Medical Biochemistry

Medical biochemistry sits at the boundary between chemistry and medicine, using the tools and methods of biochemical science to understand how the human body works at the molecular level and what happens when biological processes go wrong. It is a discipline that underpins a huge amount of modern medicine, from the development of new drugs to the diagnosis of disease through blood tests and biomarker analysis. This three-year full-time programme at the University of Huddersfield has the potential to help you realise your passions and make contributions in medical research, the pharmaceutical industry, and wider areas of healthcare.

The programme includes a foundation year, which gives you a structured introduction to the scientific principles underlying biochemistry before you progress into the main degree. You will study cell biology, molecular genetics, enzyme kinetics, metabolism, pharmacology, and the chemical pathology that connects molecular events to clinical outcomes. The sandwich year placement and work placement element of the programme give you the opportunity to apply this knowledge in a real laboratory or healthcare environment, whether that is a hospital biochemistry department, a pharmaceutical research team, or a biotechnology company.

Practical and analytical skills developed in the laboratory are a central part of the programme throughout.

Graduates from medical biochemistry go on to careers in clinical biochemistry laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development, healthcare science, medical diagnostics, regulatory affairs, and science communication. Many also progress to postgraduate study, including MSc or PhD programmes in biochemistry, molecular medicine, pharmacology, or related fields. Those interested in medicine or pharmacy sometimes use a biochemistry degree as a stepping stone toward graduate-entry clinical programmes.