Biochemistry with Foundation BSc Honours

Course summary

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster.

Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.

The Foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. During the foundation year, you will explore a range of creative disciplines and get a chance to develop in your chosen field, benefiting from workshops in our high-end facilities and working with leading academics who will encourage you to become a confident and creative thinker. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules within your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course. 

On successful completion of the Foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Biochemistry BSc Honours over a further three years study.

Our Biochemistry BSc will give you the skills and knowledge to establish yourself in a range of careers related to biochemistry, including the pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology industries.

Biochemistry is a pivotal degree discipline and a fundamental part of all the biological sciences. It is the study of living systems at the molecular level, and biochemists study the ways in which cells and organisms are formed. 

The foundation of our course is our thriving research in diverse areas of biochemistry, including biotechnology, cancer biology, membrane transport, molecular diagnostics and therapeutics, plant biochemistry, and protein structure.

In this degree, you'll gain a sound foundation in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and analytical biochemical techniques. You will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in gene editing using cutting-edge tools such as CRISPR.

Your laboratory and research skills will be developed throughout your degree, culminating in your final-year project in which you'll undertake original research of your own.

Top reasons to study with us

• Satisfied students – 100% of our Biochemistry BSc students were satisfied with the quality of the course. (Source: Discover Uni – site accessed in November 2020)
• Learn the fundamentals – Gain a solid grounding in biochemistry as well as the skills you'll need to expand on your subject knowledge and keep pace with new developments
• Gain research skills – Our course will equip you to work as a researcher in the field of biochemistry. You'll benefit from a strong programme of laboratory sessions as well as hands-on training in bioinformatics  
• Prepare for your career – Studying biochemistry will equip you for a career in a range of areas including the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, biomedicine, environmental sustainability and food security

Course structure

The general principles of biochemistry, cell biology and human physiology are established at Credit Level 4. Your understanding of molecular biology and genetics, metabolism, protein chemistry and enzyme function and other aspects of cellular function are then developed at Credit Levels 5 and 6. A number of options are also offered, allowing you to pursue your own interests within biochemistry and its associated disciplines.

Learning and teaching opportunities are a mixture of face-to-face teaching (lectures, seminars, tutorials and practicals), independent work, laboratory work and online support activities.

The range of assessment methods includes exams, laboratory practicals, essays, blogs, posters and presentations. 

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

• Foundation
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Placement year
• Year 3

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting in part the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.