Biochemistry and Biotechnology BSc (Hons)

This course is in clearing

Overview

Course options

Select year

Degree

UCAS code: C700 112 UCAS points
  • BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Biotechnology, home applicant, full time

    • This course is in Clearing

    • Home Applicant
    • Full time, 3/4 years
    • Pound 9250 per year
  • BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Biotechnology, home applicant, part time

    • Home Applicant
    • Part time
    • Pound 2310 pro-rata full time fee

Degree with foundation year

UCAS code: CK47 64 UCAS points
  • BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Biotechnology, home applicant, full time

    • This course is in Clearing

    • Home Applicant
    • Full time, 4/5 years
    • Pound 9250 per year

What makes this course different

Experiential learning

Develop your knowledge and skills through experiential activities, including the collection and processing of forensic data on staged crime scenes.

Unique biotechnology focus

We are one of the few London universities offering biotechnology as part of a named BSc degree.

Outstanding science facilities

Develop your practical skills within our multi-million-pound bioscience laboratories. These state-of-the-art facilities are all based at our vibrant Stratford Health campus.

Course modules

Our science foundation year runs across all our medical and bioscience courses, giving you a strong scientific skillset. This is perfect for those interested in following a professional career in physiotherapy, podiatry, or adult nursing, who don't have the relevant subjects for direct entry to the degree course.

Your first year will be a general introduction to the subject, focusing on the three core areas of chemistry, cell biology and biochemistry.

In year two, you'll study core modules such as Biotechnology, Molecular Genetics, Cellular Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry.

A large part of your final year will be taken up on an independent research project as well as studying advances in biotechnology and biochemistry and the analysis of the human genome. You can also choose one of these optional modules for term one in your final year: Natural Products and Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry, or Clinical Biochemistry. You'll find working on your own project rewarding and enjoyable while it will also develop both your laboratory skills and your ability to collect and collate new data.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Your future career

During your time here, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of biotechnology and biochemistry, setting the stage for diverse career paths after graduation.
What can you do with a biochemistry degree? Opportunities span laboratory roles in hospitals, research institutes, or industrial and pharmaceutical labs.

Industry links

TBC

Graduate employers

Our graduates have been employed by organisations such as Oxford Biomedica, Biolatris Ltd and various pharmacies. With a biochemistry and biotechnology degree you could go into fields like biomedical research, healthcare or the scientific industry.

Job roles

A notable biochemistry graduate landed a corporate role at AstraZeneca before pursuing medical studies, showcasing the varied paths available. You might excel as a research and development consultant or use your knowledge for teaching—the University of East London offers exceptional postgraduate teacher-training courses.

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

Further study

Further education options include postgraduate studies in biotechnology, biochemistry, or related fields like nursing, physiotherapy, dentistry, medicine, or pharmacy. Alumni have progressed to esteemed institutions like University College London (UCL), Oxford University, Royal Holloway, or pursued PhD studies in molecular ageing at UEL, highlighting the impact of their UEL education on remarkable careers.

Mentoring Your Career Students mentoring
The University offers ways to take up internal volunteering vacancies and internships specific to your school of interest, which is a massive plus point."
Nadin Uddin

BSc (Hons) Biotechnology

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated career support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future science career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including: 

  • Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work 
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts 
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services
  • Careers workshops and employer events 
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top:

  • Work-based projects
  • Networking and visits to leading organisations
  • Support in starting a new business
  • London on our doorstep

How you'll learn

We like to keep the learning varied and interactive, so you'll participate in a wide range of subjects, including lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratory practicals and web-based learning.

You'll be taught, often in small groups, by renowned lecturers who are involved with research that is making a difference. For instance, Course Leader Dr David Bringloe's research speciality is the production of therapeutic proteins in plant cell cultures.

You'll get the chance to help with our academic research as well as pursue areas of your own interest, especially with your final-year research project.

Within the biosciences field, we have ten teaching laboratories, six dedicated research labs and a large variety of specialist equipment at our base in Stratford. You'll spend many hours there, doing practical work and learning about the latest techniques.

Guided independent study

When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. 

Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as edit suites, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.

Academic support

Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.

Workload

The approximate percentages for this course are: 

  • Year 1: 175 Hours - Taught Sessions, 70 Hours - Practical/IT Workshops, 960 Hours - Independent Learning 
  • Year 2: 165 Hours - Taught Sessions, 75 Hours - Practical/IT Workshops, 960 Hours - Independent Learning 
  • Year 3: 160 Hours - Taught Sessions, 80 Hours - Practical/IT Workshops, 960 Hours - Independent Learning

Your timetable

Each year you will spend up to 240 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.

Placements

We encourage you to undertake placements during your studies. Capacity may vary year-to-year and placements may not be available to all students. This means you may have to go through a competitive process to secure your chosen placement.

How you'll be assessed

We'll assess you with a mixture of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, research reports, group and seminar presentations and a final-year project. Most of the assessment in your first year is by coursework and we'll give you as much feedback as possible. 

In your third year, you'll either take five core modules or undertake a work placement in a biochemical or scientific setting. We'll assess you accordingly.

You'll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 14 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.

  • Year 1 - 50% Portfolio/Coursework, 50% Laboratory/Practical/ICT 
  • Year 2 - 42% Written Exam/Timed Assessment, 33% Portfolio/Coursework, 17% Laboratory/Practical/ICT, 8% Case Study/PBL 
  • Year 3 - 42% Portfolio/Coursework, 42% Written Exam/Timed Assessment, 16% Laboratory/Practical/ICT

Campus and facilities

Water Lane, Stratford

Who teaches this course

This course is delivered by School of Health, Sport and Bioscience

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

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Statistics for BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Biotechnology Degree, Full Time

Statistics for BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Biotechnology Degree, Full Time

What our students and staff say

Bioscience Lab
The lecturers are helpful and approachable. There are a variety of projects available in the final year."

Nadin Uddin

Biotechnology, BSc (Hons)