BSc Medical Biochemistry

The endocrine system synthesises and releases chemical messengers (hormones), to maintain tight homeostatic control of physiological processes in the face of changes to the internal and external body environment. You will learn about the structure and function of the key endocrine tissues, together with the actions and interactions of their hormonal products. You will study the endocrine regulation of a variety of parameters including growth, appetite, blood sugar levels, stress, male and female fertility, pregnancy, puberty, and calcium balance. On a solid foundation of understanding the principles of endocrinology, you will begin to explore endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and acromegaly.

To explore the biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology of endocrine control systems in humans and other mammals. To enable students to develop their understanding of core topics in endocrinology and improve their skills in researching and presenting a topic concisely in writing.

At the end of the course students will be able to: 
Describe and explain the structure and function of the main mammalian endocrine tissues in health and disease 
Describe and explain the manner in which the regulatory control and actions of individual endocrine tissues are integrated to maintain appropriate physiological and metabolic responses to changes in the internal and external environment
Apply their understanding of endocrinology in order to recognise common endocrine diseases and suggest suitable treatments for those diseases

Basic concepts in endocrinology

•      Hormone-receptor interactions and signalling mechanisms

•      Methods used to detect and quantify hormone levels

•      Endocrine control systems and response to environmental change

The endocrine glands and hormones

•      The pituitary gland

•      The thyroid gland

•      The adrenal glands

•      The endocrine pancreas

•      The parathyroid glands

•      Enteroendocrine hormones and control of appetite<

Maily delivered via live lectures on campus, but with some compulsory online learning. elearning packages may be recommended for additional understanding of some topics. Guided essential reading and recommended reading from papers and textbooks which are all available online. Opportunity to gain experience in researching and presenting a topic concisely in writing in preparation for the final essay examination.

2x Blackboard elearning quizzes 2.5% each (5% of unit)

Timed on-campus examination (during examination period)  
Section A- multiple choice questions (25% of unit) 
Section B- 1 essay from a choice of 3 (70% of unit)

• Blackboard elearning quizzes will provide automated formative feedback. 
• In-semester essay will provide opportunity for student to give and receive feedback from peers (note this essay is not marked by unit staff). 
• Live feedback from staff at workshop events. 
• Where possible, students may attend a post-examination ‘drop-in’ clinic to see examiners’ comments on their answers. 

• White BA, Harrison JR& Mehlmann LMEndocrine and Reproductive Physiology (5th Edition), 2019, Elsevier London: The Mosby Physiology Series. Core text.
• Holt RIG & Hanley NA Essential Endocrinology and Diabetes (6th Edition). 2012. Wiley-Blackwell. Optional text.
• Wilkinson & Ali, Clinical neuroendocrinology: an introduction. Cambridge University Press. 2019. Optional text.

Tuition fees for home students will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year. In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are subject to the Government fee cap, which the Government has announced will be £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year.

Government policy is to increase the fee cap on an annual basis to reflect inflation (i.e. increasing costs), and the tuition fee home students pay in subsequent academic years will reflect any increases in the Government fee cap (which we will communicate to you as soon as we can in advance of the relevant academic year).

Tuition fees for international students will be £38,000 for the 2027/28 academic year. For subsequent academic years, the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fee by up to 7% each year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our education and wider student experience.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).