Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

Develop an understanding of the evolution of life on this planet through the study of geology and biology. Our degrees are interdisciplinary and provide you with a broad background in palaeobiological science, including state-of-the-art methods and technological advances.

Learn from experts with interests ranging from dinosaurs to plants to the origin of life and be fully immersed in hands-on palaeontology from the start.

One third of the first year is dedicated to biology and two thirds to earth science. After the first year you will take core units from both disciplines. In the third year you will carry out a research project, take a range of specialist palaeontology units and select from a range of optional units to pursue your own interests.

Current units include: Marine Micropalaeontology, where you will use microfossils to reconstruct past climates; Macroevolution, where you will learn techniques for analysing the large-scale patterns in evolution; and Vertebrate Palaeobiology and Biomechanics.

Our MSci course allows you to study more advanced material in greater depth during the additional year, giving you a career boost by investing in your skills development or preparing you for further research.

Our emphasis on quantitative research allows you to develop valuable mathematical and statistical skills. There are also opportunities for volunteer work and internships in our state-of-the-art palaeobiology laboratories.

At a critical time in history, our LLM in Labour Law and Corporate Governance is distinctive. It presents you with an exciting opportunity to develop a deep understanding of employment and company law (and their interaction) from an economic and socio-political perspective – and graduate to meet the growing demand for specialist lawyers in these fields.

Our LLM Programmes, including the LLM in Labour Law and Corporate Governance, are well-respected by leading law firms*. This LLM provides an in-depth, intensive study of domestic and international legal frameworks, trade, employment and human rights, offering both practical and theoretical perspectives. It also offers an opportunity to explore specialist units in areas such as migration, gender and international law.

Our new MSci course is ideal if you want to continue in research or to stand out when applying for a PhD.

In your first year you will gain a broad understanding of biomedical science and take units in microbiology and diseases caused by microorganisms. In addition to learning about the immune system, you will also study pathology and biochemistry.

In year two you will study the cellular and molecular basis of human diseases caused by microorganisms, such as shigella and tuberculosis, and viruses. As well as learning about the immune response to a variety of infectious microbes, you will investigate how bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance. Our eBiolabs online resources are available to help you prepare for practical laboratory sessions in the first and second year.

You will take three infection units and an optional unit in your third year.

The additional, fourth year includes an extended research project and advanced research skills training with an emphasis on enterprise. You will plan projects, communicate with a variety of audiences, and learn to translate and commercialise research.

The School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine focuses on turning science into medicine and these courses aim to launch you into a research career with an emphasis on translational research.

If you want to improve the world through the responsible use of data, the MSc in Data Science will give you the skills to do so. You will learn how to understand, in depth, the computational and statistical principles of modern data science and be skilled at the rigorous and ethical application of these techniques to real-world challenges.

Whether you have a background in numerate sciences, engineering, or computer science, the program will provide you with the skills to succeed in this exciting and fast-moving discipline and will equip you with excellent employment prospects to pursue roles in industry as either a data scientist or data engineer as well as for research and development roles.

This MSc aims to:

• Equip you with the ability to work across disciplinary boundaries in the effective application and deployment of data-intensive solutions in a variety of contexts.
• Give graduates a breadth and depth of knowledge and skills in computational, machine learning, and statistical principles and the capability for insightful large-scale data analysis, so you will be able to specify and implement analytical pipelines for real-world data at scale.
• Provide you with a good understanding of the ethical issues in the application of contemporary data science techniques to real-world challenges so you can be conversant with arguments concerning the risks and potential benefits and disadvantages arising from the deployment of these technologies.
• Enable you to independently initiate data science projects specified at a high-level perspective, leading them from scoping onward to completion, while exercising appropriate project management methods and maintaining stakeholder engagement.

The MSc in Data Science has been co-designed with industrial partners and is highly relevant to rewarding employment opportunities. There is a strong emphasis on responsible innovation and ethics to encourage you to use your knowledge and skills for societal good in the workplace or through further research. The course is closely associated with excellent research in the University, ensuring leading edge teaching. 

The MSci Neuroscience is a four-year degree with an extended project in the final year. The course provides an opportunity to gain in-depth understanding of how to plan and perform experimental research in a specialised subject area. The final year provides valuable experience in research and you will develop the skills required to embark on a career as a researcher.

The first three years follow the BSc Neuroscience course. In the first and second years you will explore many aspects of neuroscience, including the neurophysiology of the central nervous system; the pharmacology of drugs that affect the nervous system; and the techniques that have enabled advances in understanding the nervous system.

Alongside neuroscience, you will also learn about how other specialised body systems work and will have the opportunity to study complementary subject areas, including psychology and anatomical science, broadening your knowledge of biomedical sciences.

By the third year you will be learning at the forefront of current research, taking units such as Synaptic Plasticity; Brain and Behaviour; and Neuropsychiatric Diseases. You will also spend a total of 30 days on a research project.

Do you enjoy both physics and computing? Our MSci Physics with Scientific Computing with Industrial Experience combines the study of the building blocks and forces of nature with training in computing and data-science skills. It includes a year of gaining hands-on, paid experience in the industry.

Computing skills are vital across many physics-related careers. This course offers a unique combination of units and projects blending programming, machine learning, data science and high-performance computing with fundamental concepts in physics. It aims to produce a new kind of scientist – one with a firm foundation in physics, a sound appreciation of scientific computing and an understanding of what can be achieved by combining them.

The industrial year can be a life-changing and rewarding experience providing valuable insights into the commercial pressures and real-world applications of physics and computing.

You will join a friendly department with a very active, award-winning student society. We encourage you to develop a broad range of skills, including the experimental, theoretical and computational skills needed for a career in research and industry. Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on these skills. If you have a fascination for physics and an appetite for scientific computing, you will enjoy this programme.

The centrepiece of the MSci Biochemistry degree is an extended research project that allows you to develop in-depth expertise in your area of specialism and acquire the skills required to embark on a research career. The MSci covers all the major aspects of biochemistry with an emphasis on cutting-edge research.

The first two years of the MSci are identical to the BSc. You can tailor the course to suit your interests across all years by combining your study of biochemistry with a choice of subject options.

In the first year these include anatomy, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology. Your second year combines biochemistry and molecular genetics with a choice of units covering topics such as neurophysiology, infection and immunity, mathematics and languages.

In your third year you will learn about a range of advanced topics in biochemistry and cell biology and participate in a laboratory-based research training unit where you will develop the skills needed to define and solve research problems.

This prepares you for a research-intensive fourth year, where you will spend up to 16 weeks on an individual research project under the supervision of one of our research group leaders.

You will learn about the context in which scientific research is undertaken through the Science and Society unit and complete your studies by choosing two advanced options, which could include Synthetic Biology, Cell Biology of Development and Disease, and Protein Assemblies and Molecular Machines.