Biochemistry with a Year in Professional Practice

Biochemistry is the science of life at the molecular level, examining the chemical processes and substances that sustain living organisms. It asks how proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids are structured and how they function, how genes are expressed and regulated, how metabolism is organised and controlled, and how these molecular mechanisms are altered in disease. It is a discipline that connects directly to some of the most pressing challenges in health, agriculture and environmental science, making its findings immediately relevant to medicine, biotechnology and sustainability.

This four-year full-time degree at the University of Kent includes a year in professional practice, giving you an extended period of work-based experience in an industry, research or healthcare setting as part of the programme. This is a significant asset: the experience of working in a professional biochemistry context before you graduate develops practical skills, professional awareness and often leads directly to employment opportunities. You will study the molecular biology of viruses and bacteria, human and plant physiology, protein structure and function, genetics, metabolism and the biochemical basis of disease.

Contemporary issues in health, agriculture and the environment provide the context in which this molecular science is applied and developed.

Graduates work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, medical research, clinical biochemistry, agricultural science, forensic science, food science and environmental biotechnology. The professional practice year significantly enhances graduate employability by giving you demonstrable applied experience alongside your academic qualification. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology or clinical science, and the degree also provides a foundation for professional training in medicine, pharmacy and related health professions.