Biochemistry with a Foundation Year (BSC)

During your foundation year the teaching will be interactive and varied, combining academic skill development with engaging subject-based learning in areas such as biology and chemistry. You’ll explore ideas through discussion, group work, practical activities and independent study, with opportunities to build confidence in communication, critical thinking, creativity and evidence-based analysis – all designed to help you transition confidently through university study.

The biochemistry programme is taught by internationally recognised academics who are experts in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, bio- and nanotechnology, bioinformatics and protein engineering. Our teaching approach is informed by the latest research and is aligned with current industry practices, ensuring that the curriculum is both academically rigorous and relevant to professional demands. Faculty members integrate their research and industry experience into the curriculum, offering first-hand insights into the latest advancements in synthetic biology, pharmacology and analytical chemistry.

The biochemistry curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical application. Lectures, supported by practical sessions, give you a strong foundation in both theory and practice, while seminars, workshops, and tutorials help you apply what you’ve learned. These interactive formats support hands-on projects and in-depth discussions, so that you can tackle real-world challenges and enhance your professional readiness.

During years one to three, research integration is a key component. You’ll engage with up-to-date data, relevant case studies, and the latest research findings, connecting academic theory with practical issues. Hands-on learning is a focal point of the programme, giving you the chance to develop practical skills in realistic contexts. Through team-based projects and individual research, you’ll apply sophisticated data science techniques to complex global analytical challenges.

How will I be assessed?

The assessments in the foundation year will support you in the transition from prior learning through to university level study, featuring examples of the types of assessment you will complete throughout your academic career, such as written coursework, group assignments, class tests, exams, and other forms of assessment.

Following the foundation year, your assessments will vary by module and include coursework, portfolio projects, written assessments, class tests, oral and poster presentations, and practical projects. Each module employs specific types of assessments to evaluate effectively both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Assessments are used throughout the programme to enhance learning to ensure your grasp of foundational concepts. Assessments will support independent and lifelong learning and are designed to put you at the heart of the learning process and to help you take ownership for your own learning. You will be supported in assessments by members of module teams and personal tutors.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Apply core principles of biochemistry to the analysis and interpretation of a range of situations, to demonstrate understanding.
• Critically evaluate how experimental techniques are used to investigate biochemical phenomena.
• Explain the biochemical basis of health and disease across a range of systems.
• Integrate and apply biochemical knowledge to current challenges in biological and biomedical sciences.

Intellectual Skills:

• Critically analyse and interpret biochemical data.
• Collate and evaluate competing biochemical scientific theories and evidence to apply to a range of challenges within different scientific context.
• Formulate hypotheses and design experiments to test biochemical principles.
• Reflect on scientific uncertainty, ethical issues, and the limitations of biochemical knowledge.
• Apply biochemical principles to identify and solve  a range of problems within a variety of scientific contexts.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Design, execute, and report biochemical experiments.
• Apply quantitative methods and statistical analyses to biochemical experimental data.
• Use bioinformatics tools and digital technologies to analyse biochemical data.
• Demonstrate safe, ethical, and professional laboratory and research practice.
• Communicate experimental findings, including methodology, contextualised in current biochemical knowledge to audiences of varying biochemical expertise.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Communication and summarisation of scientific concepts and ideas, and experimental findings.
• Retrieve, evaluate, synthesise and correctly acknowledge information from a range of sources.
• Apply problem-solving, and evaluation and critical thinking skills to scientific challenges.
• Demonstrate proficiency in numerical analysis and data management.
• Use digital and information technology systems competently.
• Work effectively and professionally both independently and collaboratively within a team, developing critical thinking, and self-management skills.