This subject is based around the examination of chemical processes in an organism. Students study diseases, how organisms grow and develop, and the origins of life. The department is split into seven main areas: Infection and Disease Processes, Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Microbiology and Systems Biology, Development and Genetics, Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Chromosomal and RNA Biology, and Cell Biology.
The Oxford course boasts top-notch teaching: many count it among the most innovative faculties in the world. The 23-week research project and dissertation which students complete in fourth year provide a great deal of freedom (though they are overseen by a member of staff). This experience often proves valuable as it gives undergraduates their first taste of a career in research. As one BioChem graduate says “the fourth year was brilliant…. It provided much more freedom and you could really experience what it was like to be a bench scientist and do some proper research.”
If you want to apply, you will need an A Level (or equivalent) in Chemistry along with an additional science or mathematics. An A* in a science or Maths is also mandatory.