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Biochemistry

  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 14 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
Aston University
More about Aston University, Birmingham

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Dive into the molecular world and unlock solutions to global challenges! Our BSc (Hons) Biochemistry programme at Aston University places you at the cutting edge of discovery. You'll delve into the molecular 'nuts and bolts' of proteins to drive innovative drug discovery, learn to design and build novel biological solutions using synthetic biology, and engage with revolutionary technologies like organ-on-a-chip that are transforming how we study life and disease. Join us at the forefront of this dynamic and vital scientific field.

This degree equips you with a deep understanding of biochemical principles and the practical, computational, and analytical skills demanded by employers. You'll explore the intricate mechanisms of life, from biomolecules to complex biological systems, while also delving into cutting-edge areas like bioinformatics, computational modelling, and synthetic biology.

Choose the pathway that suits your ambitions

  • 4-Year Programme - full-time, with integrated placement year: Gain invaluable real-world experience, enhance your CV, and often secure graduate roles through our highly recommended, transformative placement year. This is the pathway most Aston Biochemistry students choose for its proven career benefits.

  • 3-Year Programme - full-time: A focused route for those seeking direct progression to further study or specific career paths that do not require an industrial placement.

Whichever route you choose, you'll benefit from hands-on laboratory work in state-of-the-art facilities, expert teaching informed by the latest research, and a curriculum designed to develop not just your scientific knowledge, but also your leadership potential and professional skills. As an Aston Biochemistry graduate, you'll be empowered to contribute meaningfully to fields like medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and environmental science.

Why study Biochemistry at Aston University?

  • Flexible pathways: Tailor your degree with a 3-year direct route or the highly regarded 4-year programme featuring a placement year. Our dedicated and award-winning placements teams will be able to guide you through the process.

  • Cutting-edge curriculum: Explore core biochemistry alongside modern disciplines like computational biology, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology.

  • Professionally accredited: Recognised by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), ensuring high standards and enhancing your employability.

  • Gold standard teaching: Aston University proudly holds Triple Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023) – the highest possible rating and only one of a few institutions in the county to be awarded this prize.

  • Top Ranked Programme: Aston's biosciences programmes are ranked 2nd in the UK for career prospects (Guardian, 2026 - Biology), so you're studying in a highly respected course.

Facilities

  • Modern teaching and research labs: In addition to well-equipped spaces designed for hands-on experiments, we also house state of the art cell culture facilities as well as chemistry labs.

  • Specialist equipment: Access industry-standard instrumentation including spectrometers (UV-Vis, Fluorescence), microscopes (confocal, electron), chromatography systems (HPLC, GC), cell culture facilities, and molecular biology tools.

  • Dedicated computer labs: Utilise powerful workstations equipped with specialised software for molecular modelling, bioinformatics analysis, data visualisation, and statistical processing.

  • Aston library: Access vast digital and print resources, scientific databases, e-journals, and quiet study spaces 24/7 during key periods.

  • Collaborative study areas: Spaces designed for group work and discussion. • Virtual Learning Environment: Comprehensive online access to course materials, lecture recordings, and resources.

Modules

Course Modules

Biomolecules | Cells to Systems | Microbiology and Genetics | Molecular Metabolism | Molecular Biology and Biotechnology | Mechanisms of Pathology | Cell Membranes | Protein Structure and Function | Biosciences placement (optional) | Research Project Preparation | Research Project | Professional Development for Biochemists.

For a full list of modules and course objectives, visit the course page on Aston University's website: https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/biochemistry-bsc/

https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/biochemistry-bsc/september-2027

Assessment method

Everyone is different and we use a variety of assessment methods to evaluate your understanding and skills, reflecting the diverse demands of a scientific career. These include:
• Examinations (essays, short answers, MCQs)
• Laboratory reports and practical assessments
• Data analysis and interpretation tasks (including computational work)
• Research project reports and dissertations
• Oral presentations and posters
• Essays and critical reviews
• Group projects
• Computer-based assessments

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Royal Society of Biology

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours) • Full-Time • Placement (mandatory) • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 14 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
C700
Institution code:
A80
Campus name:
Main Site
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Aston University, Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
C700
Institution code:
A80
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
BBC-CCC

BBC in three A Level subjects, which must include Biology OR Chemistry.

BCC in three A Level subjects, which must include Biology OR Chemistry plus grade B in an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or Core Maths.

CCC in three A Level subjects, which must include Biology OR Chemistry for contextual offer students. * Contextual offers are made as part of Aston University's Aston Ready Scheme. Please see the criteria and further details at https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready.

________________

RESIT APPLICANTS:
We welcome applications from students who are resitting to improve their grades. Only the highest grades achieved will be considered, and resit applications are treated the same as all others.

PREDICTIONS AND ACHIEVED GRADES: At Aston University, we are committed to an inclusive admissions process, ensuring every applicant has the best possible opportunity. While our listed grades are the official entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only estimates.

We may consider applicants predicted to achieve CCC or higher, provided they meet the subject-specific requirements. This allows applicants the opportunity to improve on their predicted grades. However, any offer made will contain the listed grade requirements. If you are applying as a private resit candidate, we still require predicted grades from your school, college, private tutor or exam centre as part of your application.

We will also consider applicants who have already achieved at least CCC at A level. These applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, considering the overall strength of the application, a strong academic reference, and any explanations for gaps in academic history.

T Level
Not accepted

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
BBBCC

must include Biology OR Chemistry.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
DD

See Aston University course webpage for further details

Access to HE Diploma
Distinction: 15 Merit: 30

Successful completion of the QAA-recognised Access Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits.

Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification so you must meet the GCSE entry requirements.

Subjects accepted: Applied Science, Biology combined with Chemistry, Biomedical Science, Biosciences, Combined Sciences, Health Sciences, Health Sciences Professions, Life Sciences and Sciences.

Please note that we do not accept Health and Social Care as it does not contain the amount of core science material required for subsequent undergraduate studies on this degree.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, which must include Mathematics and English Language/Literature.

Please note that we do not accept Key Skills or Functional Skills in place of these.

Scottish Advanced Higher
CCC

must include Biology.

Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF)
DD

See Aston University course webpage for further details

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
D

See Aston University course webpage for further details

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

See Aston University course webpage for further details

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
29-28

STANDARD: 29 points overall and must include grades 5, 5, 4 in Higher Level subjects which must include Biology OR Chemistry. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Mathematics and English Language.

OR

CONTEXTUAL: 28 points overall and must include grades 4, 4, 4 in Higher Level subjects which must include Biology OR Chemistry. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Mathematics and English Language.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

This will be accepted in place of one A Level, but not in place of the subject specifics stated.

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

See Aston University course webpage for further details

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3H3H3H3H4

must include Biology at grade H3 or above.

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

See Aston University course webpage for further details

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

See Aston University course webpage for further details

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

This will be accepted in place of one A Level, but not in place of the subject specifics stated.

Offer Holder Days

Once you have received an offer, you will be invited to an Offer Holder Day to discover more about the course and Aston University. https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/biochemistry-bsc/

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking needs to be at 6.0. We are able to provide flexibility on only one of these tests where the mark 5.5 can be accepted.

A full list of the English Language tests which can be accepted can be viewed here.https://www.aston.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Aston Ready is our contextual offer scheme that could reduce your undergraduate offer by one or two grades. Assessed at the point of application, there are no additional forms to fill in. Details of eligibility criteria can be found on our website.

Learn more on the Aston University, Birmingham website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland£9790
International£22575

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

(The tuition fees mentioned are for the 2026/7 academic year. These will be updated to the fees for 2027/8 academic year as soon as they are available.)

*Home students: for entry to the University in 2026/7, the home tuition fees are expected to be £9,790, subject to parliamentary approval. For more information please visit the relevant course webpage at www.aston.ac.uk. If you are already holding an offer with us, please check your offer letter for information on fees.

**International students: For more information please visit the relevant course webpage at www.aston.ac.uk. If you are already holding an offer with us, please check your offer letter for information on fees

Sponsorship information

Scholarships and bursaries 1

Please visit our helpful webpage for applicants: https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/your-application/funding

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