Biochemistry

Gain insights into the intricate, elegant workings of the building blocks of life in Biochemistry at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The course provides a comprehensive coverage of the principles of biochemistry, and includes a range of options that span the spectrum from medically-oriented biochemistry, through biochemistry in plants, to industrial applications of biochemistry.

You’ll gain invaluable laboratory experience across all three years of your degree. In year 3, you’ll complete an individual project, becoming part of our renowned research culture. The School of Biological Sciences was ranked 25th in the UK for influential research output by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, and our low student-to-staff ratio maximises your contact time with our internationally respected and enthusiastic academics. Many of our former students have contributed to published scientific papers.

Our campus is close to several sites of national scientific importance, including Windsor Great Park and the Millennium Seed Bank, while our on-site glasshouses, marine and freshwater aquaria and plant and animal cell culture facilities provide opportunities for rewarding independent study.

The skills and experience you’ll gain studying Biochemistry will make you an attractive prospect to employers. A combination of laboratory experience, ground-breaking research and a wide range of additional skills and competencies have helped our graduates find work in fields from forensic medicine to biotechnology. Pursue your passion for the fascinating principles of biochemistry and graduate with the skills and qualifications you need to find success in your chosen field.

On-site marine and freshwater aquaria, glasshouses and plant and animal cell culture facilities for rewarding independent study.

Conduct an individual research project in your third year and experience our renowned research culture.

Join a close-knit and supportive learning community with a high staff-to-student ratio.

Gain invaluable transferable skills to take into the workplace, including lab experience, numerical skills and communication skills.

Summer placements offered to help you gain invaluable work experience.

A close-knit graduate network to draw on, with alumni often visiting Royal Holloway to share their experiences.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• Becoming a Bioscientist

• Cell Biology and the Origin of Life

• Genetics

• Chemistry of Life

• Fundamental Biochemistry

• Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology

• Academic Integrity

Year 2

• Bioenergetics and Metabolism

• Protein Structure and Function

• Molecular Biology

• Physical Biochemistry for Life Scientists

• Natural Product Biochemistry and Sustainability

Year 3

• Individual Research Project

• Nutrition and Medical Biochemistry

• Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Bioformatics

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• Introductory Animal Physiology

• Introduction to Human Physiology

• Green Planet: Plants and Our Future

Year 2

• Microbiology

• Food Security, Sustainability and Green Biotechnology

• Cell Dynamics: Division and Movement

• Human Physiology in Health and Disease

• Developmental Biology

• Immunology

• Neuronal and Cellular Signalling

• Pharmacology and Toxicology

• Dissertation - Extended Essay

Year 3

• Biology of Parasitic Diseases

• Climate Change - Plants and the Environment

• Evolutionary Medicine

• Biotechnology in a Changing World

• Molecular and Medical Microbiology

• Seed Biology: From Molecular & Conservation Biology to Industrial Applications

• Applications of Genetic Engineering in Health and Disease

• Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer

• Human Embryology

• Cell and Molecular Neuroscience

• Molecular Basis of Inherited Disease

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/biological-sciences/biochemistry/

Each year you will take modules worth a total of 120 credits, with most individual modules worth 15 credits. In your final year, your Individual Research Project is worth 30 credits.

The first year is formative, while outcomes of your second and third year contribute one third and two-thirds of your final degree classification respectively.

You will attend a mixture of lectures, seminars and small-group tutorials, with class sizes that range from 6 to 180 students. Practical classes are a major part of all first and second year modules, and include experiments that are integral to the subject, helping to familarise you with the material and augment your understanding of key topics. These are either laboratory-based or field-based with laboratory follow-up. In your third year, you will complete an individual research project supervised by one of our academics, and you may have the opportunity to contribute towards a published scientific paper. The individual research project is assessed on the basis of a written report, supervisor assessment, and an oral presentation.

During your first and second years, you will complete essays and reports, and sit written examinations. In your third year, assignments include a range of activities, such as preparation of posters, oral presentations, creation of leaflets and podcasts, coursework essays, mock research grant applications and scientific news-and-views articles, as well as analysis of data from online repositories in mini-research projects.

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will provide you with support, guidance and advice throughout your studies.

You will also have access to the comprehensive e-learning facility Moodle, which features lecture handouts and other supporting materials, such as lecture slides, quizzes, video clips, and links to relevant academic journal articles.