Course content

Whether you choose to study as combined honours or single honours, you’ll be studying life at the molecular level, investigating the most exciting areas of contemporary life science and medical research.

You might explore the secrets of the human genome, or the individually tailored molecular therapies of the future.

Particular emphasis is placed on human and mammalian biochemistry, especially relating to health and disease. Single honours includes more biochemistry modules* and also includes choices from a pool of elective modules (either directly related or free choice). You can create a four year degree by doing a work and industrial placement between the second and third year.

Combinations

Biochemistry is also available as a Combined Honours degree. It can be studied in the following combinations:

• Biochemistry and Biology
• Biochemistry and Chemistry
• Biochemistry and Human Biology
• Biochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
• Biochemistry and Neuroscience

For more information please see our School of Life Sciences 2020 brochure.

 

Course structure

Our degree courses are organised into modules. Each module is usually a self-contained unit of study and each is usually assessed separately with the award of credits on the basis of 1 credit = 10 hours of student effort. An outline of the structure of the programme is provided in the tables below.

There are three types of module delivered as part of this programme. They are:

• Compulsory modules: a module that you are required to study on this course;
• Optional modules: these allow you some limited choice of what to study from a list of modules;
• Elective modules: a free choice of modules that count towards the overall credit requirement but not the number of subject-related credits.

A summary of the credit requirements per year is as follows, with a minimum of 90 subject credits (compulsory plus optional) required for each year.

Year	Compulsory	Optional		Electives
		Min	Max	Min	Max
1	105	0	15	0	15
2	105	0	15	0	15
3	60	60	60	0	0

Year 1 (Level 4)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Biochemistry	30	Plants: Sex Drugs and Alcohol	15
Molecular Cell Biology	30
Professional Skills for Biochemists	30
Chemistry for Bioscience	15

Year 2 (Level 5)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Gene & Protein Engineering	15	Human Genetics	15
Molecular, Cellular & Structural Immunology	15	Study Abroad modules	60
Microbes, Viruses and Parasites	15
Metabolism in Health and Disease	15
Cell Signalling	15
Drug Design	15
Research and Analytical Skills	15

Year 3 (Level 6)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Life Sciences Double Experimental   Project (with Research Skills Assessment)1 OR Double Applied Life Sciences Placement2	30   30	Advances in Medicine	15
		Human Parasitology	15
		Structural Biology & Macromolecular Function	15
Bioinformatics and Science Communication	15	Cancer Biology	15
Case Studies in Biotechnology	15	Biology of Disease	15
Medical Glycobiology	15

¹ If a student fails the Life Sciences double experimental project module (or the alternative Double Applied Life Science placement module) but has it condoned, then they will not be eligible for an RSB accredited degree, but shall instead be eligible for the award BSc Studies in Biochemistry

² The Double Applied Life Sciences Placement module may replace Life Sciences Double Experimental Project (with research skills assessment) if the nature of the placement is deemed suitable and the work carried out meets the criteria of the research project module.

For further information on the content of modules currently offered, including the list of elective modules, please visit: www.keele.ac.uk/recordsandexams/az

The module details given above are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.

Entry requirements

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

A Level requirements

• A Level requirement ABB
• To include 2 Science subjects (Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Human Biology, Geology, Geography, Statistics, Environmental Science and Psychology)**.
• In the absence of A level chemistry, AS level chemistry at grade C is required.

GCSE requirements

• Maths at C (or 4)
• English at C (or 4)

BTEC

• BTEC requirements DDM in a Science based subject. You must also have taken sufficient Science credits, please contact us for advice

International Baccalaureate

• 34 to include Higher Level Chemistry at 6 or another Higher Level Science subject at 6 and Standard Level Chemistry at 5.

Access to HE Diploma requirements

PREPARATION PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

Career prospects

96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (DLHE, 2017)

When you graduate, the broad and detailed understanding of biochemistry you’ll have developed at Keele will open up a world of appealing career options. You could choose to work in a directly related field, perhaps as a clinical biochemist, medical bioscientist, forensic scientist, research scientist, toxicologist or science teacher. Or you might branch out a little further, and become a health and safety inspector, training standards officer, science writer or technical author.

The applied nature of the programme will equip you with a range of transferable employability skills for careers in the Biosciences as well as in other graduate careers where numeracy and an objective scientific approach to problem solving are valued.