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Imperial College London · Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry Bachelor's degree at Imperial College London
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry at Imperial College London. Biochemistry at Imperial College London is geared towards students who want their studies to translate directly into work within applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries, rather than pure academic research alone.
BSc (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
85%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
Develop skills towards a career in the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Imperial College London, based in South Kensington. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 85% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £33,000. (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.
8.5
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong78
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)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent85
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional92
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 92% (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.
- Biological Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- Core Skills for Life Scientists
- Enzymes and Metabolism
- Molecular Biology
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
Across the three years, you'll move through a structured progression of study. You'll begin with core theory, building the foundational biochemical knowledge, molecular structures, metabolic pathways, cellular processes, that underpins everything else on the course. Alongside this, you'll be introduced to research & methods, learning the laboratory and analytical techniques that biochemists rely on daily. As you progress, the emphasis shifts towards applied practice, where theory is tested against real biological and industrial problems, echoing the course's clear focus on applied biochemistry and biotechnology. Later stages bring specialist options, such as areas of biochemistry that align with your particular interests within the wider field, allowing you to shape the degree towards the direction you want your career to take. The degree also includes an independent project, giving you the chance to design and carry out a substantial piece of research on a topic of your own choosing, working more autonomously than in earlier years. Running throughout is a strand of professional skills, covering the practical, communication and workplace-relevant abilities that matter once you're working in a lab or industry setting. Together, these elements are designed to leave you equipped not just with biochemical knowledge, but with the practical competence expected in applied biotechnology roles.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is curious about how living systems work at a molecular level, and who wants that curiosity to lead somewhere concrete, a lab bench, an industry role, a technical problem worth solving. If you enjoy the precision of chemistry as much as the complexity of biology, and you like the idea of applying that combination rather than just studying it in the abstract, you'll likely find the course's applied focus appealing. It suits students who are comfortable with sustained, detailed scientific work, long practicals, careful data analysis, methodical experimentation, and who don't mind that the reward for that patience often comes later, in the form of a working result or a completed project. You should be someone who's willing to work independently by the later years, since the independent project asks you to take ownership of your own research question. Most students accepted onto this course arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically within the 160–175 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what past entrants have held rather than a fixed requirement. If you're the sort of person who wants a science degree that keeps one eye on the laboratory and the other on industry, and who's motivated by seeing biochemical theory put to practical use, this is a course environment likely to suit how you like to learn.
Careers & job market
Biochemistry graduates from courses like this one are aimed squarely at the applied biochemistry and biotechnology sectors, and the degree's structure, from core theory through to an independent project and professional skills, is designed with that destination in mind. 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 highly skilled roles or continuing study. These are national Graduate Outcomes figures for the wider field, not specific to this university, and should be read as context rather than a guarantee. On earnings, national data (again across the Biological Sciences field generally, not tied to any individual institution) shows starting salaries 15 months after graduation ranging from £23,000 to £29,000, dropping slightly to between £20,400 and £28,800 after three years, before rising to a range of £25,075 to £35,400 after five years, a pattern that suggests career progression in this field tends to build over time rather than immediately. Separately, national continuation data shows 90% of students in this field remain enrolled or complete their first year, indicating that most who start this kind of course carry on with it.
University & format
Imperial College London is a public, research-intensive Russell Group university founded in 1907, with around 17,565 students in total. The institution was and holds a Gold rating in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching quality. This BSc (Hons) Biochemistry degree is delivered full-time over three years at the South Kensington campus, taught entirely in English, and leads to a nationally recognised UK degree award. Bursaries and scholarships may also be available, and it's worth checking the university's own funding pages for the most current details on what support you might be entitled to.
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.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 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.
PlacementPublished placement option
Year in industry. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysFind out more about our September Open Days
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of AAA. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent90% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 160 - 175 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Imperial College London's official course page for the current offer.
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 | 90% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Competitive entry
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.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
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.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*A-level equivalent admitted students held
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. 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.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Imperial College London whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Imperial College London →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years
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.
Funding matched to this course
All Imperial College London funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Medicine students
Check eligibility →undergraduate students
Check eligibility →international students
Check eligibility →students of Black heritage
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
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 | £33,000 | £30,000 – £45,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £33,500 | £27,500 – £42,000 | 50 |
| 5 years after | £49,000 | £30,500 – £71,000 | 60 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
85%
in work or further study 15 months on
85%
in highly skilled work or study
92%
continue past their first year
85%
find their work meaningful
85%
say work fits their future plans
- 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
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£33,000
£23,000 – £29,000After 3 years LEO
£33,500
£20,400 – £28,800After 5 years LEO
£49,000
£25,075 – £35,400national rangethis course’s medianaxis £18,000 – £51,500
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.
85 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
40% working15% working and studying30% in further study85% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. 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.
This course £49,000Peer median £29,500Middle 50% £27,500–£33,000
99th percentile
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 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
- Media ProfessionalsSOC 2020 249 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,895
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
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: 70; response rate: 60%. 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.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Biological Sciences courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes60%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow 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 & NordicsJLLLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is 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
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £33,000. 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 8.5 out of 10: NSS 77.7% · in work or study 85% · continued 92%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
All students22,525
International52.9%
Aged 25+20.2%
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
Students111,380
Aged 25+16.5%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around South Kensington
3,468 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Anti Social Behaviour 750Violent Crime 642Other Theft 530Shoplifting 370Theft From The Person 293
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 Imperial College London from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Imperial College London; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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
Imperial College London offers the GREAT - Imperial College London Scholarship for international students, see Scholarships above.
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 Imperial College London and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Imperial College London
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Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 160 - 175 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by Imperial College London. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 85% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £33,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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