Biochemistry

University of British Columbia

Canada, Vancouver

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University of British Columbia

Canada , Vancouver

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Application Fee

CAD 125

Campuses

Vancouver

Okanagan

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines15-May-2023

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 4 year(s)

Tuition Fee

CAD 46,296 / year

Next Intake 15-May-2023

Biochemistry

About

You can study intense specialization in a single field.

Biochemistry is concerned with the chemical compounds and processes that occur in plants, animals, and microorganisms. Specifically, it involves the analysis of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, which comprise the basic constituents of cells.

This specialization equips you with a strong foundation in biochemistry while also providing the flexibility to cultivate your interests in allied fields (e.g., microbiology, food science, and chemistry). An undergraduate degree in biochemistry is particularly appropriate for students who anticipate a professional career in the health sciences or research.

Biochemistry is available at the undergraduate level as a major or honours. It can also be paired with chemistry for a combined major or combined honours degree.

Housed in the Faculty of Medicine, the program's primary focus is on the biochemistry of the human body. Biochemistry can also be studied as an elective in biology, chemistry, microbiology and immunology, and cellular, anatomical and physiological sciences.

Campus features

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is located in the Life Sciences Centre, a multi-disciplinary research space where more than 80 faculty investigators and approximately 600 trainees and research staff conduct innovative research in many areas of the life and biomedical sciences. The Laboratory for Molecular Biophysics has state-of-the-art instrumentation and facilities.

Laboratory for Molecular Biophysics

Experiential learning and research

The Biochemistry program champions and supports the participation of undergraduates in research and provides students the opportunity gain hands-on research experience through several upper-year laboratory courses.

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes occurring in living matter, a discipline which encompasses an incredibly diverse field of research that touches nearly all aspects of our lives. Biochemists are working in areas as diverse environmental degradation, forensics, disease research, and archaeology.

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4

BIOL 121 - Genetics, Evolution and Ecology
Principles of storage and transmission of genetic variation; origin and evolution of species and their ecological interactions.
BIOL 140 - Laboratory Investigations in Life Science
Guided experimental investigations of biological questions.
CHEM 121 - Structure and Bonding in Chemistry
Fundamentals of bonding theories and structural chemistry, with applications relevant to modern society.
MATH 102 - Differential Calculus with Applications to Life Sciences
Functions, derivatives, optimization, growth and decay, discrete probability.

BIOC 203 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry
Amino acids and proteins. Enzymes and enzymology. Human metabolic pathways. Structure, function and metabolism of carbohydrates including glycogen storage and gluconeogenesis. Restricted to students in Biochemistry specializations.
CHEM 213 - Organic Chemistry
Spectroscopy of organic compounds. Mechanistic analysis of chemical reactivity of common functional groups with a focus on carbon-carbon bond formation; functional group interconversion. Preference will be given to students in Chemistry or Biochemistry specializations.
BIOC 202 - Introductory Medical Biochemistry
Introduction to proteins and enzymes, carbohydrate metabolism, and glucose homeostasis. The course emphasis is on human biochemistry and it is designed for students going into health science fields.
CHEM 211 - Introduction to Chemical Analysis
Quantitative chemical analysis; chemical and physical principles of spectrophotometry, potentiometry, and chromatography.
BIOL 200 - Fundamentals of Cell Biology
Structure and function of plant and animal cells; membrane models, cytoplasmic organelles, biological information from gene to protein, the endomembrane system, secretion, intracellular digestion, endocytosis, transport processes, cytoskeleton and cell motility.

BIOC 304 - Contemporary Biochemical Research
Exploration of the breadth and importance of biochemical research to present day challenges in medicine and biotechnology. Detailed experimental research case studies of novel biochemical methods used to address pressing and ongoing biochemical issues.
BIOC 301 - Biochemistry Laboratory
Techniques by which the chemical and physical properties of fundamental components of the cell are studied.
BIOC 302 - General Biochemistry
Metabolic reactions of lipids, steroids, amino acids and nucleotides; the biochemistry of replication, transcription and translation.

BIOC 410 - Nucleic Acids-Structure and Function
Chemical, physical and biological properties of nucleic acids and their role in replication, transcription, translation and regulation of expression of genetic material.
BIOC 421 - Recombinant DNA Techniques
Multi-week experiments involving contemporary nucleic acid research, cloning and recombinant protein engineering. Emphasis is on experimental design, critical analysis of data and scientific communication skills. Restricted to Major students in Biochemistry.
BIOC 403 - Enzymology
Kinetic analysis, catalytic mechanisms, transition state stabilization and regulation of activity, strategies for active site characterization and case studies of well-documented enzyme systems.
BIOC 402 - Proteins: Structure and Function
Structural components of proteins, classification by primary, secondary and tertiary structure, protein chemistry and purification, peptide and protein synthesis by chemical means and three-dimensional structure determination using X-ray diffraction and NMR.

Disciplines

Faculty of Science

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Graduation from a university-preparatory program at a senior secondary school: General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi). Certificates must be official. Photocopies are acceptable if certified by school principal, head, or counsellor. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Career

A BSc in Biochemistry is a perfect stepping stool for entry into graduate programs, as well as medical, law, dental, or pharmacy school.

Students graduate with strong critical thinking, communication, and research abilities. These skills are highly sought after and are transferable to many workplaces.

Program graduates

PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia
Associate attorney, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Dentist, Baker Hill Dental Clinic
Medical student, University of British Columbia
PhD candidate in Membrane Biology, University of Alberta
Graduate student in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota

Related programs

- - Name
  - Campus
  - Length
- - Archaeology
    - Vancouver
    4 years
  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    - Okanagan
    4 years
  - Microbiology
    - Okanagan
    4 years
  - Microbiology and Immunology
    - Vancouver
    4 years

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

CAD 46,296 / year

Application Fee

CAD 125

How to Apply

As you complete the online application, keep the following tips in mind:

Start early and take your time. Once you begin the application, you will be able to save it and return to it later – but only up until the deadline. Once you have submitted your application to UBC, you will not be able to edit it. Since the online application can sometimes time out if left open for too long, we recommend working on your personal profile questions outside of the application (where you can run them through a spell-checker) then copy and paste them into your application.
Let the online application guide you. You’ll be asked to provide only the information we need based on your degree choice(s), your previous education, and other factors.
Tell us your full academic history. It’s important to include all of the high schools, colleges, and/or universities you have attended. Don’t leave anything out!
Be accurate. UBC has a number of methods in place to authenticate information provided in the application. These methods include, but are not limited to, contacting references, verifying academic records, and requesting additional documentation to verify your personal profile. If an application is found to contain untrue or incomplete information, UBC may, at its discretion: withdraw an offer of admission; require you to withdraw from UBC; subject you to academic discipline; or share the information provided with other post-secondary institutions, law enforcement agencies, or other third parties.
Use an email address you check frequently. Once you have submitted your application, UBC will communicate with you primarily by email.
Note your UBC student number. Write down your UBC student number somewhere safe. You’ll need it in future correspondence with UBC.