Biochemistry (BSc)
- Subject area: Biochemistry
- UCAS code: C700
- Next intake: September 2025
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Research-led teaching
Experience engaging teaching that is driven by our research expertise. You’ll also have access to an exciting range of training opportunities in research laboratories within the School of Biosciences.
Real-world context
Biochemistry plays a fundamental role in everyday life, affecting different aspects of society. From nature, retail, food, cosmetics, and healthcare, the impact of biochemistry is everywhere.
Great career prospects
Over 94% of our graduates from the School of Biosciences are in employment, further study or other activities 15 months after the end of their course (Graduate Outcomes).
Biochemistry explores the molecular basis of life. It has a rich history of scientific discoveries — from enzymology and metabolic pathways to the discovery of genes and the structure of DNA, there is so much to uncover through Biochemistry.
When you join us, you’ll learn how biochemistry and biomolecular sciences contribute to advances in medicine and biotechnology, synthetic biology and protein engineering, molecular biology, bioinformatics, genome mapping and genetics. Supported by the very latest research and discoveries, our teaching allows you to explore how biochemical processes can help us to understand and solve real-world problems. You will learn from experts in synthetic biology and protein engineering, molecular biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, genome mapping and genetics.
Our passion for science is embedded throughout this programme, from your lectures and workshops to your practical sessions, where you’ll put theory into practice. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in all aspects of both classroom and modern laboratory teaching and receive support to develop your laboratory techniques. Through a hands-on curriculum, which blends research and insights from industry, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need in preparation for a successful career.
You can also tailor some aspects of your degree to suit your interests, combining core biochemistry modules with other modules of your choice. In your final year of study, you’ll have the chance to investigate a topic that you want to explore in more depth, supervised by supportive researchers who are experts in their field. This enables you to focus on innovative solutions to current day issues.
Our mission is to provide you with the skills you need to embark on a career of your choice. You will graduate with valuable transferable skills in computing, statistics, data analysis, and presenting your work, preparing you for a successful future.
Subject area: Biochemistry
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAB-BBB. Must include Biology or Chemistry. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
- Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Biology or Chemistry.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to lab facilities including chemicals
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DDD-DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science or Forensic Science, with Distinction in all of the Core/Mandatory Units.
T level
Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £9,535 | None |
| Year two | £9,535 | None |
| Year three | £9,535 | None |
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £29,450 | None |
| Year two | £29,450 | None |
| Year three | £29,450 | None |
Learn more about our tuition fees
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
There are no additional costs associated with studying on our course.
Course specific equipment
No specific equipment is required. The University will provide IT facilities (in a communal space), laboratories equipped with specialist equipment, and all specialist software required for the course.
Students are advised to have a personal laptop computer or equivalent.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
We are currently working with our students to update and improve the content of this course. The information shown below reflects the current curriculum and is likely to change. The review of the course is expected to be completed by August 2025 and this page will be updated by end of October 2025 to reflect the changes.
This is a full-time, three-year programme where you will study 120 credits each year.
You will study a range of core and optional modules, and teaching staff will provide guidance on choosing module combinations to ensure a balanced and manageable academic workload in each year of the programme.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2025/2026 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2025.
Year one
The first year is a common year, covering all aspects of the biosciences. This is designed to reflect the fact that bioscience research is increasingly a multi-disciplinary field.
The common first year course provides a grounding in essential subjects, including a Biological Chemistry module that present topics at the chemistry/biology interface and explores modern analytical techniques. The Biochemical components of the first year course include topics such as structure and function of proteins (including enzymes), DNA structure and replication, gene organisation and expression, genetic manipulation techniques, lipid and carbohydrate biochemistry, and key aspects of metabolism.
The modern, modular syllabus is delivered through lectures, tutorials, presentations, and practical classes carried out in spacious, well-equipped laboratories. It provides a firm foundation in all the biological disciplines, including biological chemistry, cell biology, microbiology, genetics, evolution, anatomy and physiology, animal and plant biology, and ecology, as well as focusing on developing practical and academic scientific skills. Modules may begin by overlapping with A-level studies, but will soon progress to greater depth and scope.
The common first year system has the big advantage of giving you flexibility of degree choice. The aim of this approach is to expose you to all areas of the biosciences, so that you are better able to operate within the increasingly interdisciplinary bioscience disciplines. The common year one structure also enables you to diversify your subject focus in year two, should you wish to, or keep a strong focus on one particular discipline.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Skills for Science | BI1001 | 20 credits |
| Structure and Function of Living Organisms | BI1002 | 20 credits |
| Organisms and Environment | BI1003 | 20 credits |
| The Dynamic Cell | BI1004 | 20 credits |
| Biological Chemistry | BI1014 | 20 credits |
| Genetics and Evolution | BI1051 | 20 credits |
Year two
Your second year will put greater emphasis on the experimental basis of biochemistry and related areas of the biomolecular sciences such as molecular, cell and developmental biology. You will undertake practicals that cover modern research techniques such as recombinant DNA manipulation and analysis, protein and lipid biochemistry and microbiology, with a strong focus on data analysis and interpretation.
You will also build on your year one knowledge to develop a sound grounding in more advanced areas of gene function, molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, metabolism, cell biology, development, evolution and cell signalling.
This will ensure that you have the necessary skills and awareness of key techniques in preparation for whatever aspect of biochemistry becomes your chosen area of specialisation, both in the final year of the course and in your subsequent career.
In year two, you have a choice of three from up to 12 available modules, giving a total of 120 Credits.
During year two, you can also opt to switch to the four-year degree with a Professional Training Year, which is taken after the second year, subject to an appropriate training place being identified.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Diversity and Adaptation | BI2131 | 40 credits |
| Genetics and its Applications | BI2132 | 40 credits |
| Ecology Part A | BI2135 | 30 credits |
| Ecology Part B | BI2136 | 10 credits |
| Cell Biology | BI2231 | 40 credits |
| Biochemistry | BI2232 | 40 credits |
| Developmental and Stem Cell Biology | BI2233 | 40 credits |
| Molecular Biology of the Gene | BI2234 | 40 credits |
| Physiology | BI2331 | 40 credits |
| Concepts of Disease | BI2332 | 40 credits |
| Practical Anatomy | BI2333 | 40 credits |
| Brain and Behaviour | BI2431 | 40 credits |
| Fundamental Neuroscience | BI2432 | 40 credits |
Year three
In your final year, there is a strong emphasis on independent learning, and you can investigate areas of current importance in biochemistry, such as synthetic biology and protein structure, genetic engineering, stem cell biology and tissue engineering. Your research skills will be developed further during your final year project that allows you to investigate a topic in much greater depth.
Tutorials and research seminars on wider aspects of the subject, including medical and industrial applications, will extend the scope of your learning.
As well as a 30-credit research project, you will complete three 30-credit modules (from a choice of 18). Modules cover a range of topics including synthetic biology and protein engineering, advanced cell biology, bioinformatics and functional genomics, and genes and genomes.
At the start of the final year, you will also have the option of applying to transfer to the four-year MBiochem course with integrated Master’s, depending on satisfactory academic progress and space availability.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biosciences Final Year Project | BI3001 | 30 credits |
| Genes to Genomes | BI3254 | 30 credits |
| Synthetic Biology and Protein Engineering | BI3255 | 30 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Plants for the Future: Frontiers in Plant Science | BI3151 | 30 credits |
| Ecosystems, Sustainability and Global Change | BI3152 | 30 credits |
| Evolution and Adaptation | BI3153 | 30 credits |
| Infection Biology and Epidemiology | BI3155 | 30 credits |
| Systems Biology | BI3157 | 30 credits |
| The 'omics Revolution (Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics) | BI3252 | 30 credits |
| Advanced Cell Biology and Imaging | BI3253 | 30 credits |
| Current Topics in Development, Stem Cells and Repair | BI3256 | 30 credits |
| Contemporary Topics in Disease | BI3351 | 30 credits |
| Cancer: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics | BI3352 | 30 credits |
| Advances in Physiology and Pathophysiology | BI3355 | 30 credits |
| Musculoskeletal System: Disease, Repair and Regenerative Medicine | BI3356 | 30 credits |
| Neurobiology of Brain Disorders | BI3451 | 30 credits |
| Systems Neuroscience | BI3452 | 30 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
The programme is taught by internationally recognised academics who are experts in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, bio- and nanotechnology, bioinformatics and protein engineering. Our teaching approach is informed by the latest research and is aligned with current industry practices, ensuring that the curriculum is both academically rigorous and relevant to professional demands. Faculty members integrate their research and industry experience into the curriculum, offering first-hand insights into the latest advancements in synthetic biology, pharmacology and analytical chemistry.
The curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical application. Lectures, supported by practical sessions, give you a strong foundation in both theory and practice, while seminars, workshops, and tutorials help you apply what you’ve learned. These interactive formats support hands-on projects and in-depth discussions, so that you can tackle real-world challenges and enhance your professional readiness.
Research integration is a key component. You’ll engage with up-to-date data, relevant case studies, and the latest research findings, connecting academic theory with practical issues. Hands-on learning is a focal point of the programme, giving you the chance to develop practical skills in realistic contexts. Through team-based projects and individual research, you’ll apply sophisticated data science techniques to complex global analytical challenges.
How will I be supported?
We want to ensure that you have the best experience throughout your time with us and you’ll benefit from a range of support. From the very start of your degree, you’ll be assigned a personal tutor who will be your main point of contact, offering confidential guidance on both academic and personal matters. They’ll help you navigate through your studies and be a constant source support throughout your degree.
In terms of academic support, Learning Central is an online learning portal
The University provides a wide range of support services for students. This may include study skills workshops, career guidance sessions, mental health and well-being support, and disability services. These services are designed to ensure that you feel supported and empowered to succeed.
You’ll also have access to excellent support within our Centre for Student Life, which is our one-stop hub for all of your student needs. Whether you’re looking for advice on health and wellbeing, preparing for your future, managing money or living in Cardiff, our expert, dedicated support staff will be on hand to support you. We’re here to help you succeed and make the most of your student life.
Feedback
Throughout the programme, you’ll have numerous opportunities for both receiving and participating in feedback during dedicated feedback sessions. Activities such as peer assessments, and self-assessments are integral to this process. Additionally, you’ll receive constructive feedback from our teaching staff, providing insights to help your professional growth, in preparation for your future career.
How will I be assessed?
Assessments vary by module and include coursework, portfolio projects, written assessments, class tests, oral and poster presentations, and practical projects. Each module employs specific types of assessments to evaluate effectively both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Assessments are used throughout the programme to enhance learning to ensure your grasp of foundational concepts. Assessments will support independent and life-long learning and are designed to put students at the heart of the learning process and to help students take ownership for their own learning. Students will be supported in their assessments by members of module teams and personal tutors.
What skills will I practise and develop?
Throughout the course, students will develop scientific competencies as well as key transferable ‘employability skills’ that will be invaluable whatever your future career choice. These include:
- independent learning and self-directed study;
- collating, organising and analysing information to create logical and persuasive arguments;
- analytical thinking and problem solving;
- communicating complex ideas in a clear, effective way (using all media);
- working effectively in a team and as an individual;
- IT competency, including presentation, graphics and statistics packages;
- performing and interpreting statistical analyses of data;
- effective time management and organisational skills.
As a result of engaging fully with this course, you should be able to:
- critically analyse, synthesise and summarise information from a variety of sources;
- discuss the relationships between structure/formation and function/regulation of molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organisms and populations;
- effectively communicate scientific, and other, information to a variety of audiences, including the general public, using a range of formats and approaches;
- discuss current issues of research, investigation and/or debate;
- synthesise an argument or point of view, based on solid data and evidence;
- determine the validity and rigour of statistical outcomes;
- build on knowledge and understanding of the role and impact of intellectual property (IP) within a research environment;
- work effectively within a group-based environment, both as a leader and a member of a team;
- demonstrate the skills necessary for independent lifelong learning (for example working independently, time management, organisational, enterprise and knowledge transfer skills);
- identify, and work towards, targets for personal, academic, professional and career development;
- demonstrate leadership and planning skills for setting, and meeting, achievable goals within the workplace.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
In 2016/17, 93% of the School’s graduates who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.
Our Biochemistry qualification provides an excellent foundation for careers within all areas of biological and molecular sciences. It offers strong training for research scientists and a significant proportion of our BSc Biochemistry graduates go on to study PhD or master’s degrees. Many others have successful careers in science-related fields such as biotechnology research and development, medical or scientific publishing, pharmaceutical industries, and molecular biology, amongst many others.
Through your degree you will also develop transferable skills that are attractive to a wide range of employers in more general areas of industry, commerce, public service, administration and management. A degree in Biochemistry can also act as a stepping stone to further training in professional areas including teaching, medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary science and accounting.
Graduate careers
- Biochemist
- Laboratory Researcher
- University Lecturer
- Biomolecular Scientist
Placements
While our programme does not include any formal work placements, we strongly encourage students to undertake informal work placements during the summer vacations to enhance employability. The University’s Student Futures team may be able to support you with sourcing summer work placement opportunities.
Fieldwork
Field work is possible as part of some modules, including an extended field work experience as part of our second year ecology and conservation module.
We run several specialised, project-based field courses that run in a variety of locations. Our range of field courses typically includes Rainforest Biodiversity (Borneo), Tropical Marine Ecology (Tobago and Borneo), Estuarine Ecology (Severn Estuary), River Ecology (Cardiff), and Forest Floor Ecology (Cardiff). All of these filed courses include an independent research project, often involving the behaviour or ecology of animals.
Depending on module choices, availability and timetabling constraints, Biochemistry students may have the option of taking one of our field courses.
Field courses can on occasion be affected by travel constraints, staff availability or numbers.
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
