Course description
Course description
These programmes are aimed towards biochemists that are considering a career in research into the biochemical basis of disease and therapeutic medicine. This area is very promising in terms of career development, because many pharmaceutical and health care companies require well-trained medical biochemists. These graduates become key employees in the efforts of such companies to develop new drugs targeted against specific enzymes, hormone receptors or other biologically important molecules. As an alternative to entering industry directly, many medical biochemistry graduates continue their careers via a PhD course, or by taking a specialist Masters course in, for example, Bioinformatics.
The third year of this four year programme is the placement year, during which students complete a research project in an institution in the UK or abroad. The University assists students in finding placements and currently has established links with approximately three hundred institutions, ranging from botanical gardens to the pharmaceuticals industry.
Special features
You can transfer between most life sciences degree programmes at the end of the first year, and sometimes after.
You can opt on, or off, the Sandwich Year placement.
Foundation Year available.
Career opportunities
Medical Biochemistry graduates from the University of Manchester go into a variety of careers. About half stay in the life sciences and related disciplines, choosing either to study further research or taught courses such as a Masters or PhD, which could lead onto a career in bioscience, or medicine/dentistry degrees. A significant number go on to complete a science teaching qualification, such as a secondary science PGCE. Graduates from 'with industrial/professional experience' programmes are extremely desirable to employers who require significant relevant work experience.
Those that choose a career outside of the life sciences are highly sought after by large multinationals. Graduate programmes in accountancy, finance, law, marketing and publishing are particularly popular choices for graduates from the Faculty who do not wish to stay in science.
