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Biochemistry

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,C-B,B,B

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. Socio-economics factors which may have impacted an applicant's education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants. Required subjects: Biology plus another science from either Chemistry, Maths or Physics. A Pass is required in the practical element of all Science A-levels taken.

Access to HE Diploma

D:24,M:21

Pass Access to Science HE Diploma with at least 24 level 3 credits at Distinction, including all Biology and Chemistry units at Distinction and the remaining level 3 credits at Merit. Please note that the Access to Higher Education Diploma will only be acceptable if the applicant has had a considerable break from education.

Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require at least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9 - 4 including English and Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

30

5,5,5 at Higher Level including Higher Level Biology and a Higher Level in either Chemistry, Maths or Physics, with a minimum of 32 points overall.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H3

Subjects to include Biology plus another science from either Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DM

Distinction, Merit in Applied Science and grade B in A-level Chemistry or A-level Biology. A Pass is required in the practical element of all Science A-levels taken.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

D

Plus grades BB in A-level Biology plus another science from either Chemistry, Maths or Physics. A Pass is required in the practical element of all Science A-levels taken.

Scottish Advanced Higher

B,B,C-B,B,B

Subjects to include Biology plus another science from either Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

Scottish Higher

B,B,B,B,B,B

Subjects to include Biology plus another science from either Chemistry, Maths or Physics.

T Level

M

T-Level should be in a Science Pathway with Merit achieved overall, Merit in the occupation specialism and B in the Core Component.

Requirements are as for A-levels where one non-subject-specified A-level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

UCAS Tariff

112-162

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Biochemistry

Gain insights into the intricate, elegant workings of the building blocks of life in Biochemistry at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The course provides a comprehensive coverage of the principles of biochemistry, and includes a range of options that span the spectrum from medically-oriented biochemistry, through biochemistry in plants, to industrial applications of biochemistry.

You’ll gain invaluable laboratory experience across all three years of your degree. In year 3, you’ll complete an individual project, becoming part of our renowned research culture. The School of Biological Sciences was ranked 25th in the UK for influential research output by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, and our low student-to-staff ratio maximises your contact time with our internationally respected and enthusiastic academics. Many of our former students have contributed to published scientific papers.

Our campus is close to several sites of national scientific importance, including Windsor Great Park and the Millennium Seed Bank, while our on-site glasshouses, marine and freshwater aquaria and plant and animal cell culture facilities provide opportunities for rewarding independent study.

The skills and experience you’ll gain studying Biochemistry will make you an attractive prospect to employers. A combination of laboratory experience, ground-breaking research and a wide range of additional skills and competencies have helped our graduates find work in fields from forensic medicine to biotechnology. Pursue your passion for the fascinating principles of biochemistry and graduate with the skills and qualifications you need to find success in your chosen field.

On-site marine and freshwater aquaria, glasshouses and plant and animal cell culture facilities for rewarding independent study.

Conduct an individual research project in your third year and experience our renowned research culture.

Join a close-knit and supportive learning community with a high staff-to-student ratio.

Gain invaluable transferable skills to take into the workplace, including lab experience, numerical skills and communication skills.

Summer placements offered to help you gain invaluable work experience.

A close-knit graduate network to draw on, with alumni often visiting Royal Holloway to share their experiences.

Modules

Please refer to our website for information:
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/biological-sciences/biochemistry.aspx

Assessment methods

Your course will be assessed by a combination of examinations and in-course assignments in the form of essays or presentations.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£26,500
per year
International
£26,500
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Royal Holloway, University of London

Department:

Biological Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

79%
Biochemistry

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

Teaching and learning

77%
Staff make the subject interesting
81%
Staff are good at explaining things
76%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
73%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

82%
Library resources
86%
IT resources
86%
Course specific equipment and facilities
71%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

94%
UK students
6%
International students
47%
Male students
53%
Female students
85%
2:1 or above
2%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,500
low
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education
77%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

20%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
13%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
11%
Natural and social science professionals

Around 2,500 graduates got degrees in this demanding but valuable subject last year. Graduates who want a career in research usually take postgraduate qualifications - over a third of graduates in the subject took this option - but those who want to start work when they graduate have a lot to choose from. Laboratory work and other jobs in the biosciences are popular, as well as in education, but many biochemistry graduates find their way into the finance industry and as a consequence, graduates from these disciplines are particularly likely to get jobs in London and the South East.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£21k

£21k

£27k

£27k

£31k

£31k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of East Anglia UEA | Norwich
Biochemistry with a Placement Year
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 136-165
Nearby University
Kingston University | Kingston upon Thames
Biochemistry
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-128
Same University
Royal Holloway, University of London | Egham
Genetics
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UCAS Points: 112-144

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here