Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the science of life at the molecular level. It examines the structures and functions of the molecules that make biological systems work, from DNA and proteins to lipids and carbohydrates, and asks how they interact to enable growth, reproduction, metabolism, and the extraordinary complexity of living organisms. It is a discipline at the heart of modern biology, medicine, and biotechnology, providing the molecular understanding that underpins drug development, genetic research, and our growing ability to engineer biological systems.

At Cardiff University, you will follow this three-year, full-time degree in a research-intensive university with well-equipped laboratories and a strong tradition in the biosciences. You will study the core areas of the discipline: enzymology, molecular biology, cell biology, metabolic pathways, protein structure and function, genetics, and the mechanisms of gene expression and regulation. Laboratory work is central to the programme, and you will develop practical skills in the techniques that biochemists use to investigate biological systems, including chromatography, spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis, PCR, and cell culture.

Data analysis and the ability to interpret experimental results critically are developed throughout. A typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points indicates the scientific background expected for entry.

Biochemistry develops a precise and disciplined way of thinking. You will learn to design experiments carefully, to interpret data with rigour, and to communicate complex findings in both written and oral forms. These capacities are valued well beyond the laboratory.

Graduates move into careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, clinical and medical research, forensic science, food science, environmental monitoring, and science communication. Teaching, the civil service, and management consultancy also attract biochemistry graduates. Many go on to postgraduate study, including master's degrees, PhDs, and graduate-entry medicine, where a biochemistry background is a strong foundation.