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Biochemistry deals with the way living organisms function at the molecular level. This covers a vast variety of life forms, ranging from comparatively simple viruses and bacteria to mammals, plants and other higher organisms. Biochemistry has a major impact on many of the problems that face mankind today, particularly in the areas of medicine, agriculture and the environment.
Overview
The School of Biosciences provides a stimulating, research-led environment for teaching and learning, encouraging you to achieve your full academic and personal potential. Biosciences has been rated one of the top schools in the country by our students. The School also has a reputation for innovation. Two of our academics have recently won National Teaching Fellowship Awards; for work on the School's communication projects and introducing novel ways of using IT in lectures which enables the teaching to be captured and easily reviewed later.
Our facilities are excellent and include a recent £1 million refurbishment of our teaching laboratories. Our research is at the cutting edge in areas such as cancer, infectious and genetic diseases, protein science and cell biology, all of which feeds into our teaching. It is also possible to work in one of our research labs during the summer vacation after your second year. We have also set up a fund – The Stacey Fund – to provide money for 20 to 30 eight-week Summer Studentships each year. These projects offer an ideal opportunity to gain further hands-on research experience.
Our related programme Biochemistry with a Sandwich Year gives you the opportunity to spend a year working between stages 2 and 3. You can also study or work abroad as part of your degree with our Biochemistry with a Year Abroad programme.
Think Kent video series
Professor Martin Warren, BBSRC Professorial Fellow and Professor of Biochemistry, discusses the use of advanced forensic techniques to uncover the truth of King George III’s madness.
Independent rankings
Biosciences at Kent was ranked 8th for course satisfaction in The Guardian University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, Biochemistry was ranked 3rd for the quality of its teaching.
Biochemistry students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching includes lectures, laboratory classes, workshops, problem-solving sessions and tutorials. You have an Academic Adviser who you meet with at regular intervals to discuss your progress, and most importantly, to identify ways in which you can improve your work further so that you reach your full potential.
Most modules are assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and end-of-year exams. Exams take place at the end of the academic year and count for 50% or more of the module mark. Stage 1 assessments do not contribute to the final degree classification, but all Stage 2 and 3 assessments do, meaning that your final degree award is an average of many different components. On average, 29% of your time is spent in an activity led by an academic; the rest of your time is for independent study.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- instil a sense of enthusiasm for biochemistry, confront the scientific, moral and ethical questions, and engage in critical assessment of the subject material
- provide a stimulating, research-active environment for teaching and learning in which you are supported and motivated to achieve your academic and personal potential
- educate students in the theoretical (subject-specific knowledge) and practical (laboratory skills and methods) aspects of biochemistry
- develop knowledge through a variety of teaching and assessment methods
- offer the experience of undertaking an independent research project whether it be laboratory, library, computer, business, or school-based
- prepare students for further study, or training, and employment in science and non-science based careers, by developing transferable and cognitive skills
- provide access to as wide a range of students as practicable.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the main metabolic pathways used in biological systems in catabolism and anabolism, understanding biological reactions in chemical terms
- the variety of mechanisms by which metabolic pathways can be controlled and the way that tissue-specific functions can be co-ordinated with the needs of the rest of the human body
- the genetic organisation of various types of organism such as microbes and humans, and the way in which genes can be expressed and their expression controlled
- the structure and function of the main classes of macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids and polysaccharides
- protein structure and function, especially enzymes
- the structure and function of biological membranes
- the main mechanisms by which cells in the human body can communicate with each other
- the main principles of cell and molecular biology
- the basic principles of microbiology
- the main experimental techniques used in the study of biochemistry
- the principle methods for communicating aspects of biochemistry.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- understand the scope of teaching methods and study skills relevant to a biochemistry degree
- understand the concepts and principles in outcomes recognising and applying biochemistry specific theories, paradigms, concepts or principles, for example, the relationship between genes and proteins
- acquire the skills for analysis, synthesis, summary and presentation of biochemical information
- demonstrate competence in solving extended biochemical problems involving advanced data manipulation and comprehension using biochemical specific and transferable skills
- integrate scientific evidence, to formulate and test hypotheses
- structure, develop and defend complex scientific arguments by understanding and applying your knowledge base
- the ability to plan, execute and interpret the data from a short research project
- recognise the moral and ethical issues of biochemical investigations and appreciate the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- to be able to handle biological material and chemicals in a safe way, and be able to assess any potential hazards associated with biochemical experimentation
- perform risk assessments prior to the execution of a biochemical experimental protocol
- the ability to use basic and advanced experimental equipment in executing the core practical techniques used by biochemists
- find information on biochemical systems from a wide range of information resources such as journals, books and electronic databases, and maintain an effective information retrieval strategy
- the ability to plan, execute and assess the results from biochemical experiments using acquired subject-specific knowledge
- identify the best method for presenting and reporting on biochemical investigations using written, data manipulation/presentation and computer skills
- be aware of the employment opportunities for biochemistry graduates.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- the ability to receive and respond to a variety of sources of information: textual, numerical, verbal and graphical
- communicate effectively to a variety of audiences
- problem solve by a variety of methods, especially numerical, including the use of computers
- use the internet and other electronic sources critically as a means of communication and a source of information
- interpersonal and teamwork skills that allow you to identify individual and collective goals, recognise and respect the views and opinions of other team members
- self-management abilities plus organisational skills and the capacity to support life-long learning
- awareness of information sources for assessing and planning future career development.
Careers
Our students are highly successful after graduation. We have established excellent links with employers through our research work and training programmes.
Our emphasis on analytical thinking, problem-solving and laboratory skills is very attractive to a wide range of employers. Recently, our graduates have gone into research-based jobs in academic, government, industrial and medical labs; teaching; scientific publishing and marketing; or information technology. Many of our graduates also go on to further study at MSc or PhD level.
For more information on the services Kent provides you to improve your career prospects visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability.
Professional recognition
Our Biochemistry degree programme is recognised by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB).
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB including Chemistry grade B and either Biology or Human Biology grade B or Applied Science Double Award at BB including the practical endorsement of any science qualifications taken. |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made, candidates will be required to pass the Access to Higher Education Diploma with 36 level 3 credits at distinction and 9 at merit, and to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits in particular subjects at distinction or merit grade. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis. Typical offers when made are Distinction, Distinction, Distinction. Please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points at HL, including Chemistry and Biology 5 at HL or 6 at SL, plus Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.