Biochemistry

Biochemistry at Sunderland is a degree that connects the molecular science of living systems to the industries and professions that depend on it. The discipline covers the composition, metabolism and function of biological systems at a molecular level, from the biochemistry of individual proteins and metabolic pathways to the molecular basis of disease and the development of drugs, cosmetics and personal care products. It is a science with immediate practical applications across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food science and healthcare, and it develops both rigorous laboratory skills and theoretical understanding of how life works at the chemical level.

This three-year full-time degree at the University of Sunderland includes a sandwich year with a work placement, giving you extended professional experience in an industrial, research or clinical biochemistry setting. You will study with research-active staff, training in advanced laboratory facilities with clinical simulations, and will benefit from the employer networks that the department maintains for placements, mentoring and engagement. The curriculum spans drug development, formulation chemistry, molecular biology, analytical techniques and the broader biological and chemical science that underpins contemporary biochemistry practice.

Graduates work across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics and personal care, clinical biochemistry laboratories, food science, forensic science and biomedical research. The combination of a strong theoretical grounding and a substantial professional placement makes graduates competitive for roles in research and development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, clinical science and analytical chemistry. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, pharmacology or clinical science, while others pursue professional training routes in medicine, pharmacy and allied health professions where biochemistry provides the scientific foundation.