Medical Biochemistry

Medical biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes that underlie human health and disease, examining how the molecular mechanisms of living systems are disrupted in illness and how that understanding can be applied to diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. It sits at the interface of biochemistry and medicine, giving you both the scientific depth of a biochemistry degree and a consistent orientation towards the medical applications of that knowledge. It is a discipline that prepares you for careers in healthcare, research, and the life sciences industry.

At Royal Holloway, this three-year full-time programme explores the molecular basis of disease, giving you a thorough understanding of how all living things function as a result of chemical processes and how those processes go wrong in conditions from cancer to metabolic disorders. A sandwich year is built into the degree, giving you the opportunity to work in a research, pharmaceutical, or clinical setting before your final year. A year abroad is also incorporated, and work placement is additionally available, ensuring that you graduate with substantial professional and international experience alongside your scientific training.

You will study biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, pharmacology, pathology, and the analytical techniques used in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. The programme develops both the theoretical understanding and the practical laboratory skills that careers in biomedical science and research require.

Graduates go on to work in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, clinical and NHS laboratories, drug development, regulatory affairs, cancer research, and a range of other biomedical and healthcare roles. Many pursue postgraduate study in biochemistry, pharmacology, biomedical science, or related fields. The scientific depth and medical orientation of the degree provides a strong foundation for careers across the full range of sectors where biochemical understanding is applied to human health.