In Biochemistry and Molecular Biology you will study life at the molecular level.  The programme is aimed at students who wish to understand the building blocks of living things and how they assemble together to generate life. It is a highly research driven subject and so you will acquire the knowledge and practical skills required to examine and quantify a wide range of biological systems. The subject is ideal for those who want to work at the molecular level of biology and have not yet decided in which area they wish to specialize.  Our graduates have strong problem solving and analytical skills, and are highly valued employees in a wide range of occupations. They make important contributions to biomedicine and biotechnology. In your degree a research based learning environment is achieved through a combination of individual and group work, formal lectures, and hands-on lab based practical classes. Assessment is by a combination of end of term examinations and continuous assessment. We provide students with a flexible learning environment that students can adjust to satisfy their personal learning objectives.  There are core programme modules as well as optional modules which allow you to select modules which fulfill your training needs and help you achieve your personal career objectives. In second year, general laboratory skills are acquired while in 3rd year each module has a practical component. In 4th year students can undertake a research project under the guidance of an experienced research scientist. These research scientists are experts in a wide range of biochemical areas including drug development, protein structure and function, as well as diseases such as cancer, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease. They will help familiarize students with current/modern biochemical research. Graduates will be able to communicate research findings through written and oral presentation. Our graduates will also be familiar with a range of powerful technologies that are highly valued in research and industry.

1 - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology graduates should have a deep understanding of the fundamental biochemical processes in all living organisms and the ability to undertake biochemical research.
2 - Graduates will have the ability to undertake biochemical research in drug discovery, microbiology, neuroscience, medicine, pharmacology, veterinary medicine, sports medicine, nutrition and agriculture.
3 - Be proficient in a wide range experimental techniques used for studying living organisms at the molecular level.
4 - Have the ability to read, understand and critically assess state of the art biomolecular research and apply it to current research questions.
5 - Have the Biochemical skills required to function as a key resource for the biotechnology and biotherapeutic industries, hospital laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and modern research laboratories.
6 - Develop a clear understanding of metabolism and also how changes in the transcriptome, metabolome and proteome affect health and disease.
7 - Have the knowledge required to understand and develop new treatment strategies for diseases such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
8 - Acquire many transferable skills: Analytical, communication, research, problem solving, numerical, written, observational, planning, organizational, computational. All good preparation for any career.
9 - The ability to communicate their research findings in written format, as well as by informal and formal oral presentations.
10 - Development of interpersonal and teamwork skills required for collaborative research.
11 - Statistical analysis and generation of data sets, graphical presentations and data interpretation. Utilisation of online resources.
12 - Students will be inquisitive, enthusiastic, questioning and have acquired ethical awareness and an appreciation of scientific integrity.

Students who return failing grades in a trimester amounting to 15 credits, or more, will be identified under the UCD Continuation – Academic Progress policy. Students whose rate of progression and performance over two academic years is deemed unacceptable will be referred to the Governing Board to be reviewed for exclusion from the programme.

Students who fail to progress from the stage of the programme they are registered to for more than two academic years (except where a period of Leave of Absence has been granted for one of those years) will also be contacted under the Continuation – Academic Progress Policy.

As Stages 3 and 4 have the most dynamic components of the programme, and the material studied previously may no longer be relevant, a student who has been away from the programme for a significant period should be required to register again to Stage 3. The upper limit for completion of Stages 3 and 4 should be six years if they choose to do 120 credits with 20 in each year.

In this degree, you will explore life at the molecular level. This will enable you to pursue a career in biomedical and biomolecular science.

The Biochemistry & Molecular Biology programme aims to explore and understand every aspect of the structure and function of all living things at the molecular level. The combination of these subjects into one degree programme unites the molecular approach of Chemistry with the breadth and diversity of Biology. Both use varied and powerful experimental techniques to examine living organisms, their component parts and molecules that play a role in the function of the cell.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology occupy a central position in modern biological research. The degree programme covers a wide range of topics including the structural biology of proteins and enzymes, biotechnology, bioinformatics and proteomics, structure-based drug design, molecular endocrinology, cell signalling, the molecular basis of disease and genetic information processing.

You may apply to study abroad for either a semester or a year through the Erasmus programme or on a non-EU exchange. UCD has over 200 Erasmus partners in Europe and an increasing number of non-EU exchange agreements with universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and elsewhere.

Please visit the Erasmus section by clicking on the International Office link at the top of this page.

You will graduate with a degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology that will have equipped you with the skills required to pursue a career in any avenue of modern biomolecular research. You will be expected to be able to obtain positions in a wide range of industrial and academic facilities including the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, forensic science and clinical laboratories.

In addition, you may pursue careers in teaching, publishing and management. A degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology is also good preparation for entry into professions such as medicine.

Professor J.P.G. Malthouse,
UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research
Belfield,
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 6872
Email: j.paul.g.malthouse@ucd.ie
Web:www.ucd.ie/horizons

Students take eight core modules and at least two options. Students must take a minimum of 50 credits of modules (core and options) from within the BSc programme. Additional modules may be selected from the BSc programme or alternatively, 10 credits may be selected from elective modules.
If you are interested in doing an Internship as part of Stage 4, you must indicate your interest now (in Stage 3). See full details www.ucd.ie/science/careers/internships/students/

Students must take a minimum of 60 credits of modules (core and options) from within the BSc programme. Students take 5 core modules and one module from Set A.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 3 Core Modules
BIOC30010	Metabolism and Disease	Autumn	5
BIOC30090	Proteins and Enzymes	Autumn	5
BMOL30030	Regulation of Gene Expression	Autumn	5
BMOL30040	Receptor-mediated cell signalling	Autumn	5
BIOC30030	Biochemist's Toolkit	Spring	5
BMOL30020	Molecular basis of disease	Spring	5
BMOL30050	Genomics and Proteomics	Spring	5
CELB30090	Advanced Cell Biology	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)2 OF: Students should select 2 modules this from list:
BMOL30090	Immunology	Autumn	5
MEIN30240	Bioinformatics	Autumn	5
NEUR30080	Neuromuscular and Membrane Biology	Autumn	5
STAT20070	Data Modelling for Science	Autumn	5
CHEM30190	Chemistry of Biomolecules	Spring	5
GENE30030	Genetic Basis of Disease	Spring	5
GENE30040	Introduction to Programming for Biologists	Spring	5
MICR30020	Microbial Cell Factory	Spring	5
PHAR30050	Experimental and therapeutic strategies in molecular pharmacology	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - A)2 OF: Students should select 2 modules this from list:
Stage 4 Core Modules
BIOC40070	Protein Structure and Analysis	Autumn	5
BIOC40080	Biochemical Research Strategies and Problem Solving	Autumn	5
BIOC40030	Advanced Cell Signalling	Spring	5
BIOC40060	Advanced Neurochemistry	Spring	5
MICR40070	Enzyme Technology and Protein Engineering	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options - A)1OF: Students taking BMOL40090 (Research Project Erasmus, Copenhagen) OR BMOL40200 (Industry Research Project) are exempt from BIOC40070 (Autumn core module), but must take BIOC40080.
BIOC40090	Biochemistry research project	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	20
BMOL40090	Research Project (Erasmus)	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	25
BMOL40200	Industry Research Project	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	25
BMOL40100	Biomolecular Sci Research Proj	Autumn	15
BMOL40400	Core Techniques in Biomolecular and Biomedical Science	Autumn	15
Stage 4 Options - A)1OF: Students taking BMOL40090 (Research Project Erasmus, Copenhagen) OR BMOL40200 (Industry Research Project) are exempt from BIOC40070 (Autumn core module), but must take BIOC40080.
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN2OF: Students taking BIOC40090 must take 3 modules from Set B. Students taking BMOL40100 or BMOL40400 must take 4 modules from Set B. Students taking BMOL40090 or BMOL40200 must take 2 modules from Set B in the Spring trimester.
BIOC40230	Biochemistry Career Skills	Autumn	5
NEUR40080	Molecular and Cellular Biology of Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies	Autumn	5
BIOC40220	Hot topics in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Spring	5
BMOL30100	Leading Teams in the Scientific Enterprise	Spring	5
BMOL40050	Advanced Cancer Biology and Pharmacology	Spring	5
BMOL40340	Regenerative therapeutics	Spring	5
GENE40030	Advanced Mechanisms of Gene Regulation	Spring	5
MICR40040	Microbial Pathogenicity	Spring	5
MICR40080	Microbial Natural Product Biosynthesis	Spring	5
MICR40090	Systems Biology of Microorganisms	Spring	5
NEUR40010	Molecular Neuroimmunology (UG)	Spring	5
PHAR40040	Emerging therapies: Cloning, gene therapy and stem cells	Spring	5
PHAR40160	Drug Discovery and Development II	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN2OF: Students taking BIOC40090 must take 3 modules from Set B. Students taking BMOL40100 or BMOL40400 must take 4 modules from Set B. Students taking BMOL40090 or BMOL40200 must take 2 modules from Set B in the Spring trimester.

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHSCI001	Stage 4 - 70.00% Stage 3 - 30.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47