BSc (Hons) Biochemistry Bachelor's degree at Durham University
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry at Durham University. Biochemistry at Durham centres on understanding the molecular basis for life, how the chemistry of cells, proteins and genetic material underpins everything from disease to development.
About this course
Biochemistry C702 - Durham University Skip to main content BSc (Hons) Biochemistry BSc (Hons) Develop a detailed understanding of the molecular basis for life. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Durham University, based in Durham Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Biosciences graduates from this provider, 81% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 72% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £28,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Biological Sciences, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 81% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 96% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Molecules and CellsCompulsory
Module details
examines the fundamentals of life at the level of cells and their molecular components. This module introduces protein structure and function – from simple biochemistry to complex functional biological molecules; cells and membranes; basic concepts of metabolism and metabolic processes; and the functional properties of cells.
- GeneticsCompulsory
Module details
looks at the development of genetics as a science, from the experiments of Mendel to genome sequencing. It introduces the processes which link genotype to phenotype in living organisms, and provides an overview of the modern technologies used for genetic analysis and manipulation.
- Introduction to PhysiologyCompulsory
Module details
studies mammals as a model for physiological processes in other organisms. It covers a range of tissues and physiological processes in mammals and looks at the ways in which physiological processes relate to their bases at the molecular and cellular levels.
- Foundations of Chemistry: Atoms, Bonding & Energetics (inc: Experimental Chemistry I: Introductory to Laboratory Techniques)Compulsory
Module details
provides the foundation for your future studies and covers organic, inorganic and physical chemistry including basic laboratory techniques.
Year 2 5 modules
- MetabolismCompulsory
Module details
provides a global view of the functioning of the metabolic network in the cell, through an exploration of catalysis and biochemical pathways in depth. This module also explores relationships between protein structure and function.
- Biomolecules – Structure and FunctionCompulsory
Module details
includes the analysis of biomolecular structures; enzyme catalysed reactions; enzyme inhibition and regulation; protein-nucleic acid interactions; and enzyme catalysis and replication, repair, transcription and translation.
- Molecular BiologyCompulsory
Module details
examines the central role of molecular biology in modern biosciences and methods of gene analysis and gene manipulation. In this module you will cover recombinant DNA techniques, transcription and translation in eukaryotes, principles of gene regulation and bioinformatics.
- Cell SignallingCompulsory
Module details
looks at the different mechanisms by which cells respond to external stimuli. You will also study the steps of signal transduction mechanisms and comparative aspects of signalling processes in organisms from different kingdoms.
- Research Skills for BiosciencesCompulsory
Module details
explores the whole biological research process from generating ideas to disseminating results. You will develop skills in data-gathering, literature analysis, presentation and scientific writing for different audiences.
Year 3 4 modules
- Cellular BiochemistryCompulsory
Module details
will look at recombinant protein production and manipulation in industrial, pharmaceutical and research uses. You will also learn about yeast cell biology and about aspects of biochemistry which are relevant to biotechnology, such as microbial transport and roles of metal ions in biological processes.
- Advanced BiomoleculesCompulsory
Module details
examines the biomolecular processes involved in cellular function and molecular communication in representative organisms. It also compares biomolecules and biochemical processes between cell types and under changing environmental conditions.
- Literature ReviewCompulsory
Module details
where you will carry out research in a topic associated with biological sciences and present the results as a critical review article.
- WorkshopCompulsory
Module details
develops your knowledge of the advanced practical techniques used to undertake research in biological sciences, including biological, biochemical and molecular biological techniques. You will use relevant online resources and learn how to analyse and interpret data collected in the laboratory.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course structure builds progressively, moving through core theory before introducing you to research & methods that underpin how biochemical knowledge is actually generated. You'll then move into applied practice, where theoretical understanding is tested against real biological problems, before choosing from specialist options such as areas that let you follow particular interests within the discipline as they emerge. An independent project forms a significant part of the later stages of the degree, giving you the chance to design and carry out a piece of original investigative work rather than simply following prescribed exercises. Alongside the scientific content, the course also builds professional skills, the kind of communication, analytical and organisational competencies that matter regardless of which direction your biochemistry career eventually takes. Together these elements are intended to take you from foundational understanding through to genuine independence as a scientific thinker.
Who it's for
This course will suit you if you're the sort of person who wants to know not just what happens in a cell but why, at a molecular level, someone who finds satisfaction in tracing a biological outcome back to its chemical cause. You should be comfortable with sustained, detailed scientific reasoning, since biochemistry rewards patience with complexity rather than quick surface-level answers. If you enjoyed the more analytical, evidence-based sides of school science, interpreting data, forming hypotheses, testing them properly, you'll likely feel at home here. Curiosity about research itself, not just facts already established, will serve you well, particularly once you reach the independent project and have to frame your own scientific questions. It also suits students who are happy working steadily across three years, building depth and technical confidence gradually rather than expecting to arrive with expertise already formed. Most students accepted onto the course arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, typically within the 192–207 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what recent entrants held rather than a fixed requirement.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Biological Sciences courses, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 60% of those working graduates in roles classed as highly skilled or continuing into further study. These are national Graduate Outcomes figures rather than statistics specific to this course, but they give a general sense of the destinations biochemistry-adjacent graduates tend to reach. National earnings data (LEO) shows graduates in this broad field starting on salaries of roughly £23,000–£29,000 fifteen months after graduating, with reported figures of £20,400–£28,800 after three years and £25,075–£35,400 after five years, again, these are national ranges reflecting a spread of outcomes, not a promise of what any individual will earn. Durham also reports that 90% of students continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed, which offers some insight into how manageable and well-supported the course is felt to be once underway.
University & format
Durham University is a public, research-intensive institution and a member of the Russell Group, with a history dating back to 1832 and a current student population of around 19,520. The university was and received a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. This particular course, BSc (Hons) Biochemistry (UCAS code C702), runs full-time over three years at the Durham Campus and is taught in English, leading to a Bachelor's degree with Honours.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code C702). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Durham University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Biological Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £28,500 | £25,500 – £34,000 | 35 |
| 3 years after | £30,500 | £26,500 – £41,500 | 120 |
| 5 years after | £41,000 | £31,000 – £62,000 | 135 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in biological sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Biological Sciences nationally
National figures for Biological Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Biological Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 771 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 13% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 185; response rate: 63%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Biological Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Biological Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- NHS & hospital labs
- Pharma & biotech
- Universities & institutes
- Public-health bodies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Biological Sciences graduates.
Head of School, Biological Sciences - Strategic Leadership & GrowthUNIVERSITY OF READINGEducation-Focused Assistant Professor, Biological SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambicBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambic Therapeutics, IncCrop Geneticist The James Hutton Institute, Department of Cell & Molecular SciencesEuropean Plant Science OrganisationRegional Lead, Life Sciences FM, UK, Ireland & NordicsJLLIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
81% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £28,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 89.7% · in work or study 81% · continued 96%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Durham
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Durham Campus
698 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Biological Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Durham University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £31,050 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Durham University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Durham University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Durham University
Common questions
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