Biochemistry and Human Biology

Biochemistry and Human Biology - BSC (Hons)

Understand how life and the systems within it exist at a molecular level to make exciting advances in medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology on our Biochemistry and Human Biology BSc. You will also explore the fascinating and complex fields of human genetics, nutrition, parasitology and advances in medicine. This programme provides you with the subject specific, research and laboratory skills for you to follow a wide variety of career paths.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2022 entry see here

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

School of Life Sciences

UCAS code

CC7C

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

Enquire about this course Book an open day Chat to students

Why study Biochemistry and Human Biology at Keele University?

Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology

Top 10 in England for Biochemistry (National Student Survey, 2021)

Develop your core practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art laboratories

Enhance your employability with the opportunity to spend a year in industry

Discover diverse cultures through an international year at a partner university across the globe

Course overview

This Biochemistry and Human Biology BSc at Keele offers you the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in two exciting science related subjects.

From unlocking the secrets of the human body to the individually tailored molecular therapies of the future, biochemistry is the study of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. This is the foundation for understanding all biological processes, including the development and progression of diverse pathologies, across species. It has become the foundation for understanding all biological processes and can provide explanations for the causes of many diseases in humans, animals and plants. Human Biology explores the physiology of the body’s major systems, human health, disease and the relationship between the human body with the environment. From exploring how our lifestyle and genes affect our risk of disease to discovering the latest developments in cancer research, you will have the opportunity to deep dive into a broad range of topics that are of increasing importance in medical research and underpin the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Biochemistry modules cover five core themes: macromolecular structure-function, metabolism and its control, genetics, cell biology and the applications of chemistry in the study of these. The course will give you a broad and varied grounding in modern biochemistry. You will explore the structure and function of biological molecules and metabolic processes, core chemical concepts and their application to the biological sciences and molecular cell biology. You will further develop skills in communicating to range of target audiences including producing a product information leaflet on an allocated drug or medication detailing key information on the structure, function and biological activity. These communication skills are further developed later in the course in a variety of formats, such as experimental project reports, literature reviews, research posters.

You will take practical classes in our £34m state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories and within the School of Life Sciences' David Attenborough Laboratories to develop the practical, analytical, observational and interpretative skills needed for a career in the biosciences. You will also become familiar with data recording, analysis and interpretation. Modules on the Biochemistry and Human Biology BSc, such as Practical Skills in Bioscience module, will develop your core molecular biology and immunological techniques, as well as in experimental design through conducting a mini-research project, supporting transition to your final year research projects.

Your studies in human biology are carefully designed to enable common understanding of the fundamentals of human biology that underpin all areas of biological study. You will explore compulsory modules in physiology, anatomy and the fundamentals of biology - from a cellular and molecular level to the evolution of complex living organisms. As you advance on the degree you will further develop your skills in molecular techniques and experimental design, data analysis, presentation and communication of information and team-working. Using case-based learning and working within a group, you will investigate the real life applications of human biology in the diagnosis, treatment and management of human disease. You will design, package, market and test an assay kit. To add breadth and depth to your learning, you will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of optional modules enabling you to personalise your degree to suit your career aspirations or interests.

Final year research project

Your final year provides the opportunity to unleash your creativity and produce an independent experimental research project. This could include lab-based research projects, systematic reviews, bioinformatics, pedagogic research, or outreach work, or based on research carried out on placement. During the project you will develop higher-level research skills in the acquisition and analysis of data, and in evaluating outcomes in context to wide body of supporting literature. This is a fantastic opportunity to integrate your personal passions with your studies. You will also take part in a final year conference where you will present your research findings through posters and presentations to a diverse audience including employers.

Gain practical experience in industry

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. From a year working in industry and paid internships to summer secondment research placements, our programme offers many opportunities for you to become familiar with the professional working environment, develop professional contacts and apply the skills and theories you have learnt.

International Year

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend either a semester or a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enable you to understand your field from different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Student Support

We offer a multi layered student support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. Our open-door policy enables you to engage with us directly, meaning you can seek support, gain feedback or discuss any matters on a regular basis. You will be assigned an academic mentor who will support you with your studies and Keele's Student Experience and Support team.

Practical support

During practical workshops you will benefit from a multi-tiered support structure. In addition to your lead lecturer you can engage with a variety of academic staff. This offers an invaluable opportunity to forge new networks and gain insight into news or research taking place within the school.

Benefit from networking opportunities with:

Lead demonstrators
Postgraduate student demonstrators
Laboratory technicians
Core skills videos and laboratory simulations
Data analysis workshops

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to your field is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for biochemistry and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded people, make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Next Steps

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Related Courses

Accreditation and professional recognition

This programme is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

Accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology recognises and supports the advancement of skills and education in the biosciences, throughout the UK and internationally. Graduates from accredited degree programmes are equipped with well-rounded knowledge and skill sets, making them highly employable both within and beyond their chosen field.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Placement year International year Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

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 and International students.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement ABC/BBB
To include A level Chemistry. Alternatively AS Level Chemistry at Grade C and one A level Science at Grade C. Science subjects include Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Food Science/Technology, Further Maths, Geography, Geology, Human Biology, Maths, Physics, Psychology, Sports Science and Statistics.

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 Chemistry units, please contact us for advice.

International Baccalaureate

30 Chem HL at 5 OR Chem SL at 5 and Science HL at 5

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 L3 credits at Distinction. You must also have taken sufficient Chemistry units, please contact us for advice

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

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.

Next Steps

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"The course enabled me to gain a broad perspective of different aspects of Human Biology. From studying cells and biological molecules to learning about organ systems. After completing my degree I was accepted onto AstraZeneca's Innovative Medicines and Early Development graduate programme. "

Robert, Biochemistry and Human Biology

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Sector-leading in sustainability education

At Keele we're leading the sector in sustainability, not just in our ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2030 but also through our teaching and our ground-breaking research into climate change and renewable technologies.

In 2021 we were awarded the prestigious title of Global Sustainability Institution of the Year (International Green Gown Awards).

Find out more about Keele’s commitment to sustainability

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Your future career

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

You will graduate with a strong set of transferable skills suited to a range of research and health related careers. You may also wish to further your knowledge by progressing to postgraduate study.

Key skills you can acquire include:

Business awareness
Communication - through report writing and presentations
Data management and analysis
Online and in-person literacy skills
Problem-solving and creative thinking
Research
Teamworking

Careers that a graduate of this course could pursue include:

Biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry
Food industry and food safety
Healthcare and diagnostics
Research and development
Scientific sales and marketing
Analytical chemist
Toxicologist
Pharmacologist
Physician associate
Forensic scientist
Science teacher
Postgraduate study
Research and development
Environmental consultant
Ecologist
Marine biologist
Medical publishing
Microbiologist
Pharmaceutical sales
Postgraduate study
Teaching
Scientific sales and marketing

Keele Careers and Employability team

Our Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offer a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability. From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

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Teaching, learning and assessment

Diversity, flexibility and inclusivity are at the heart of our teaching. The student voice helps us to shape what we do and we include students and local employers in our decision-making process. Student representatives are elected from each year group on the programme, who hold regular meetings with their cohort and report back to the school through a student-staff voice committee, held at least once per semester.

Teaching in Biochemistry

Biochemistry at Keele has consistently ranked top 10 for overall student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2019-2021) and this is testament to our high-quality teaching and the ways in which we listen to student feedback and implement change for the better. We offer a hybrid delivery of teaching - online learning and in-person practicals. Our core content is designed for online consumption and this aims to provide you with the space and flexibility to digest at your own pace and to ask questions anonymously. To complement your core virtual learning, laboratory practicals, tutorials, seminars and workshops will take place on-campus.

Methods of teaching include:

Laboratory practicals
Online lectures
Live, campus-based seminars, tutorials and workshops
Fieldwork

Teaching in Human Biology

Case based learning

In addition to the above detail regarding teaching on this programme, in human biology teaching we use cased based learning. This method of teaching is classed as a guided enquiry method.
Under the guidance of a tutor, you will work in small groups, usually over a few weeks to discuss a specific case, patient or scenario that is based upon “real life” problems. It's a great way to share ideas, debate, develop your research and communication skills and learn from and with your peers in an informal environment.

Assessments in Biochemistry and Human Biology

From designing and marketing a commercial assay kit to creating patient information leaflets - the assessment methods utilised within our programme aim to give you experience of work-related activities you will likely undertake in graduate roles.

Methods of assessment include:

Essays
Portfolio or literature reviews
Laboratory or fieldwork reports or research projects
Scientific posters
Patient information leaflets
Blogs or oral presentations
User guides for commercial assay kits
Journal entries
Wikipedia page creation
Online end-of-module open-book exams
Online tests
Final year independent research project

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Central Science Laboratories

Develop your practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

The Keele Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Human Biology degree. For example, the Foundations of Life Sciences module looks at basic cell biology in terms of structure and function and go on to examine how cells obtain their energy and raw materials. It considers how organisms interact and analyses the effects of climate change on ecosystems. In addition, the Foundations of Chemistry module will provide you with a basic understanding of the key concepts and fundamental terminology of chemistry. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester One Modules

FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits
FYO-00211	Foundations in Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Scientists	15 credits
FYO-00189	Foundations of Chemistry	15 credits
FYO-00197	Foundations of Life Sciences	15 credits

Semester Two Modules

FYO-00199	Advancing Life Sciences	30 credits
FYO-00191	Advancing Chemistry	30 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

Students will need to apply for Biochemistry with Foundation Year (UCAS code C703) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct Entry Students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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