mask
MSci Biochemistry
-
UCAS code
C703 -
A level offer
ABB -
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 4 Years
-
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 4 Years
Learn about the molecular foundations of life itself and gain advanced biosciences knowledge and skills on this integrated MSci Biochemistry course.
Molecules are at the centre of all life, from the smallest virus to the largest animal. Biochemists seek to understand how molecular processes control life at various levels. How do molecules make cells work? How do these cells coordinate in an organ? How do these organs signal and work together for life to function?
Biochemistry is at the forefront of understanding how molecules control and affect life. An appreciation of these concepts allows biochemists to answer life’s fundamental questions and contribute to resolving critical biological problems, such as designing drugs to treat cancer or even bacteria that can clean up an oil spill.
Why study Biochemistry at the University of Reading?
- You can apply for Chartered Biologist status upon graduation, which is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
- Excellent feedback from students: in 2023, 100% of biochemistry students completing the National Student Survey (NSS) thought our staff were good at explaining things and our assessment was fair.
- We are ranked in the UK's top 10 universities for biosciences (the Daily Mail University Guide, 2024).
- Placement opportunities. Dedicated support for year-long and summer placement opportunities, including ringed-fenced positions at internationally renowned companies and organisations.
What you will study
The MSci follows the standard undergraduate curriculum but with an additional year of study and a master's level qualification.
In your first year, you will gain a broad introduction to biochemistry taught in core modules. You will cover the fundamental aspects of biochemistry, including:
- molecular biology
- cell biology
- physiology
- microbiology.
Your first year also focuses on developing your essential laboratory skills, data handling/interpretation and other key transferable skills. You will explore more specialist areas in your second and third year, taking your knowledge of biochemistry to a greater depth, with the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules. The third year of the programme places a strong emphasis on the application of knowledge and skills. Ready for your fourth year where you will gain advanced scientific and technical skills to solve complex research questions.
In your fourth year will undertake an Advanced Research Project during your final year, working alongside academics on cutting-edge medical research. This will provide you with the opportunity to independently plan, execute, analyse and communicate a research project in a specialised area of biochemistry.
Accreditation
This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) following an independent and rigorous assessment.
Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and establish a profile of key skills, including technical and transferable skills, that bioscience employers can recognise in accredited graduates.
Your learning environment
Our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building is the home of the School of Biological Sciences. It offers state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café.
The building also houses the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, featuring more than 3,500 natural history specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community.
Facilities and Equipment
You will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience using our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities including:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Flow cytometry
- Genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Molecular cloning
- Protein and nucleotides gel electrophoresis
- Protein identification and localisation
- Microscopy suites, including fluorescent and confocal microscopes
- Cell culture suites (Bacterial and human cell lines)
- Bioinformatics, including Proteomics, Genomics and Transcriptomics.
Placements and internships
We will support you if you choose to undertake a summer placement or a paid vacation studentship. Such placements and studentships will be funded by external organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Biochemical Society or the University of Reading via the Reading Internship Scheme.
You can also choose to carry out a year-long industrial placement on our MSci Biochemistry with Professional Experience. On all our biochemistry degrees, we have secured ring-fenced industrial and summer placements with several prestigious providers, such as Diamond Light Source (the UK’s national synchrotron), Public Health England, GSK, AstraZeneca, and Covance. Y
Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements who can provide you with advice and support.
For more information, please visit the School of Biological Sciences website.