The three-year programmes include two years studying biochemistry, biology or biotechnology, followed by one year in the Business School.
Students following a biotechnology or biochemistry programme follow the same core modules in the first two years of study before specialising, heading overseas, or spending a year in industry in their third year. Core modules in the first year include:
- Biological Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Proteins and Enzymes
In the second year there are four core modules, including Genes and Genomics and Protein Structure and Function, and an optional course to be taken from outside the Biochemistry syllabus (often a humanities or business module).
A wide range of optional courses are available for students to choose from in later years including subjects such as Damage and Repair in Biological Systems, Cellular Signalling and Neurobiology, Cancer, Medical Glycobiology, and Bioreactor and Bioprocess Technology.
A-LEVELSThe minimum entry requirements for all Biochemistry/Biotechnology courses are AAA overall at A2 level, to include:
- A in Chemistry
- A in another science subject (Biology is preferred but not mandatory) or Mathematics
The ideal combinations would be Chemistry and two further science subjects or Chemistry and one further science subject and Mathematics, but other combinations are considered.
Other qualifications, such as General Studies, Key Skills or Critical Thinking, while useful, will not count towards an offer.
Two AS levels may be acceptable in place of a third A level. This is in addition to Grade B or above in GCSE Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology (or Combined Sciences), and English Language (or an overall score of 7.0 in IELTS with 6.5 in each element).
LANGUAGES FOR SCIENCE DEGREES
You must achieve a minimum grade B in the relevant foreign language to AS level (or equivalent).
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
For students following the International Baccalaureate, an overall score of 38 points is required to join the Biochemistry and Biotechnology stream, including 6 in Chemistry and Biology at higher level. Applicants must have a score of 5 in English at standard level.
For Biochemistry/Biotechnology with French, German or Spanish for Science, an overall score of 38 points is required, including 6 in Chemistry and either Biology or Mathematics at higher level. Applicants must have a score of 6 in the relevant language at standard level.
Accepted English Qualifications
- AS Level/A-level
- Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
- European Baccalaureate
- GCSE or GCE 'O' Level
- Hong Kong AS Level
- Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations Syllabus B
- Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
- IGCSE
- International Baccalaureate
- International Option of the French Baccalaureat (OIB)
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- Malaysian Certificate of Education (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia)
- Scottish Standard Grade
- Singapore Cambridge A-Levels
- Singapore Cambridge O-Levels
- Singapore Integrated Programme Cambridge A Levels (SIPCAL)
- USA Advanced Placement Examination
- West African Examinations Council (WAEC)
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he BSc Biochemistry (C700) is a three-year degree. In the first two years you will tackle core subjects to ensure that you receive a solid grounding in the fundamentals.
You will then specialise in the final year, making your choice from a wide range of options and research projects.
Our biochemistry and biotechnology courses contain topics covering all aspects of the applied biochemistry and the biotechnology industry, such as intellectual property and patents, commercialising technology, and entrepreneurship, with lectures and case studies from biotechnology business leaders and academics.
In the final year of the Biotechnology programme you are expected to take course options and a project in subjects involving a significant element of biotechnology.
Year 1
These courses provide the fundamental building blocks of biochemistry. All students take the following courses, which are run in parallel:
- Biological Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Proteins and Enzymes
Year 2
All students take the following four core subjects:
- Genes and Genomics
- Intergrative Cell Biology
- Macromolecular Structure and Function 1
- Macromolecular Structure and Function 2
- Supplementary Course from the Centre for Co-Curricular Studies
Final year
In the first two terms of the final year, you choose one course from each session. This allows you to specialise in an area of interest and relevance to your future career plans.
Biochemistry and Biotechnology students are given guidance on the selection of three courses from those shown below. Each course comprises a half-term’s work.
SESSION 1 OPTIONS
- Damage Repair in Biological Systems
- Macromolecules in 3-D
- Stem Cells, Regeneration & Ageing
- Medical Microbiology
- Neuroscience Research: From Molecules to Mind
- Advanced Topics in Plant Molecular Biology
SESSION 2 OPTIONS
- Cancer
- Mechanisms of Gene Expression
- Integrative Systems Biology
- Advanced Topics in Parasitology & Vector Biology
- Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
- Advanced Topics in Infection Immunity
SESSION 3 OPTIONS
- Medical Glycobiology
- Biotech Applications of Proteins
- Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
- Bioinformatics
- Systems Neuroscience Exploring the Brain in Health & Disease
- Synthetic Biology
- Biodiversity Genomics
For all full-time undergraduate higher education courses at universities and colleges in the UK, you must make an online application via UCAS.
The UCAS code for Imperial College London is I50.
For all applicants, there are full instructions on the UCAS website to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate. UCAS also has a comprehensive guide called Applying Online, which can be downloaded from their website. UCAS allows you to apply to up to five courses per year.
