Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the science of life at its molecular scale, investigating the chemical processes and molecules that make living systems work. It sits at the intersection of chemistry and biology, using the tools of one to ask the fundamental questions of the other: how do proteins fold into the shapes that give them function, how is genetic information read and translated into living matter, how do cells sense and respond to their environment, and what goes wrong when these processes fail in disease? The answers to these questions underlie modern medicine, biotechnology, and our most fundamental understanding of life.

At Warwick, which has a strong research reputation in life sciences, this four-year full-time degree examines biochemistry as the study of life on its smallest scale. You will study the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids, the control of gene expression, the workings of membranes, antibodies, and hormones, and how cells function within multicellular organisms. The curriculum is research-informed throughout, reflecting the depth and breadth of Warwick's expertise in biochemistry and molecular biology.

You will develop strong laboratory skills alongside your theoretical understanding, building the analytical and experimental competencies that characterise professional biochemists.

Biochemistry graduates from Warwick go on to careers in pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, clinical science, food science, environmental science, academic research, and many other fields where molecular understanding of living systems is applied. The degree also provides excellent preparation for postgraduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, or the health sciences, including routes into medicine and dentistry for those wishing to pursue clinical careers. The analytical and laboratory skills you develop are valued across a wide range of professional contexts beyond the life sciences.