- UCAS course code
- 6Q13
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Master of Science (MSci)
MSci Biotechnology
Duration: 4 yrs
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: 6Q13 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
Accredited course
- Typical A-level offer: AAA-AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB-ABC including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: ABB-ABC including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36-35 points overall with 6, 6, 6 to 6, 6, 5 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £34,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Additional expenses
Policy on additional costs
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).
Course unit details:
Chemistry of Biomolecules
| Unit code | CHEM21162 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 2 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 22/23 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact. Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.
Chemistry of Biomolecules focuses on the chemistry underpinning the biological roles of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic and lipids. You will learn about the link between structure and function of these molecules at a chemical level within a biological context. Overview lectures will bring together this knowledge and apply it to key chemical process relevant to life: respiration, photosynthesis and signalling.
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL10111 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended | |
| Chemistry for Bioscientists 1 | CHEM10021 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
| Chemistry for Bioscientists 2 | CHEM10022 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
Aims
To provide information about biochemically important aspects of the chemistry of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and lipids, using appropriate examples. This includes organic, inorganic and physical chemistry aspects of biomolecules. Key emphasis is placed on understanding the structural principles that govern reactivity/physical properties of molecules as opposed to learning structural detail. The emphasis is on knowledge at the atomic level.
Learning outcomes
Students should:
- Have knowledge of the structure/conformational freedom of biomolecules, e.g. proteins, DNA/RNA, carbohydrates and key metabolites/co-factors, e.g., be able to draw and recognize key structures such as the 20 amino acids, 5 nucleotides and major metabolites
- Understand and demonstrate how the structure of biomolecules determines their chemical properties and reactivity
- Draw molecules and reaction mechanisms, understand and propose site-directed mutagenesis experiments aimed at elucidating mechanism
- Understand biochemistry at the atomic level.
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- The course introduces people to chemical reasoning and thinking, encouraging application of chemical rules and logic to problems.
- Problem solving
- The course introduces people to chemical reasoning and thinking, encouraging application of chemical rules and logic to problems.
- Research
- The course introduces people to chemical reasoning and thinking, encouraging application of chemical rules and logic to problems.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 85% |
| Set exercise | 15% |
Feedback methods
Students will be invited to test their knowledge via blackboard multiple choice tests. These will span the various main topics: basic chemistry; organic chemistry; metals in biology; physical chemistry; overview lectures. In each case, the test assessment will be available immediately after the last lecture of that topic. Immediate feedback is given when answers are incorrect. Assessments remain open during the lecture course and students can retake them as many times as they want.
Recommended reading
The listed text book is recommended. Earlier editions also contain the relevant material.
- Voet & Voet, Biochemistry, 4th edition, 2011, Wiley.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 2 |
| Lectures | 22 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 76 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Sam Hay | Unit coordinator |