University of Leicester
Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) BSc (Hons)
University of Leicester

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 215 graduates of Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) BSc (Hons) and other courses in biosciences (non-specific) at University of Leicester for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in biosciences (non-specific).

Overall student satisfaction
70 /100
215 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Biosciences

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of biosciences (non-specific) at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25000 £29000 £32000
25-75 percentile range £21000 - £27000 £20000 - £37000 £26000 - £46500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Biosciences

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25334 £23904 £29399
25-75 percentile range £21557 - £29156 £18783 - £29715 £22714 - £36844

Course Description

All life forms are composed of a complex mixture of molecules and chemicals. What do they tell us about the baffling complexity of life and what happens when things go wrong? Welcome to the fascinating world of biochemistry.

The basic principle of biochemistry is that the processes of living things are ultimately explicable in terms of the properties and interactions of the molecules from which they are made. Biochemists study molecular processes in all types of organisms - and how errors in these processes can cause disease.

In your first year, you will focus on understanding of the fundamental biological processes that occur in cells, including DNA and protein synthesis, as well as the metabolic reactions that sustain cells and organisms. In your second and final years you will develop a greater understanding of how molecular processes are exquisitely controlled to ensure that the right process occurs in the right location – and at the right time. This control is essential to the correct functioning of cells, and the body as a whole, and errors can lead to disastrous consequences. One example of this is in cancer formation, where genetic mutations lead to loss of control of proteins that govern when cells replicate. You will learn how our knowledge of these molecular processes is leading to breakthroughs in disease treatment, through targeting and inactivating key molecules in defective pathways.

Moreover, much of our understanding of molecules, their interactions with each other, and effective therapeutic drug design, now comes from studying molecular structures at the atomic level. Opportunities to learn how we use and generate molecular structures are embedded throughout the course and this is the focus of a final year module, which benefits from the expert knowledge of academic staff associated with the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology.

On this course you will develop a range of skills that are valued by employers, including practical, analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as gaining experience in handling complex information. You will also develop transferable skills in time-management, meeting deadlines, giving oral presentations and working in teams to achieve a goal. By studying biochemistry alongside options in other biological sciences specialisms, you will be able to apply your knowledge across the boundaries of traditional disciplines and become a valuable and powerful asset in scientific environments and in many other walks of life.

This course is identical to the first three years of the MBiolSci in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry).

What's the difference?

At the University of Leicester, we offer seven Biological Science subjects and four Medical Bioscience subjects, all as both BSc (three years) and MBiolSci (four years), plus a Foundation Year option, giving you an impressive range of 23 different courses to choose from.

Biological Science covers major aspects of biology and molecular science across a wide range of organisms from bacteria and fungi to humans and plants. All 14 courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1.

Medical Science allows you to select specialist modules that focus more closely on the application of biological principles to medicine. All eight courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1.

It is possible to switch between a Biological Science course and a Medical Bioscience course during the first half of your first year, but after that the two fields diverge.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) BSc (Hons) at University of Leicester

20% Sales occupations
20% Business and public service associate professionals
20% Managers, directors and senior officials
10%
10% Business and Financial Project Management Professionals
10% Welfare and housing associate professionals
10% Administrative occupations

For more information on the methods of assessment on this course, visit the course information page on our website

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • All Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Biological Sciences (Biochemistry), BSc (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) BSc (Hons)

Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1

Additional fee information

The tuition fee for home students is reviewed annually and for the academic year 2024/5 it is £9,250. The fees for following years have not yet been decided but are likely to increase each year in line with inflation, subject to government regulations. The inflation rate used will be RPIX, which includes all the items in the Retail Price Index, excluding mortgage payments. For your information, the inflation rate used by the Government when increasing the tuition fee from £9,000 to £9,250 was 2. 8%

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)
  • year 2

University Rankings

Positions of University of Leicester in top UK and global rankings.

See all 29 university rankings of University of Leicester

About University of Leicester

The University of Leicester is a research university that receives its funding from public sources, located in Leicester, England. Its main campus is approximately one mile south of the city centre, close to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College. As for the other campuses, the Fielding Johnson Building is home to the university’s administration offices, while the Attenborough Tower and Engineering Building house the College of Social Sciences and laboratories respectively.

List of 142 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Leicester - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Leicester

undergraduates:
10870
postgraduates:
4215
Total:
15085
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Where is this programme taught

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