Biochemistry: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

(Moderatorship) B.A. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)
4 Years Full-Time
CAO Points 555 (2023)
CAO Code TR060

Overview

What is Biochemistry?

Biochemistry is the study of the structure and function of the building blocks of life. Biochemists seek to provide mechanistic explanations for biological processes and ask questions about how things work, why they work and what happens when they don’t! Biochemists have developed many of the key technologies used widely in biomedical sciences. Pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in biochemistry to develop new drugs for many pathological conditions.

Do you enjoy…

  • Finding how out living things work and why sometimes things go wrong?
  • Discovering new ways to treat and prevent illnesses?
  • Telling people about your ideas?

Biochemistry: The course for you?

If you are interested in chemistry or biology then biochemistry is a good choice for you. Biochemistry has a very strong medical slant at Trinity and is an ideal choice if you are interested in biomedical sciences. Biochemistry is also a broad and practical discipline and provides training suitable for many career paths. So if your interests are broadly in the molecular side of the life sciences and medicine but are undecided about your exact career path then biochemistry is good choice for you.

Biochemistry at Trinity

When you study biochemistry at Trinity you will have the opportunity to learn from leading researchers in cancer biology, obesity, diabetes, neurobiology, neurodegeneration, autoimmunity, immunometabolism, parasitology, protein structure and drug development. Teaching and training takes place in a new state-of-the-art facility, the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, which allows interdisciplinary training in biomedical sciences. Special features of biochemistry teaching at Trinity is the use of small group (2-3 students) tutorials with an assigned member of staff in third and fourth year, a nine week individual Capstone research project in the laboratory of one of the fifteen principal investigators in biochemistry in your final year and hands on training within the most advanced core facilities for microscopy, cytometry, NMR and X-ray crystallography in the country.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

This degree will equip you to work in all major aspects of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. Currently biochemistry graduates work in hospitals, commercial laboratories dealing with analysis, biotechnology, food science, pharmaceuticals or diagnostics. Biochemistry graduates also benefit from their training in critical thinking, analytical reasoning and presentation and communication skills. Consequently, our recent graduates are in high demand in careers not related directly to biochemistry such as communication, information systems, teaching, management, patent law and journalism. Examples of companies where biochemistry graduates from Trinity are employed include Abbot, Andor Technology, Kerry Group, MSD, Novartis, and Pfizer. In addition, recent graduates also work in organisations such as the HSE, HPRA, Forensic Science Ireland, Teagasc and also in science journalism in RTÉ, BBC, Nature group. Biochemistry graduates are also employed in scientific administration in organisations such as the HRB, the Wellcome Trust and the European Commission. Many graduates are also employed in teaching at second and third level.

    Your degree and what you’ll study

    First and second years

    During the first two years, students intending to take Biochemistry as their final degree will take a range of modules in biology, chemistry, mathematics as well as approved modules in other relevant areas.

    Third year

    You will study topics including protein structure and function, membrane and cell biology, nucleic acids and research skills. You carry out individual and group project work in 3rd year and there is an emphasis on developing your science communication skills. You also have an opportunity to study complementary modules in other areas of Biology and you can take Trinity Elective modules in non-science subjects.

    Fourth year

    In fourth year you study advanced modules in biochemistry that draw directly from the research ongoing in the school including in the areas of neurobiology, parasitology, cancer biology and metabolic diseases. You will also undertake an individual Capstone research project, where you work alongside a Trinity professor in his/her research laboratory. Some recent research projects have looked at the role of inflammation in the progression of breast cancer and the mechanisms that underly chronic neurodegeneration following traumatic brain injury.

    Click here for further information on modules/subject.

    Study abroad

    The School of Biochemistry and Immunology participates in the Erasmus scheme which offers the opportunity for students to spend their third year studying in a partner university. Further information on the year abroad programme, and a list of partner universities, can be found at: www.tcd.ie/Biochemistry/undergraduate/exchange-programme

    Study Biological and Biomedical Sciences Programme at Trinity

    Biology is the study of life in all its complexity and diversity. In the Biological and Biomedical Sciences programme, we explore how life first arose; the properties that distinguish living organisms from inert matter; how living organisms function and how the vast diversity of life forms was generated; and how organisms reproduce themselves and how they interact both with each other and with the environment.

    Course Details

    Awards

    (Moderatorship) B.A. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)

    CAO Information

    CAO Points 555 (2023) CAO Code TR060
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    Course Options

    Students who wish to study Biochemistry for their degree apply to the TR060 Biological and Biomedical Sciences stream and may select Biochemistry as their specialist subject for the third and fourth years at the end of the second year.

    See also:

    Science 

    TR060 - Biological and Biomedical Sciences

    TR061 - Chemical Sciences

    TR062 - Geography and Geoscience

    TR063 - Physical Sciences

    Biochemistry

    Botany

    Environmental Sciences

    Genetics

    Human Genetics

    Immunology

    Microbiology

    Molecular Medicine

    Neuroscience

    Physiology

    Zoology

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Admission Requirements

    Leaving Certificate: 

    H6 or O4 Mathematics

    H4 in two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics/Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Computer Science.
    Certain subject combinations are not permitted: Physics/Chemistry with Physics or Chemistry, and Agricultural Science with Biology.

    GCSE: 

    Grade B/6 Mathematics

    Advanced GCE (A Level): 

    Grade C in two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics/Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Computer Science.

    International Baccalaureate: 
    SL Grade 5 Mathematics

    HL Grade 5 in two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics/Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Computer Science.

    Course Fees

    Click here for a full list of undergraduate fees.

    Apply

    To apply to this course, click on the relevant Apply Link below

    EU Applicants

    Read the information about how to apply, then apply directly to CAO.

      Non-EU Applicants

      Advanced Entry Applications

      Read the information about how to apply for Advanced Entry, then select the link below to apply.

        Get in Touch

        science@tcd.ie

        Website

        www.tcd.ie/biochemistry

         

        Register Your Interest

        Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.

        Register Your Interest

        I have always been interested in the biomedical sciences and Trinity was an obvious choice for me because of the international reputation it has in this field. I chose biochemistry as my degree area mainly because this subject links to so many areas of biomedicine and the emphasis it placed on developing a broad range of skills suitable for graduate entry into many career areas. I was recruited by Andor Technology, where I work as an Application Specialist in Life Science. This role keeps me in touch with all the latest developments and innovations in camera technology and microscopy applications and gives me the opportunity to interact with researchers in universities, companies and hospitals all over the world. Studying biochemistry has given me the opportunity to have a career in an academic and commercial environment.

        Orla Hanrahan

        Application Specialist in Life Science, Andor Technology

        Biochemistry is a broad and expansive discipline. I chose to study Biochemistry for this reason as I was always interested in understanding the fundamental principles that underpin much of biology. The course at Trinity reflects the broadness of the discipline. The environment is enlightening and stimulating, due in most part to the close contact and interaction with academic staff. I found myself engaging with and learning from world-leading researchers on a regular basis. If your interests are broad, you have a desire to uncover the deepest layers of biology and you wish to learn a new way of thinking and understanding, this course is right for you.

        Kieran Patel

        Graduate