School of Life Sciences Undergraduate & Postgraduate Courses 2020 2020 Entry | Page 13

Undergraduate Programmes 2020 | 13
Biochemistry and Biology
BSc (Hons)
Why study this course?
Biochemistry and Biology is the perfect combination to study the
complexity and diversity of life from the molecular level, up to the
level of the whole organism. We offer a contemporary laboratory and
field-based programme, with opportunities to study or work at partner
institutions in Europe and Malaysia.
INDICATIVE MODULES
First Year
• Biochemistry
• B
 iodiversity, Ecology and
Environment
• Molecular Cell Biology
• Cellular Genetics and Evolution
Second Year
• Gene and Protein Engineering
• Life at the Extremes
• Molecular, Cellular and Structural
Immunology
• Research and Analytical Skills
• Metabolism in Health and Disease
• Animal Adaptations
• Cell Signalling
• Living Together
• Current Topics in Biology
Third Year
• Life Sciences Double Experimental
Project
• Conservation Biology
• Bioinformatics and Science
Communication
• Applied Insect Ecology
• Advances in Medicine
• Cancer Biology
• Human Parasitology
• Communication Skills for Biologists
We will equip you with the skills to tackle increasingly
problematic and complex issues surrounding our ever
growing and ageing human population, our medical
problems, and the impacts our actions have on each
other and on life on Earth.
Combining Biochemistry and Biology gives you the
chance to approach problems from the molecular
and organismal level. The Biochemistry element of the
course covers mainly mammalian Biochemistry and
has a focus on health and disease. You’ll also have the
opportunity to participate in field courses and undertake
research projects.
A four year version of the course provides the opportunity
to take an industrial placement or an international year
between your second and third years. This includes
the possibility of completing a placement at one of a
number of research institutes in Europe. For example,
our students have done placements at the prestigious
Pasteur Institute in Paris, home to a number of Nobel
Prize winners.
What will this mean for my future?
A degree in Biochemistry and Biology is the first step
towards a broad variety of careers. These can include
the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries,
the NHS and environmental health sector and research
within the biological, environmental and medical sectors.
The applied nature of the course will equip you with a
range of transferable employability skills of relevance to
careers in the biosciences as well as in other graduate
careers where numeracy and an objective scientific
approach to problem solving are valued.
Royal Society of Biology Accreditation is approved
for students on the Combined Honours routes and for
those specialising in either Biochemistry or Biology in
the final years.
ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON STUDIED
BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY,
FIRST CLASS HONOURS
“Following graduation
I worked in both pathology
and imaging at Royal Stoke
University Hospital, until
being offered a job as the
Pathology Clinical Trials
Coordinator. 5 years later,
I now supervise a small team
of 3 other pathology clinical
trials facilitators.
I work with the NIHR CRN
West Midlands in developing
laboratory specific GCP
training and I sit on a regional
advisory group called RAPID
(Research advisory group
for pathology in research
delivery).
Studying at Keele gave me
a solid baseline knowledge
of science that I refer to
frequently both in my job
and my current studies. I am
thankful of the support of the
teaching staff and the skills
obtained that have supported
my career so far as I couldn’t
have done it without them.”
KEY INFORMATION
UCAS Code - CC17
Foundation Year
Yes
Indicative entry
requirements
Combined Honours
BBB/ABC
BTEC: DDM
Course duration
3 years or 4 years
with an international or
placement year
Placement Year
Yes
Study abroad
Yes
International Year
Yes
Learn a Language
Yes
For information on courses that combine subjects please visit keele.ac.uk/ugcourses