Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the science of life at the molecular level. It asks how the molecules inside living cells, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, carry out the processes that make life possible: how enzymes catalyse chemical reactions, how DNA carries and expresses genetic information, how cells communicate, and how the failure of these processes gives rise to disease. It is a discipline that sits at the intersection of biology and chemistry, and it underpins much of modern medicine, from the design of new drugs to the development of diagnostic tests and the engineering of microorganisms for industrial and environmental applications.

At Reading, this three-year full-time programme begins with a foundation year for students who need additional preparation before progressing to degree-level study in biochemistry. Once on the main programme, you will explore how molecular processes control life at different scales, from the behaviour of individual molecules to the coordination of organs and whole organisms. The course includes a sandwich year, giving you the opportunity to spend a full year in a professional research or industrial placement, building practical experience and professional connections alongside your academic study.

Work placements are also available as part of the programme. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.

Biochemistry graduates are well placed for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, clinical and medical research, food science, forensic science, public health, and environmental monitoring. The combination of rigorous scientific reasoning and practical laboratory skills that a biochemistry degree develops is valued by employers across the life sciences. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study, including master's programmes, PhDs in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, or related fields, or conversion routes into medicine, dentistry, or other clinical professions.