environmental science, food science, geography, geology, PE, psychology, statistics.
Applicants taking a Science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.
When an applicant is taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or the Cambridge International Project Qualification (Cambridge IPQ) this can be considered alongside A-levels and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A-levels, this would be ABB at A-level and grade A in the EPQ (BSc applicants) or AAB and grade A in the EPQ (MBiol applicants).
GCSE: Grade 6 (B) or above at GCSE maths and Grade 4 (C) or above at GCSE English.
The Faculty of Biological Sciences will accept Level 2 Functional Skills English in lieu of GCSE English.
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Access to HE Diploma
BSc:
Pass 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, graded at D39M6P0 including distinctions in chemistry and biology or maths.We accept Access courses in Applied Science. We will also consider (depending on subject content):
biochemical sciences
biological and environmental science
biological and health science
biological sciences
biosciences
combined sciences
environmental science
life and biological science
life science
medical and health science professions
natural sciences
physical & natural sciences.
MBiol:We do not accept Access to HE
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BTEC
BSc:
BTEC extended diploma entry requirements: DDM plus A/B in A-level chemistry. The preferred BTEC qualification subject is Applied Science (other subjects may be accepted).BTEC diploma entry requirements: DD plus A/B in A-level chemistry. The preferred BTEC qualification subject is Applied Science (other subjects may be accepted).
Applicants with BTEC Subsidiary Diploma qualifications must normally have at least 2 A-levels and at least one of these should be chemistry (plus another science or science-related subject depending on the BTEC subject).
MBiol: We do not accept BTEC qualifications.
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Cambridge Pre-U
BSc: D3/D3/M1 including chemistry plus one other science subject. Global Perspectives excluded.
MBiol: D3/D3/D3 including chemistry plus another science subject. Global Perspectives excluded.
When an applicant is taking Global Perspectives this can be considered alongside Pre-U subjects and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. This would be D3/M1/M1 and grade D3 in Global Perspectives (BSc applicants) or D3/D3/M1 and grade D3 in Global Perspectives (MBiol applicants).
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International Baccalaureate
BSc: 34 (with 17 at higher level) including 6 in higher level chemistry and another science at higher level.
MBiol: 35 (with 18 at higher level) including 6 in higher level chemistry and another science at higher level.
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Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)
BSc: H2,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3 including H2 chemistry and another science at higher level.
MBiol: H2,H2,H2,H2,H2,H2 including H2 in chemistry and another science at higher level.
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Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers
BSc: Advanced Higher: 5 x Highers AABBB, with AB in 2 Advanced Highers including chemistry and another science. General studies and critical thinking excluded.
MBiol: Advanced Higher: 5 x Highers AABBB, with AA in 2 Advanced Highers including chemistry and another science. General studies and critical thinking excluded.
We accept the following science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics.
Scottish Higher: Scottish Highers not accepted on their own.
Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the Schools Undergraduate Admissions Team.
Alternative entry
We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.
Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.
Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.
Typical Access to Leeds offer
BSc – A level: BBB
MBiol – A Level: ABB
Specific A Level subjects required – see entry requirement section above.
GCSE: Grade 6 (B) or above at GCSE Maths and Grade 4 (C) or above at GCSE English.
Access to Leeds: Pass
International Foundation Year
International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component.. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
How to apply
Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.
We welcome applications from mature students. We welcome applications from mature students from all backgrounds onto both full-time and part-time students.
International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions guidance
Visit our admissions guidance page for more information about applying to undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.
Application process
The Faculty of Biological Sciences may consider applications submitted after this date. Availability of courses in UCAS Extra will be detailed by UCAS at the appropriate stage in the cycle.
Alternative Entry Scheme for mature applicants
As per the information detailed in the corresponding section of the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy the Faculty of Biological Sciences will consider prospective students via the Alternative Entry Scheme run by the Lifelong Learning where appropriate applicants will be referred to the Lifelong Learning Centre, who will advise the applicant further.
Interviews
Except for those courses detailed below, interviews do not form part of the Faculty of Biological Sciences’ standard admissions process however, in some cases, an applicant may be invited for an interview if it will help inform whether or not an offer should be made.
Fees
UK: See fees section below
International: £25,250 (per year)
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.
The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.
Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.
Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.
Read more about paying fees and charges.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Financial support
The Faculty of Biological Sciences offer a range of scholarships for UK, EU and International students. Find out more about our scholarships
Career opportunities
As well as providing you with subject-specific knowledge, we aim to equip you with the best possible skills for a variety of future careers. All of our degrees have a strong emphasis on practical based teaching, small group teaching, online learning and problem solving.
Throughout the degree, you’ll gain a wide range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. Supported by the faculty student opportunity team, Leeds for Life scheme and your academic and personal tutor, you’ll be ideally placed to focus on your personal development and make the most of your time at university.
A Leeds biochemistry degree is respected by employers from many different walks of life, particularly given the analytical, technical and numeric properties of the course. Our graduates have, for many years, experienced high employment rates and a high proportion quickly gain employment upon graduation. Our courses enable graduates to obtain employment in scientific and non-scientific careers alike. We emphasise the development of transferable graduate skills throughout our courses.
Typical graduate careers include:
Academic researcher
Biomedical Scientist
Biotechnologist
Clinical Research Associate
Forensic scientist
Teaching
Science communication
Examples of recent graduate destinations include:
Molecular Biologist
Medical Sales Representative
Graduate Entry Medicine
PGCE - Teaching
PhD Biological Sciences
Careers support
We have a dedicated student opportunity team in the Faculty of Biological Sciences who work closely with the University’s Careers Centre.
We offer a host of additional opportunities beyond core course content, including volunteering and placements. These include our annual student-alumni networking event, where graduates are invited back to talk about their work and network with our students, and our STEM Careers Fair, which gives you the chance to meet bioscience employers, such as AstraZeneca, Labcorp, GSK, Nuffield NHS Ecological consultancies, speak to alumni, attend workshops and get masses of information.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.
Study abroad and work placements
Study abroad
On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. We have over 300 University partners worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America.
Find out more at the Study Abroad website.
If you choose to undertake a study abroad option, you will spend the third year of your course studying abroad. This will extend your studies by 12 months.
Work placements
Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.
Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.
Industrial placements are taken after your second year. This will extend your studies by 12 months. For your work placement in industry, the staff at Leeds will help you with your CV and recruitment process and provide details of organisations.
Placements abroad are possible. We work together with your industrial supervisors to make sure you get the most out of this year. A year working in industry gives you an excellent opportunity to get used to the demands of the world of work, to develop new skills and to augment your CV.
Combined study and working abroad
Our new module allows you to combine both a study abroad and industrial work placement into one additional year of study. Over the year you will study for a semester at one of our partner universities and complete an industrial work placement for 6 months abroad or in the UK.
Find out more about Combined study and work abroad.