Biochemistry BSc (Hons) – 2019 entry

Why choose this course

Surrey is one of the UK's leading universities for biological sciences with our biosciences courses ranked tenth in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2019. We are also ranked 4th for overall student satisfaction in molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2018. 

The School of Biosciences and Medicine is home to a vibrant research community and an innovative teaching and learning environment. 

What you will study

Biochemistry is the study of the fundamental processes of life at the cellular level. It deals with fascinating subjects such as metabolism, molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology and sleep.

As a BSc Biochemistry student, you will gain extensive practical skills in our internationally renowned, research-oriented environment that will prepare you to work at the forefront of developments in this exciting field.

This course will give you a sound and broad background in biochemistry. You will have opportunities to familiarise yourself with state-of-the-art biochemical methodology and sample some of its most intriguing applications.

We will shortly be running an MSci award for this course as well as the BSc. This is subject to validation for a September 2019 start.

Professional Training placements

As part of this course you have the option to complete a Professional Training placement. These will give you the opportunity to develop your professional, academic and personal potential, equipping you to be adaptable, resilient, globally minded, confident, entrepreneurial and digitally savvy in the workplace. These qualities are widely recognised by employers and a significant proportion of placement students at Surrey are offered graduate-level jobs or go onto postgraduate study.

Find out more about Professional Training placements and discover how these have transformed our students’ lives and career choices.

Biochemistry placements

The majority of our students choose to undertake a Professional Training placement to gain vital work experience and develop professional skills required by employers.

Most of our Professional Training placements are salaried roles, with opportunities in the UK including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and research institutes.

Recent placements have taken place at international institutions including Cornell University, Washington State University, Harvard Medical School (USA), the University of Turku (Finland) and several other European universities.

Our experienced Professional Training tutors will help you apply to, and choose between, a selection of excellent placements in industry, hospitals and academia.

Watch a video featuring Biochemistry students on placement in America.

Applying for placements

Professional Training placements are usually applied for and secured via an open and free-to-all process, within which students can select and apply for numerous opportunities. Placement providers use their own recruitment and selection procedures and the majority of students will secure their placement in this way. However, support is also provided to students wishing to source their own placement, subject to university requirements being met.

Students are generally not placed by the University, however they are given thorough support and guidance alongside access to a vacancy portal representing thousands of placement opportunities each year. Please be aware there may be travel costs incurred when attending interviews and assessment centres at the placement provider’s premises.

Careers and graduate prospects

We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.

Our biochemistry graduates are found in academic and industrial research laboratories around the world. You will also find them in cities, schools, hospitals, cockpits, submarines and boardrooms.

The majority of our graduates gain immediate employment, but further study comes a close second. This includes taught masters programmes, PhD studentships and fast­-track medical degree programmes.

Our recent biochemistry graduates have gone on to roles such as:

• Medical Laboratory Assistant, Royal Surrey County Hospital
• Clinical Trial Associate, Inventiv Health
• Customer Services Analyst, Sanosi
• Pharmacy Assistant, North Hampshire Hospital
• Clinical Data Manager, Institute of Cancer Research
• Clinical Research Associate, Novartis
• Quality Engineer, The Body Shop International plc.

Study and work abroad

We give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities or by completing a Professional Training placement abroad. In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV. Visit our global exchanges pages to check where you can go.

Our international exchange programme offers you the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university for either one semester or a full academic year as part of your degree. For biosciences students, this might be possible for one or two semesters during your second year at one of our partner institutions in the US (for example Texas or Florida) or in Singapore.

The exchange programme enables you to study and live in another country, and earn credits that contribute towards your Surrey degree, without paying additional tuition fees.

It gives you the chance to broaden your horizons, meet other students from around the world and experience student life in some of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Studying abroad also enables you to become more independent, teaching you how to adapt and adjust to the culture and climate of another country.

In addition, or alternatively, you may wish to consider spending your Professional Training placement working in another country. Students have travelled to the US, Canada, Australia and many European countries, and typically work in a research laboratory at a partner institution.

Recent placements have taken place at international institutions including Cornell University, Washington State University, Harvard Medical School (US), the University of Turku (Finland) and several other European universities.

If you work in another part of Europe in a foreign university laboratory you may be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, as well as your full student loan if undertaking an unpaid research placement in an overseas university.

This is an excellent opportunity not only to acquire valuable work experience but also to improve or learn another language.