Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of life at the molecular level. It investigates the chemistry of the molecules that make up living things: the proteins that carry out the cell's work, the DNA that stores and transmits genetic information, the lipids that form cell membranes, and the metabolic pathways through which cells extract energy and build new materials. Understanding how these molecular systems function in health, and how they go wrong in disease, is the foundation of modern medicine, pharmaceutical development, and biotechnology.

At the University of Dundee this four-year, full-time programme gives you a rigorous education in the molecular science of life, covering metabolism, molecular biology, cell signalling, structural biochemistry, and the functions of proteins carrying information within and between cells. Dundee has a globally recognised research reputation in biomedical sciences, and the programme is closely connected to that research culture, giving you access to the thinking and approaches of active scientists at the forefront of the discipline. A year abroad is built into the programme, broadening your academic experience and giving you exposure to different research environments and scientific cultures.

Graduates of biochemistry at Dundee go on to careers in academic and industrial research, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, clinical laboratory science, and the wide range of science-adjacent roles in the life sciences sector. Many move into research and development, where their molecular knowledge is directly applied to drug discovery, diagnostics, and biotechnology applications. Others enter careers in regulatory science, quality assurance, medical writing, science communication, or intellectual property.

A significant number continue to postgraduate study, pursuing research degrees in biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, or related fields, or entering professional training programmes in medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy.