Biochemistry

Biochemistry asks how life works at the molecular level. It sits at the border between chemistry and biology, using the tools of chemistry to understand the processes that make living cells function: how enzymes catalyse reactions, how genetic information is stored, copied and translated into proteins, how cells generate and use energy, and how molecular signals coordinate the activity of tissues and organisms. It is a discipline that has transformed medicine, agriculture, environmental science and biotechnology over the past century, and it continues to sit at the frontier of biological research.

At the University of Essex, you will explore molecular enzymology, neurodegeneration, structural biology and bioenergetics, with the option to expand your study into biomedical science, biotechnology and bioinformatics. The programme runs for three years full time, giving you a thorough grounding in the chemical and biological principles that underpin the field alongside the laboratory skills to work with biological molecules and systems. Essex has a strong tradition of research in biochemistry and the life sciences, and the degree is taught in an environment where active research shapes what and how you learn.

The typical entry tariff is 104 points.

You will develop analytical skills, the ability to design and interpret experiments, and the quantitative literacy to work with biological data. These are core skills for anyone entering the life sciences sector, and they are valued by employers in pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, food and agricultural research, environmental science and a range of other sectors where understanding biological processes at the molecular level matters.

Graduates from biochemistry programmes pursue careers in pharmaceutical research and development, clinical laboratory science, biotechnology, regulatory affairs, science communication, education, public health and environmental science. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study, including PhDs in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology or related fields, which is the route most commonly taken by those aiming at senior research positions. Medicine, dentistry and other health professions are also paths open to biochemistry graduates with the appropriate preparation.