Biochemistry with Industrial Placement

Biochemistry investigates life at the molecular level, examining the structure and function of the biological molecules that constitute living organisms and the chemical processes through which those organisms sustain themselves, grow, and respond to their environments. It is a discipline that spans the boundary between biology and chemistry, and one that has been at the centre of some of the most significant advances in medicine and biotechnology over the past several decades, from the elucidation of the structure of DNA to the development of targeted cancer therapies and the rapid production of mRNA vaccines.

At the University of Warwick, this four-year full-time Biochemistry degree with industrial placement takes you deeply into the molecular machinery of life, examining 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 industrial placement provides a full year of professional experience in a research or industrial setting before you return to complete your final year, which is central to developing the applied laboratory skills and professional maturity that employers in biochemistry-related sectors value highly. The School of Life Sciences context at Warwick brings a strong research environment to the teaching.

Biochemistry graduates from Warwick with industrial placement experience are well placed for careers in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, in academic and clinical research, and in the growing range of industrial sectors that depend on biological science. Drug discovery, protein engineering, diagnostics, clinical trials, regulatory science, bioprocessing, and science communication are all well-established destinations. Many graduates go on to doctoral research, and the placement year provides a particularly strong preparation for competitive postgraduate programmes.

Postgraduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, or a clinical health science is also a natural continuation for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.