- UCAS course code
- 6K47
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course description
Our MSci Medical Biochemistry course will enable you to achieve an integrated master's degree while you study for a BSc, giving you significant research experience that will be invaluable for a PhD and a career in research.
You will study the functioning of normal and diseased organisms from a biochemical point of view, receiving a fundamental grounding in the principles of biochemistry.
As you progress, optional course units may show you how biochemistry allows us to understand and treat diseases. Subject areas include the molecular biology of cancer, cell cycle control and genetic diseases.
In Year 4, you will undertake a major research project in one of the University's more than 200 research labs to achieve your undergraduate master's award.
This course is designed for biochemists considering a career in research into the biochemical basis of disease and therapeutic medicine.
Our course has Advanced Accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology , which recognises academic excellence in the biosciences and highlights degrees that educate the research and development leaders and innovators of the future.
Discover more about biosciences integrated masters.
Special features
A range of study options
You can extend your degree by a year to undertake an integrated master's, gain industrial/professional experience, study with entrepreneurship or learn a modern language.
It is possible to broaden your degree by taking units from the University College, Business and Management for all Programmes or the University Centre for Academic English in exchange for a few units from your degree.
Foundation Year available
You can prepare for the full degree course if you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry by undertaking our foundation course first.
Flexibility to transfer between courses
You can transfer between most of our bioscience courses at the end of your first year or, in some cases, later.
Teaching and learning
You will benefit from a wide range of teaching and learning methods that suit the content and aims of each course unit.
These range from lectures and tutorials to practicals and research projects.
Find out more about how you will learn and see a typical Year 1 timetable on our teaching and learning page.
Coursework and assessment
Assessment methods vary widely to suit the nature of the course unit and each level of study.
- Lecture units are usually assessed by written exam (multiple choice or essay-based), which are held at the end of an academic semester in either January or May/June.
- Field courses are usually assessed via oral and written presentations, group work and/or projects.
- Practical units are usually assessed by experimental report and/or short written assignment and/or written exam.
The proportion of independent study assignments increases during each year of study.
Year 1
Lecture units are usually assessed by e-learning activities during the unit and multiple choice exams at the end of the semester. Year 1 contributes 6% to your overall degree mark.
Year 2
Lecture units are usually assessed by essay-based exam, and some units also include a coursework element.
Year 2 contributes 19% to your overall degree mark.
Year 3
Lecture units are usually assessed by essay-based exam. Students also take two honours papers: degree programme-specific examinations comprising essays and data-handling problems. On the MSci programme, students take several MSci specific courses, including a group-based practical unit, a literature review and a written research proposal. Year 3 contributes 37.5% to your overall degree mark.
Year 4
The final year is based on a 7-month research project (120 credits), carried out in a research laboratory or fieldstation run by University staff. The project is assessed by a written assignment, a scientific talk, a written report, a poster and presentation and your performance during the project. Year 4 contributes 37.5% to your overall degree mark. In order to progress on the MSci degree, you must fulfil certain progression criteria. Students that do not meet these criteria are transferred to the 3-year BSc.
Course unit details
This course is modular. You will study compulsory course units and choose some optional units.
Most units are assigned 10 credits and you will take 120 credits each year.
Course content for year 1
You will gain a broad introduction to biological sciences, covering key concepts such as:
- biochemistry
- genetics
- anatomy
- physiology
- pharmacology
- molecular biology
You will also study chemistry topics relevant to biology.
Year 1 also provides an introduction to the essential data handling and laboratory skills required for all biological scientists.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Tutorials Year 1 | BIOL10000 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Biochemistry | BIOL10212 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Molecular Biology | BIOL10221 | 10 | Mandatory |
| From Molecules to Cells | BIOL10232 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Laboratory Science | BIOL10401 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Experimental Biology - Molecular & Cellular Biology | BIOL10412 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Body Systems | BIOL10811 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Drugs: From Molecules to Man | BIOL10822 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Health & Safety online course | BIOL12000 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Chemistry for Bioscientists 1 | CHEM10021 | 10 | Mandatory |
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Course content for year 2
You will continue your studies in greater depth and begin to specialise. You will also undertake a Science Communication unit.
In the Research Skills unit, you have the opportunity to carry out techniques that are widely used in current biological science research.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Tutorials Year 2 | BIOL20000 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology EDM | BIOL21041 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Genome Maintenance & Regulation | BIOL21101 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Proteins | BIOL21111 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Cell Metabolism & Metabolic Control | BIOL21132 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Molecules and Cells in Human Disease | BIOL21351 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Science Communication | BIOL21392 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Chemistry of Biomolecules | CHEM21162 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Biochemistry RSM | BIOL20312 | 10 | Optional |
| Cellular Biochemistry RSM | BIOL20322 | 10 | Optional |
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Course content for year 3
You will take two papers and six lecture units specific to medical biochemistry.
You will prepare for the papers through tutorials with current BSc students.
The remaining 40 credits will come from the following MSci units:
- Research Project Proposals (10 credits)
- Bioinformatics Tools and Resources (10 credits)
- Experimental Skills (20 credits)
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Tutorials Year 3 | BIOL30000 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Biochemical Basis of Disease (E) | BIOL31332 | 10 | Mandatory |
| MSci Project Literature Review and Research Proposal | BIOL33000 | 10 | Mandatory |
| MSci Experimental Skills Module | BIOL33012 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Protein Assembly, Dynamics & Function (E) | BIOL31311 | 10 | Optional |
| Macromolecular Recognition in Biological Systems (L) | BIOL31341 | 10 | Optional |
| Advanced Immunology (E) | BIOL31371 | 10 | Optional |
| Cell Signalling (E) | BIOL31441 | 10 | Optional |
| Bioethics: Contemporary Issues in Science & Biomedicine (E) | BIOL31522 | 10 | Optional |
| Advanced Endocrinology (L) | BIOL31571 | 10 | Optional |
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Course content for year 4
You will undertake a 120-credit research project over a period of six to seven months in research laboratories or a field station run by University staff to complete the work needed for your MSci award.
Course units for year 4
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSci Research Project | BIOL40010 | 120 | Mandatory |
What our students say
Find out more about what it's like to study at Manchester on the Biology, Medicine and Health Student Blog .
Facilities
Learning facilities
Our modern teaching labs are equipped for a range of biological and biomedical techniques. The following are just a few of the techniques you could undertake during your degree:
- polymerase chain reaction (PCR);
- DNA sequencing;
- gel electrophoresis;
- spectrophotometry;
- dissection and histology;
- electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG)
- immunofluorescence microscopy.
Our computing facilities include access to over 200 PCs in dedicated clusters and e-learning tools including online lecture notes, discussion boards, lecture podcasts and quizzes.
You will also have access to the University's other facilities for undergraduate students.
Research facilities
As a final year student, you have the opportunity to undertake a project in the labs of our world-class bioscience researchers.To support our research, we have extensive research facilities equipped with high-quality technology.