Biochemistry
Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries.
Biochemistry with Research Abroad
Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries.
Biochemistry with a Year in Industry/Research
Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries.
Focus on biology at the molecular and cellular level and understand chemical processes within living organisms
Develop your research expertise through the completion of a substantial project or dissertation
Enrich your learning on an optional research year abroad or year in industry
Course key facts
-
Qualification
-
BSc
-
-
Duration
3 years
-
Start date
October 2025
-
UCAS course code
C700
-
Study mode
Full-time
-
Fees
£9,535 per year Home
£43,300 per year Overseas
-
Delivered by
-
Location
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South Kensington
-
-
Applications: places
8 : 1 (2023)
Minimum entry standard
-
AAA (A-level)
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38 points (International Baccalaureate)
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Qualification
-
BSc
-
-
Duration
4 years
-
Start date
October 2025
-
UCAS course code
Apply to C700
-
Study mode
Full-time
-
Fees
£9,535 per year Home
£43,300 per year Overseas
-
Delivered by
-
Location
-
South Kensington
-
-
Applications: places
8 : 1 (2023)
Minimum entry standard
-
AAA (A-level)
-
38 points (International Baccalaureate)
-
Qualification
-
BSc
-
-
Duration
4 years
-
Start date
October 2025
-
UCAS course code
Apply to C700
-
Study mode
Full-time
-
Fees
£9,535 per year Home
£43,300 per year Overseas
-
Delivered by
-
Location
-
South Kensington
-
-
Applications: places
8 : 1 (2023)
Minimum entry standard
-
AAA (A-level)
-
38 points (International Baccalaureate)
Course overview
Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries on this three-year course.
With teaching delivered through lectures and case studies from business leaders and academics, this course will prepare you for advanced study or a career in the field.
You'll build familiarity with key aspects of both industries, including commercialising technology, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property and patents.
Through laboratory and computational work, you'll acquire the skills required to design, carry out and analyse data from biochemical experiments.
You'll also benefit from close interaction with the department's internationally leading research programme, with access to facilities including modern microscopes and tissue culture suites.
Your third year offers increased freedom to follow your own interests in chosen subject areas.
You'll choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as synthetic biology, cancer and bioinformatics. You'll then apply your expertise to a substantial project or dissertation.
Your studies will be complemented by a Life Science Skills programme that will provide training in quantitative skills, programming, statistics, and scientific writing and presentation.
Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries on this three-year course.
With teaching delivered through lectures and case studies from business leaders and academics, this course will prepare you for advanced study or a career in the field.
You'll build familiarity with key aspects of both industries, including commercialising technology, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property and patents.
Through laboratory and computational work, you'll acquire the skills required to design, carry out and analyse data from biochemical experiments.
You'll also benefit from close interaction with the department's internationally leading research programme, with access to facilities including modern microscopes and tissue culture suites.
Your third year will be spent carrying out research with an approved university abroad.
This integrated year with a partner institution will enable you to challenge yourself in a different cultural environment.
Your final year offers increased freedom to follow your own interests in chosen subject areas. You'll choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as synthetic biology, cancer and bioinformatics.
You'll then apply your expertise to a substantial project or dissertation.
Your studies will be complemented by a Life Science Skills programme that will provide training in quantitative skills, programming, statistics, and scientific writing and presentation.
Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries on this three-year course.
With teaching delivered through lectures and case studies from business leaders and academics, this course will prepare you for advanced study or a career in the field.
You'll build familiarity with key aspects of both industries, including commercialising technology, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property and patents.
You'll also benefit from close interaction with the department's internationally leading research programme, with access to facilities including modern microscopes and tissue culture suites.
Through laboratory and computational work, you'll acquire the skills required to design, carry out and analyse data from biochemical experiments.
Your third year will be spent carrying out a year in industry, or embedded within a research setting.
This usually takes place in an industrial, medical or other appropriate biochemical or biotechnological work environment.
Your final year offers increased freedom to follow your own interests in chosen subject areas.
You'll choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as synthetic biology, cancer and bioinformatics.
You'll then apply your expertise to a substantial project or dissertation.
Your studies will be complemented by a Life Science Skills programme that will provide training in quantitative skills, programming, statistics, and scientific writing and presentation.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll study all core modules.
Core modules
- Biological Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- Enzymes and Metabolism
- Molecular Biology
You’ll study all core modules.
You’ll also choose one optional module.
Core modules
- Structural Biology
- Genes and Genomics
- Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming
- Tutored Dissertation
- Protein Science
- Integrative Cell Biology
- I-Explore
Optional modules
- Topics in Biotechnology
- Challenges in Cell Biology
- Applied Molecular Biochemistry
- Computational ‘Omics
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
You'll study three optional modules, one from each of Groups A, B and C.
You'll also select a research project option from Group D.
Optional modules
Group A
- Structural Biology and Drug Design
- Mechanisms of Gene Expression
- Stem Cells, Regeneration & Ageing
- Metabolic & Network Engineering
- Medical Microbiology
- Biodiversity Genomics
Group B
- Cancer
- Bacterial Molecular Machines
- Integrative Systems Biology
- Evolutionary Applications
- Advanced Topics in Parasitology & Vector Biology
- Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
- Disease Ecology and Epidemiology
Group C
- Medical Glycobiology
- Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
- Bioinformatics
- Synthetic Biology
- Sytems Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain in Health & Disease
- The Microbiome
- Advanced Immunology
- Plant Biotechnology & Development
Group D
- Practical Research Project (Lab, Computational, Field) or
- Science Communication plus Literature Research Project (Research Proposal)
You’ll study all core modules.
Core modules
- Biological Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- Enzymes and Metabolism
- Molecular Biology
You’ll study all core modules.
You’ll also choose one optional module.
Core modules
- Structural Biology
- Genes and Genomics
- Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming
- Tutored Dissertation
- Protein Science
- Integrative Cell Biology
- I-Explore
Optional modules
- Topics in Biotechnology
- Challenges in Cell Biology
- Applied Molecular Biochemistry
- Computational ‘Omics
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
The third year consists of an agreed programme of study at an approved university in either Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, or Switzerland.
We currently have exchange agreements with:
- University of Vienna, Austria
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, France
- SupAgro, France
- University of Paris, France
- University of Paris Saclay, France
- University of Strasbourg, France
- University of Toulouse 3, France
- University of Heidelberg, Germany
- University of Padova, Italy
- University of Leiden, Netherlands
- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
- University of Valencia, Spain
- Karolinska Institute, Sweden
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland
This is an integrated year abroad so the grades you achieve will count directly towards your Imperial degree.
You'll study three optional modules, one from each of Groups A, B and C.
You'll also select a research project option from Group D.
Optional modules
Group A
- Stem Cells, Regeneration & Ageing
- Metabolic & Network Engineering
- Medical Microbiology
- Plant Biotechnology & Development
- Current Topics in Development Biology
- Structural Biology and Drug Design
- Evolutionary Applications
- Mechanisms of Gene Expression
Group B
- Advanced Bacterial & Eukaryotic Cell Biology
- Integrative Systems Biology
- Advanced Topics in Parasitology & Vector Biology
- Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
- Advanced Topics in Infection & Immunity
- Cancer
- Disease Ecology and Epidemiology
Group C
- The Microbiome
- Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
- Bioinformatics
- Synthetic Biology
- Systems Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain in Health & Disease
- Biodiversity Genomics
- Advanced Immunology
- Medical Glycobiology
Group D
- Practical Research Project (Lab, Computational, Field) or
- Science Communication plus Literature Research Project (Research Proposal)
You’ll study all core modules.
Core modules
- Biological Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- Enzymes and Metabolism
- Molecular Biology
You’ll study all core modules.
You’ll also choose one optional module.
Core modules
- Structural Biology
- Genes and Genomics
- Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming
- Tutored Dissertation
- Protein Science
- Integrative Cell Biology
- I-Explore
Optional modules
- Topics in Biotechnology
- Challenges in Cell Biology
- Applied Molecular Biochemistry
- Computational ‘Omics
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
You will spend this year either working in industry or completing research.
This will be an integrated, 12-month placement in industry or a research organisation.
This can be in a variety of areas, such as medical research, conservation biology, marine biology or the pharmaceutical industry.
Students from the Department have previously completed placements with:
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Oxford University
- Novartis
- Institute of Cancer Research
- Natural History Museum
The employer can often be in a location of your choice – including outside the UK – as long as you are successful in obtaining a position there and the placement is approved by the Department.
You'll study three optional modules, one from each of Groups A, B and C.
You'll also select a research project option from Group D.
Optional modules
Group A
- Stem Cells, Regeneration & Ageing
- Metabolic & Network Engineering
- Medical Microbiology
- Plant Biotechnology & Development
- Current Topics in Development Biology
- Structural Biology and Drug Design
- Evolutionary Applications
- Mechanisms of Gene Expression
Group B
- Advanced Bacterial & Eukaryotic Cell Biology
- Integrative Systems Biology
- Advanced Topics in Parasitology & Vector Biology
- Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
- Advanced Topics in Infection & Immunity
- Cancer
- Disease Ecology and Epidemiology
Group C
- The Microbiome
- Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
- Bioinformatics
- Synthetic Biology
- Systems Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain in Health & Disease
- Biodiversity Genomics
- Advanced Immunology
- Medical Glycobiology
Group D
- Practical Research Project (Lab, Computational, Field) or
- Science Communication plus Literature Research Project (Research Proposal)
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
- Independent study
Years 1 and 2
- 30% Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
- 70% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
-
Laboratory
-
Lectures
-
Tutorials
-
Seminars
-
Site visits
-
Group project
-
Research project
Balance of assessment
Key
- Examination
- Coursework
Year 1
- 60% Examination
- 40% Coursework
Year 2
- 48% Examination
- 52% Coursework
Year 3
- 56% Examination
- 44% Coursework
Assessment methods
-
Coursework
-
Essays
-
Individual research
-
Laboratory write-ups
-
Presentations
-
Reports
-
Written examinations
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
- Independent study
Years 1 and 2
- 30% Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
- 70% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
-
Laboratory
-
Lectures
-
Tutorials
-
Seminars
-
Site visits
-
Group project
-
Research project
Balance of assessment
Key
- Examination
- Coursework
Year 1
- 60% Examination
- 40% Coursework
Year 2
- 48% Examination
- 52% Coursework
Year 4
- 56% Examination
- 44% Coursework
Assessment methods
-
Coursework
-
Essays
-
Individual research
-
Laboratory write-ups
-
Presentations
-
Reports
-
Written examinations
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
- Independent study
Years 1 and 2
- 30% Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
- 70% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
-
Laboratory
-
Lectures
-
Tutorials
-
Seminars
-
Site visits
-
Group project
-
Research project
Balance of assessment
Key
- Examination
- Coursework
Year 1
- 60% Examination
- 40% Coursework
Year 2
- 48% Examination
- 52% Coursework
Year 4
- 56% Examination
- 44% Coursework
Assessment methods
-
Coursework
-
Essays
-
Individual research
-
Laboratory write-ups
-
Presentations
-
Reports
-
Written examinations
Testimonials
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
You can now submit your application via UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices and track your application.
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 29 January 2025 at 18.00 (UK time)
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 29 January 2025 at 18.00 (UK time)
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 29 January 2025 at 18.00 (UK time)
This department does not use a test as part of its selection process.
Predicted grades and scores in your application are important, but it’s not the only thing that drives the decision.
Our selectors will also consider things like your personal statement and your references to understand whether there is a good match between you and your chosen subject and department at Imperial.
You can read more about our selection process, including tips on writing a personal statement, in our How to apply section.
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Generally, the department does not hold interviews.
Applications from school leavers who wish to take a gap year are welcome. Applicants must state in their UCAS personal statement how they propose to spend their time.
For Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, we sometimes accept transfers from other institutions into the second year. Students should provide us with a transcript of their first year grades and details of their Pre-University Qualifications and the grades attained in them.
Offers are based on the number of places available (if any), the relevance of the modules covered in the first year elsewhere and the grades achieved. If we feel direct entry to the second year wouldn't be possible we may offer you first year entry instead.
We do not accept any transfers into the third year of any of our courses.
Applicants who are unsuccessful cannot be reconsidered for entry within the same cycle but may reapply the following year without prejudice with a new application. We consider resit students in open competition with all other applicants.
We do not accept Access courses, Foundation years or OU courses.
General studies will not be accepted at any level. Other qualifications, such as Key Skills or Critical Thinking, while useful, will not count towards an offer.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
The structure of the Department's courses means that transfer between different Biotechnology and Biochemistry degrees is usually possible up until the end of the second year.
- Transfer onto Language for Science courses must be completed at the very start of the first year.
- Transfer onto Year in Industry/Research courses should be completed at the start of the second year to allow time to arrange a suitable placement.
- It is not possible to transfer onto one of the Biological Sciences degrees from a Biochemistry or Biotechnology degree.
- Transfer onto the Management Year is subject to approval from the Imperial College Business School; and academic performance in the first two years of the degree (students should be working to a 2:1 standard by the end of their second year).
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa.
Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Language requirement
Teaching is in the language of your host country, so you will need to reach an acceptable proficiency in the relevant language before you go. Free language classes are available at the College to help you prepare.
Availability
There are limited places available on the Year Abroad programme, which means that competition for selection is strong and a placement cannot be guaranteed.
Normally, only students with marks of 60% or above will be eligible for placements in France and Germany. Only students with marks of 70% or above will be eligible for placements in the USA.
Please note the list of universities located abroad that the Department currently has partnerships with is illustrative.
Partnerships with universities are subject to continuous review and individual partnerships may or may not be renewed.
Read more about how our language for science degrees are taught on the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication website.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£9,535 per year
Year abroad
2025 entry
£1,450 for that year
Year in industry
2025 entry
£1,900 for that year
Important update for 2025 entry
The UK government has announced that, starting in April 2025, maximum tuition fees for Home undergraduate students in England will increase from £9,250 per year to £9,535. Find out more.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
The loan is paid directly to the university.
You will start repaying it only after you leave your course, have a job, and are earning above a certain amount.
Once the repayments start, the amount you pay each month depends on how much you earn, not on how much you owe in total.
Home students can apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help with their living costs.
In November 2024, the UK government announced a 3.1% increase in English Maintenance Loans for 2025-26.
How you apply for student finance depends on whether you have studied before and where you’re from or normally live. Find out more on the UK government's website.
The Imperial Bursary is available to all Home undergraduate students with a household income below £70,000 per year.
The amount awarded is based on your household income, with up to £5,000/year available for students from the lowest income households.
It's money which you don't need to pay back, and it's paid on top of any government funding you may also receive.
It is available for each year of your course, as long as your annual household income remains below £70,000.
You might need to budget for additional costs related to your course that aren't covered by your tuition fees – like field trips, books and protective clothing.
Our extra costs page outlines the additional costs related to courses in each of our departments. It's not an exhaustive list and any additional costs you could incur will be determined by the course and modules you choose.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£43,300 per year
Year abroad
2025 entry
15% of the fee for that year
Year in industry
2025 entry
20% of the fee for that year
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
You might need to budget for additional costs related to your course that aren't covered by your tuition fees – like field trips, books and protective clothing.
Our extra costs page outlines the additional costs related to courses in each of our departments. It's not an exhaustive list and any additional costs you could incur will be determined by the course and modules you choose.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
94% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in work or further study*
- 94% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in work or further study*
- 6%
83% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in highly skilled work or further study*
- 83% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in highly skilled work or further study*
- 17%
*2021-22 graduate outcomes data, published by HESA in 2024
Gain an excellent grounding in biochemistry towards more advanced study.
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Graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.
Many others advance to roles in business, government and industrial research, or public health.
Other potential career paths include healthcare, management consulting, biochemistry, and medical communications.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5398
- Email: lifesciences.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Department of Life Sciences website
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Request info
Learn more about studying at Imperial. Receive useful information about our life in our undergraduate community and download our latest Study Guide.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Course data
Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications