MSci Biochemistry with Professional Experience

University of Reading

United Kingdom, Reading

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Home/United Kingdom/Reading /University of Reading/MSci Biochemistry with Professional Experience

University of Reading

United Kingdom , Reading

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

C704

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 5 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 30,650 / year

Next Intake September-2026

MSci Biochemistry with Professional Experience

About

Learn about the molecular foundations of life itself and gain advanced biosciences knowledge and skills on this integrated MSci Biochemistry with Professional Experience course.

Molecules are at the centre of all life, from the smallest virus to the largest animal. Biochemists seek to understand how molecular processes control life at various levels. How do molecules make cells work? How do these cells coordinate in an organ? How do these organs signal and work together for life to function?

Biochemistry is at the forefront of understanding how molecules control and affect life. An appreciation of these concepts allows biochemists to answer life’s fundamental questions and contribute to resolving critical biological problems, such as designing drugs to treat cancer or even bacteria that can clean up an oil spill.

Why study Biochemistry at the University of Reading?

You can apply for Chartered Biologist status upon graduation, which is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB).
Excellent feedback from students: in 2023, 100% of biochemistry students completing the National Student Survey (NSS) thought our staff were good at explaining things and our assessment was fair.
Top 10 university in the UK for biosciences (ranked 9th in the Daily Mail University Guide, 2024).
Placement opportunities. Dedicated support for year-long and summer placement opportunities, including ringed-fenced positions at internationally renowned companies and organisations.

What you will study

The MSci follows the standard undergraduate curriculum but with an additional year of study and a master's level qualification.

In your first year, you will develop your essential laboratory skills, data handling/interpretation and other key transferable skills, and cover the fundamental aspects of biochemistry, including:

molecular biology
cell biology
physiology
microbiology.

You will explore more specialist areas in your second and third year, taking your knowledge of biochemistry to a greater depth, with the opportunity to choose from a range of optional modules. Advanced subjects you may explore include:

cellular and molecular biology
immunology
human genetics
protein structure and function
cardiovascular biology
neurosciences.

In your fourth year will undertake an Advanced Research Project during your final year, working alongside academics on cutting-edge medical research. This will provide you with the opportunity to independently plan, execute, analyse and communicate a research project in a specialised area of biochemistry. This will provide you with the opportunity to independently plan, execute, analyse and communicate a research project in a specialised area of biochemistry.

Accreditation

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) following an independent and rigorous assessment.

Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and establish a profile of key skills, including technical and transferable skills, that bioscience employers can recognise in accredited graduates.

Placements and internships

Enhance your employability and put your practical skills to the test with an integrated year-long industrial placement between your second and final year.

We have secured ring-fenced industrial and summer placements with several prestigious providers, such as Diamond Light Source (the UK’s national synchrotron), Public Health England, GSK, AstraZeneca, and Covance. Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements who can provide you with advice and support.

We also offer a four-year version of this degree, MSci Biochemistry, that does not include an integrated placement year.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Our typical offers are expressed in terms of A level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate requirements. However, we also accept many other qualifications.

Typical offer

ABB with B in Chemistry, or BBB with B in Chemistry and B in a second science subject.

Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science.

International Baccalaureate

32 points including 5 in Chemistry at higher level.

30 points including 5 in Chemistry and a second science subject, both at higher level.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDD (modules taken must be comparable to subject specific requirement)

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

English Program Requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

Career

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) following an independent and rigorous assessment.

Graduates from this programme will be highly competitive in the job market, equipped with advanced knowledge and skills that are highly valued by employers and well-positioned for further academic study.

An MSci Biochemistry course will prepare you for various science-related careers, including research, laboratory work, science sales and management, data analysis, science communication, and patenting. It will also provide transferable skills for many areas of industry.

Our past BSc Biochemistry graduates have gone on to work for employers such as AstraZeneca, GSK, IQVIA, Oncologica and Thames Valley Police (based on HESA data © HESA 2020 - 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18 - 2021/22; includes BSc Biochemistry responders).

Overall, 91.4% of School of Biological Sciences graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22, which includes all School of Biological Sciences responders).

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 30,650

Application Fee

GBP

How to Apply

1. Check our entry requirements

Please see our postgraduate subject finder for minimum entry requirements for the programme you are interested in; entry requirements can vary from one programme to another. International students can consult our country-specific pages for information and guidance on alternative qualification equivalencies for master’s study.

If English is not your first language, you will also need to meet our English language requirements. You can find the IELTS requirements on each course page. We also accept a range of alternative English language qualifications.

If your English ability is not at the required standard, you can choose to apply for one of our Pre-sessional English programmes. The programmes will equip you with the study skills and preparation needed for academic study in English. The length of your Pre-sessional English programme is determined by your current level of English against the English language requirements of your chosen master’s programme.

2. Application and funding deadlines

Although most master’s programmes do not formally close for applications, some programmes do have application deadlines; if your programme has a deadline it will be specified on the course page under the ‘Entry requirements’ section. For programmes that do not have a specific application deadline, places may be limited and programmes may become full. We recommend that you apply as early as possible (particularly if you are an international student) to allow time not only for us to process your application, but for you to ensure that you can meet any offer conditions, arrange your accommodation and, importantly, funding for your studies. For admission in September, we do recommend that you apply by 1 August (if you are a UK applicant) and 1 July (if you are an international applicant requiring a visa to come to the UK) however, we are happy to still consider applications after these dates.

International applicants should also see our advice and guidance on visas and immigration.

Funding deadlines

We require an offer of study for many of our master’s scholarships and bursaries. You should check deadlines for applications carefully, and each scholarship or bursary will have specific application instructions. We may add scholarships throughout the year, so it is a good idea to re-visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

3. Submit your application

You can apply for master’s programmes directly through our online application system, RISIS. For our PGCE/Teacher Training programmes, applications must be made via the Department of Education's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training portal. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation.

Various documents are needed to make your application. You should electronically upload:

full transcripts of all degree programmes taken. If these are not in English, a certified translation into English is required. Please do not mail original copies; we only require PDF copies via electronic upload,
an English language certificate (for example IELTS or TOEFL), if English is not your first language (this can also be provided after you submit your application),
contact details for two academic/professional references. Your references will automatically be invited via email to upload their reference directly once you have submitted your application. Please remind your references to check their junk/spam filters for the email and let them know that the link to the form is only valid for 20 days,
statement of purpose. Your personal statement should outline your academic performance, interest in applying to master’s study, any relevant work experience and skills gained,
a copy of your passport (for international students).

Application fee

We do not charge an application fee to apply for our master’s programmes.

4. Track your application

You can track the progress of your application using our applicant portal, Me@Reading, a personalised resource including information about your programme of study, student stories and what's happening here at Reading. It has everything you need to know, all in one place. When we have made a decision on your application, we will contact you via email. If we are able to make you an offer for a place to study, your offer will contain information about what to do next, including how to accept your offer, pay a deposit (if applicable), and any conditions you must meet to study with us.