BSc Biochemistry with French for Science
Combine your study of biochemistry with the chance to develop your French language skills in a science context.
Key information
Award
BSc
Duration
4 years
full-time
Applications : admissions ratio
9 : 1
Based on 2020 entry data
- UCAS course code: C7R1
- ECTS: 270
- Start date: October 2022
- Department: Department of Life Sciences
- Campus: South Kensington
Overview
Our biochemistry courses cover all aspects of the applied biochemistry and biotechnology industries, including commercialising technology, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property and patents, with lectures and case studies from business leaders and academics.
This degree allows you to combine your training in biochemistry with study of the French language. These classes, taught in French by the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication, focus on the use and presentation of written and oral scientific and technical material in French.
You will also receive an introduction to the theory and practice of translation, alongside further studies in the history, politics, science and technology of French-speaking countries.
In the first two years you will cover core biochemistry modules alongside these classes, including biological chemistry, molecular biology, integrative cell biology and genes and genomics.
Our teaching is enriched by the Department’s internationally leading research programme, so you’ll be learning at the very cutting edge of the subject. You will also benefit from access to our outstanding facilities, including for genomic and cell biology studies, tissue culture suites and the most modern microscopes.
You spend your third year studying in a French-speaking university, where you will attend lectures and conduct a research project.
In your final year you have increased freedom to follow your own interests by choosing from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as synthetic biology, cancer and bioinformatics. You will also complete a substantial project or dissertation.
Please note: this course is not suitable for native or near-native French speakers.
Normally only students who are on track for at least a 2:1 by the end of their second year, will be eligible to spend their third year abroad.
Transfer between courses
The structure of the Department's courses means that transfer between different Biotechnology and Biochemistry degrees is usually possible up until the end of the second year.
- Transfer onto Language for Science courses must be completed at the very start of the first year.
- Transfer onto Year in Industry/Research courses should be completed at the start of the second year to allow time to arrange a suitable placement.
- It is not possible to transfer onto one of the Biological Sciences degrees from a Biochemistry or Biotechnology degree.
- Transfer onto the Management Year is subject to approval from the Imperial College Business School; and academic performance in the first two years of the degree (students should be working to a 2:1 standard by the end of their second year).
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Structure
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about them.
Year 1
Core modules
- Biological Chemistry and Microbiology
- Cell Biology and Genetics
- Ecology and Evolution
- Evolution and Diversity
Language modules
- French History and Politics
- French Language for Science (Level 4)
Year 2
Core modules
- Applied Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming
- Genetics
- Tutored Dissertation
Language modules
- French History of Science
- French Language for Science (Level 4)
Optional modules
You will choose three optional modules, one from each group below.
Group 1
- Cell and Developmental Biology
- Essentials of Ecology
- Molecular Microbiology
Group 2
- Behavioural Ecology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Immunology
Group 3
- Computational 'Omics
- Ecological Field Skills
- Molecular and Cell Biology Skills
- Vertebrate Form and Evolution
Year Abroad
You spend this year studying at a leading university in Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Paris, Strasbourg or Toulouse.
Partnerships with universities are subject to continuous review and individual partnerships may or may not be renewed.
There may be limitations placed upon your ability to live and study abroad. If applicable you will need to successfully apply for the relevant visa. This applies to all students, including Home students, in light of the vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.
Year 4
Core modules
- Science Communications plus Dissertation
- Research Project - laboratory, data or field-based
Language Modules
- French Scientific and Technical Translation
Optional modules
You choose one module from each group below.
Group 1
- Medical Microbiology
- Metabolic and Network Engineering
- Plant Biotechnology and Development
- Principles of Development
- Stem Cells, Regeneration and Ageing
- Structural Biology and Drug Design
Group 2
- Advanced Bacterial and Eukaryotic Cell Biology
- Advanced Topics in Infection and Immunity
- Advanced Topics in Parasitology and Vector Biology
- Cancer
- Integrative Systems Biology
- Mechanisms of Gene Expression
- Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
Group 3
- Advanced Immunology
- Biodiversity Genomics
- Bioinformatics
- Disease Ecology and Epidemiology
- Medical Glycobiology
- Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection
- Synthetic Biology
- Systems Neuroscience
Download the programme specification [PDF] – this is the most up-to-date version available for this course. It may change for your year of entry. If/when changes to this course are approved by the College, we will update this document and the information on this course page.
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
You will spend time in the laboratory, lectures, tutorials and seminars, as well as undertake site visits, a group project and a research project to aid the understanding of real world application.
Assessment
You will be assessed by a combination of:
- Coursework
- Essays
- Individual research
- Laboratory write-ups
- Presentations
- Reports
- Written examinations
Language for Science
Read more about how our language for science degrees are taught on the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication website.
Staff expertise
At Imperial, you will be taught by a range of teachers of all levels from Professors to PhD students, including some who undertake groundbreaking research and are regarded as experts in their field.
You may also experience peer teaching and be taught by specialists external to the College.
Associateship
As well as your main Imperial degree, you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the Royal College of Science (ARCS) on completion of this course.
The Royal College of Science is one of three historic Colleges that came together to form Imperial College London in 1907.
Find out more about our Associateships.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis – see selection process below.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (see Contact us).
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. If the requirements for your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page for guidance on which qualifications we accept.
A-levels
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2022 entry is AAA overall, to include:
- A in Chemistry
- A in Biology, Mathematics or Physics
- A in another subject
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.
Typical offer range
As a guide, here are the typical offers made to at least 80% of A-level applicants for 2020 entry:
- Three A-level offer: AAA-A*AA
Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)
If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.
The practical endorsement is part of the reformed English linear A-levels.
Language requirement
Minimum grade B at AS level in the relevant language.
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course covers a range of key topic areas to help you gain a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques required to succeed in your A-level Mathematics exams.
This optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus with the aim of developing your thinking skills, fluency and confidence.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is available free of charge via the EdX website. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
International Baccalaureate
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2022 entry is 38 points overall, to include:
- 6 in Chemistry at higher level
- 6 in Biology, Mathematics or Physics at higher level
Typical offer range
As a guide, the typical offer made to at least 80% of IB applicants for 2020 entry was 39 points.
Language requirement
A score of 5 higher level in the relevant language is required.
Mathematics Higher Level for award in 2022
For entry in 2022, the Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level with no preference.
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Advanced Placements
The grades detailed below are the minimum requirements for students offering only Advanced Placements as their exams for entry to Imperial.
If you are studying a High School Diploma that is accepted by Imperial alongside Advanced Placements, requirements may apply to both your Diploma and Advanced Placements.
Please consult our country index to check whether we accept your High School Diploma programme for admission.
Our minimum requirement for this course is grades 5, 5, 5 to include:
- 5 in Chemistry
- 5 in Biology, Physics (1 or 2 or C) or Calculus (AB or BC)
- 5 in another subject (excluding Art, Music and languages other than English)
Language requirement
You must also achieve at least grade 4 in the relevant language.
Additional Mathematics support
We have launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Selection process
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Interviews
Generally, the department does not hold interviews.
Deferred entry
Applications from school leavers who wish to take a gap year are welcome. Applicants must state in their UCAS personal statement how they propose to spend their time.
Foundation programmes
A foundation course is a one-year preparation course, designed for international students, which leads to undergraduate programmes in the UK. Foundation programmes are normally for school-leavers who have studied a non-British curriculum but wish to pursue a degree at a UK university.
Foundation programmes are offered by many UK universities, but only UCL’s Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE) is considered for entry to Imperial.
UCL UPCSE
A year-long programme for international students whose school leaving qualifications do not allow them direct entry to UK universities. Students must complete four modules across the year – two compulsory and two elective modules:
| Module | Status |
|---|---|
| Research and Academic Skills: Science and Society | Compulsory |
| Academic English | Compulsory |
| Biology | Elective |
| Chemistry | Elective |
| Mathematics | Elective |
| Physics | Elective |
| Information correct at time of publishing, but subject to change | |
To be considered for admission to Biochemistry/Biotechnology, international students studying UCL UPCSE must achieve:
- 70% overall
- 80% Chemistry
- 80% Biology, Mathematics or Physics
Contextual admissions
We want to make sure that the Imperial learning community is as diverse as the society we serve. So to make our admissions process as fair as possible, we have introduced admissions schemes for Home students that allow us to consider your application in the full context of any additional barriers you may face.
Find out if you meet the eligibility criteria for our contextual admissions schemes.
This department will make you a guaranteed offer if you have predicted grades that meet the minimum College entry standard of AAA at A-level or an equivalent level qualification and you demonstrate motivation to study the specific subject area.
Read more about the contextual admissions scheme in this department and others.
Second year entry
For Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, we sometimes accept transfers from other institutions into the second year. Students should provide us with a transcript of their first year grades and details of their Pre-University Qualifications and the grades attained in them.
Offers are based on the number of places available (if any), the relevance of the modules covered in the first year elsewhere and the grades achieved. If we feel direct entry to the second year wouldn't be possible we may offer you first year entry instead.
We do not accept any transfers into the third year of any of our courses.
Important information (all Life Sciences applicants)
Applicants who are unsuccessful cannot be reconsidered for entry within the same cycle but may reapply the following year without prejudice with a new application. We consider resit students in open competition with all other applicants.
We do not accept Access courses, Foundation years or OU courses.
General studies will not be accepted at any level. Other qualifications, such as Key Skills or Critical Thinking, while useful, will not count towards an offer.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the higher College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for undergraduate applicants.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students who apply for this course.
For more information about the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS), please see the International Student Support website.
View our terms and conditions on visas.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View the Department of Life Sciences' competence standards [PDF]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Life Sciences
T: +44 (0)20 7594 5398
E: lifesciences.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Tuition fees and funding
We charge tuition fees for every year that your course lasts. The fee you will be charged is based on your fee status, which is determined by government regulations.
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£9,250 per year.
Year abroad
£1,385 for that year.
Read more about funding for year abroad placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts.
For example, the RPIX value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Government funding
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£36,200 per year.
Year abroad
15% of the relevant fee for that year.
Read more about funding for year abroad placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts. For example, the RPIX value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Additional course costs
This section outlines additional costs relevant to this course. These are not included in your tuition fees. It's possible that all, or only some, of these will be relevant to you.
Figures are approximated, usually based on costs in the most recent academic year. They are likely to change each year but it's useful for you to be aware of the things you may have to pay for. This can help you budget for life at Imperial.
Mandatory costs are those that you will need to pay to fully participate in and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies so you can opt-out of these.
| Description | Mandatory/optional | Guide to cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Protective Equipment | Mandatory | Provided |
| Please review the information below for more information on the costs listed in the table. | ||
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Wearing personal protective equipment is compulsory for some activities on this course. Where this applies, the Department of Life Sciences will provide you with the necessary PPE free of charge to ensure you can undertake lab work safely. This includes:
- Lab coat
- Goggles
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
Most Imperial undergraduates choose to live in our halls of residence in their first year. You can compare costs across different accommodation options.
Bursaries and scholarships
Careers
Life sciences graduates enjoy excellent career opportunities. Many of our graduates go on to study for a higher degree in the field, typically starting with a Master’s degree, followed by a PhD and a career in academic research or industry. Other opportunities for Life Sciences graduates include government and industrial research, public health, and careers in business.
Recent graduates of the Department have become:
- Bioinformatics Data Analyst, Multinational healthcare company
- Senior Associate, Management consulting firm
- Co-founder, Biochemical startup
- Pharmacy Technical Officer, NHS
- Senior Analyst, Medical communications and health economics agency
How to apply
UCAS key information
- UCAS course code: C7R1
- UCAS institution code: I50
Apply on UCAS
You can start and track your application on UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices.
Application deadlines
Applications are now closed.
Any questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions.
If you have a disability or impairment, the Disability Advisory Service are here to support you and answer your questions.
Related departments
You may also be interested in the following related departments and the courses they offer:
Connect with us
Got a question?
T: +44 (0)20 7594 5398
E: lifesciences.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
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