Biochemistry MSci

Modules

• Year 1 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Cells, Organisms and Systems
  • Physiology and Disease
  • Skills, Ethics and Society

  Spring teaching

  • Biochemistry and Metabolism
  • Cell and Molecular Biology
  • Chemistry for Life Scientists
  • Research Methods in Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry

  Your degree

  You’ll gain a strong foundation in cell and molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, human physiology and disease. You’ll work with peers who are passionate about human health and biochemistry. You’ll gain skills that are fundamental to your development in Years 2 and 3:

  • independent study skills
  • operating laboratory equipment appropriately
  • conducting experiments accurately.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures, seminars, techniques- or topic-based workshops, and laboratory practicals.

  

  60%: Lecture
  10%: Seminar
  30%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include essays, problem-set reports, online tests and multiple-choice question-based exams.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Year 2 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Immunology & Infectious Disease
  • Research and Professional Skills I: Biomedicine
  • Structural Basis of Biological Function

  Spring teaching

  • Cell Regulation and Pharmacology
  • Organic and Bioinorganic Chemistry
  • Research and Professional Skills II: Genetics & Biochemistry

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Autumn teaching

  • Human Genetics and Genomics
  • Principles of Neuronal Function

  Spring teaching

  • Developmental Biology
  • Neural Circuits

  Your degree

  In Year 2 you’ll apply your understanding of basic chemistry and biochemistry in the context of disease. This includes chemical-based drug development in relation to protein structures. You’ll further develop your independent and self-guided study skills. And you’ll continue to work with your peers, and develop interpersonal and team-building skills in a professional context. You’ll hone your laboratory skills, getting ready for your research projects in Year 3 and for further studies.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures, seminars, techniques- or topic-based workshops, and laboratory practicals.

  

  60%: Lecture
  10%: Seminar
  30%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include essays, problem-set reports, online tests, and short answers and essay-based exams.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 250 hours of contact time and about 950 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Experience Year

  Study abroad (optional)

  Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you

  If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student

  Placement (optional)

  To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

  Find out more about placements and internships

  Recent Life Sciences students have gone on placements at:

  • Oroboros Instruments
  • Pfizer
  • the NHS.

  I gained a huge variety of valuable experience that will help further both my learning and my career.”Jack Turner
  Biochemistry BSc
  Electron Microscopy, The Francis Crick Institute

  Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

• Year 3 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Third Year Bioscience Research Project

  Autumn teaching

  • Regulating Gene Expression

  Spring teaching

  • Structural Basis of Protein Mechanism

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Autumn teaching

  • Cell Signalling and Therapeutics
  • Communicating STEM
  • Drug Discovery & Chemical Enterprise
  • Immunology in Health and Disease
  • Programming for Life Sciences
  • Synaptic Communication

  Spring teaching

  • Bio-organic Chemistry
  • Genome Instability in Disease and Cancer
  • Genomics and Bioinformatics
  • Innovation in Bioscience and Medicine
  • Molecular Basis of Infectious Disease
  • Molecular Neuropharmacology

  Your degree

  In Year 3 you’ll apply your knowledge and understanding of advanced chemistry, biochemistry and human health in your self-guided dissertation project. Alongside your core modules, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in areas that interest you most. A major highlight is your research project, where you’ll work closely with our academics to design, carry out and present your own investigation. This will prepare you for professional careers in healthcare and research, or for postgraduate study.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures, seminars, techniques or topic-based workshops, laboratory practicals and individual project supervision.

  

  75%: Lecture
  25%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include essays, problem-set reports, online tests, and short answers and essay-based exams. Your dissertation project will be assessed by an oral presentation, performance and a thesis.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 180 hours of contact time and about 1,020 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Year 4 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Advanced Methods in Molecular Research

  Spring teaching

  • Life Sciences MSci research project

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Autumn teaching

  • Fundamentals of Cancer Cell Biology
  • Practical Techniques in Cancer Cell Biology
  • Practical Techniques in Cell and Molecular Biology
  • Principles and Practices in Drug Discovery and Delivery
  • Skills for Research Bioscientists

  Your degree

  In Year 4 you’ll be introduced to advanced methods in molecular research. This will that will give you a solid grounding for your chosen specialisation. You’ll gain valuable laboratory research skills and develop an understanding of current, cutting-edge techniques in the field. You’ll undertake a research project in which you’ll work closely with our academics to write a research proposal, design experiments and carry out your own investigation. You’ll write a dissertation thesis. This will prepare you for professional careers in industry, or for postgraduate research..

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures, seminars, techniques- or topic-based workshops, laboratory practicals and project supervision.

  

  45%: Lecture
  10%: Seminar
  45%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include essays, reports, problem sets, individual and group presentations, group written submissions, online tests, and data analysis- and long answer essay-based exams. Your dissertation project will be assessed by project proposal, oral examination, performance and thesis.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 80 hours of contact time and about 1,120 hours of independent study. 

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.