Biochemistry
In order to study a postgraduate course in biochemistry you will need to have a good honours degree in either a chemistry or biosciences related discipline. Some universities offer MSc courses in specialised areas of biochemistry and many offer PhD training. Postgraduate courses in biochemistry at different universities have a range of objectives: some aim to train high flying researchers of the future, others to provide an excellent training in technical skills to equip postgraduates for future careers in industry, whilst many fall somewhere between these extremes. When deciding where to study your postgraduate course in biochemistry, you will need to consider the amount of choice you will have to select study options within the course and the specialisation you want to have within biochemistry.
Career Prospects
The Biochemical Society conducts an annual survey of initial employment of biochemistry graduates at BSc, MSc and PhD level. In 1998, 36 % of MSc graduates continued biochemical training for a PhD; 32% entered biochemical employment, particularly research in academia or industry; and only 5% moved to training or employment outside biochemistry. For PhD graduates, 66% found employment within biochemistry, principally in academic research; and 7% moved to positions outside biochemistry. These may well have been prestigious jobs with major financial institutions.
The Biochemical Society's surveys over the years have consistently found a low level of unemployment for biochemistry postgraduates. In 1998, none of the MSc graduates was unemployed.
Postgraduate Courses in Biochemistry or Courses with Biochemical Components:
MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, University of Wales, Bangor:
MPhil Biochemistry and PhD Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
MSc Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow
MSc Analytical Bioscience, University of Huddersfield
MRes Biochemical Research, and MRes Molecular and Cellular Basis of Infection, Imperial College London
MSc Molecular Life Sciences Research, King’s College London
MSc Chemical Biology, University of Leeds
MSc Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
MSc Clinical Biochemistry, University of Manchester
MRes Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
MSc Clinical Neuroscience, Roehampton University
MSc Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology, University of Salford
MPhil Biochemistry, PhD Biochemistry, MSc Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology, University of Sussex
MSc Molecular Medicine, UCL
MSc Instrumental and Analytical Methods in Biological and Environmental Chemistry, University of Warwick
MSc Medical Molecular Biology, University of Westminster
