Biomolecular Science BSc (Hons)

In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in Biomolecular Science alongside modules in at least one other subject.

1st Year

Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:

• Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, cellular structures and fundamental processes.
• Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal and ecological aspects of life.
• Introduction to Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers the origin of the elements, atoms and the Periodic Table, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics.
• Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: covers the structure, stereochemistry and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bio-organic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.

In second year, modules are chosen which will best prepare you for your intended degree (or group of possible degrees) and new topics are introduced in some second-year modules.

Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:

• Applied Molecular Biology: examines case studies to provide examples of how molecular biology techniques are applied in research to address real-life questions and problems.
• Biochemistry: a number of central metabolic pathways and their control are studied in detail, alongside examples of their importance in disease and recent metabolomic studies.
• Cell Biology: introduces the concept of ‘a cell’, the structure and function of a variety of sub-cellular compartments and the diversity of different cell types within multicellular organisms.
• Inorganic Chemistry 2: covers metal complexes and organometallics, descriptive transition-metal chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, solid-state chemistry and descriptive main-group chemistry.
• Molecular Biology: provides an introduction to modern molecular biology.
• Organic Chemistry 2: covers carbon-carbon bond formation, interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, mechanistic biological chemistry and organic spectroscopy.

In third year you will have the opportunity to begin specialising in Biomolecular Science via the wide range of core modules provided. The modules cover a variety of topics from acid chemistry to pharmaceuticals and food chemistry.

Here is a sample of Biomolecular Science Honours modules which have been offered in previous years:

• Quantitative Aspects of Medicinal Chemistry
• Carbohydrate and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
• Mechanism in Organic Chemistry
• Bioenergetics
• Pharmacology

In fourth year you will study your chosen subject area at a deeper scientific level and will also have the opportunity to select from an extremely wide range of small, group-specialised modules. These modules are taught by academics at the forefront of their discipline who are teaching to their research strengths.

You will also undertake a research project in one of the School’s renowned research groups.