What is Biochemistry?

Biochemistry is concerned with structures and processes at the cellular and subcellular levels, and in essence, addresses how cells solve the problems of life at the molecular level.

Biochemistry arose from other disciplines including organic chemistry, microbiology and physiology in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and has made enormous contributions to life-science research, regularly featuring in Nobel Prize lists for Medicine, Physiology and Chemistry. 

Entry to BSc in Biochemistry at UCC

Entry to Biochemistry is via Biological and Chemical Sciences CAO code CK402. The points required to enter CK402 vary each year and can be viewed on the Central Application Office (CAO) website.

The Central Applications Office processes applications for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions to undergraduate courses are made by the HEIs who instruct CAO to make offers to successful candidates.

There are approximately 200 places on Biological and Chemical Sciences.

A student pursuing an honours degree in Biochemistry will complete Biological and Chemical Sciences in year 1, Biological Sciences in year 2 and Biochemistry in year 3 and year 4.

CK402 pathway to a BSc in Biochemistry at UCC

Pathway choices after First Year CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences

At the end of Year 1 in CK402 Biological and Chemical Sciences, a student progressing to Year 2 can select one of the following honours degree programmes:

1. Applied Plant Biology
2. Chemistry 
3. Chemistry with Forensic Science 
4. Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Compounds 
5. OR progress to Biological Sciences (the route to take if pursuing a degree in Biochemistry).

During Year 2 Biological Sciences, students will complete Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Neuroscience and Physiology modules. At the end of Year 2, students select one of the following honours degree programmes:

1. Biochemistry 
2. Human Anatomy
3. Biotechnology 
4. Microbiology 
5. Neuroscience 
6. Physiology  

Entry to the degree programmes is subject to quotas. 

Once you decide on your degree choice at the end of Year 2, and gain entry to the degree of your choice (based on your performance in your exams and quota), you commit fully to that degree programme in Year 3 and Year 4.

Professor Rosemary O'Connor speaks...

Professor Tommie McCarthy speaks...

Dr Kathy (Barriscale) Walsh

I studied B.Sc. (Hons) Biochemistry at University College Cork, and graduated with a first class honours degree. As part of my Fourth year biochemistry programme, I completed a research project under the supervision of Professor Tom Cotter which was entitled “Analysis of Cell Populations in the Mouse Retina During Ageing and Degeneration”. This project compared changes in the different cell populations of the retina between naturally aged mice and from mice with Retinitis Pigmentosa, using immunohistochemical methods. During this time, I developed an interest in research and subsequently decided to apply for a PhD.

I was accepted into the PhD Scholars Programme in Cancer Biology here at UCC. This is a structured PhD programme in which I had the opportunity to experience research in different laboratories in the form of three rotation projects in the first year. My rotations were carried out under the supervision of Dr Pavel Baranov, Professor Caitriona O’ Driscoll and Professor Tommie Mc Carthy. I decided to carry out my PhD under the supervision of Professor Tommie Mc Carthy in the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. My research focused on the Sterol Response Element Binding Protein (SREBP) pathway and Cancer. 

Kathy graduated with a PhD in Cancer Biology from UCC.

Kathy's career profile on LinkedIn

Jamie Byrne

I chose University College Cork to study for my undergraduate degree due to its renown for high academic standards and friendly people. I began my journey in biological and chemical sciences with 400 similarly minded people and I specialised in biological sciences for 2nd year, during which I spent a lot of time learning new concepts and I became fascinated with the inner workings of cells. While exams were tough, I passed and had to decide on which degree to go for. I chose to go into biochemistry for my 3rd and 4th year and there I spent two years studying topics ranging from advanced cell biology and molecular oncology, to developmental genetics and more.

The Biochemistry degree gave me an amazing advantage over other degrees in that, it has ties to other biology subjects, such as neuroscience, genetics etc. and it forms the basis of many operations in the biologics industry, e.g., the production of beneficial proteins such as insulin and other biological proteins and enzymes. Through labs, lectures, projects and tutorials, I graduated with a second class honours (grade 1), which only was achieved thanks to the fantastic lecturers and lab demonstrators who taught me and challenged me with new ideas and cutting edge research concepts.

While the BSC in biochemistry was more than adequate to get jobs in industry, I decided to take my education one step further and do the master’s degree in Biotechnology here in UCC. Essentially continuing on from what I learned before, it has broadened my knowledge across multiple topics and has made me more lucrative to companies such as Janssen biologics and MSD, both of which I had interviews for a 6 month internship which is part of the masters. In the end, I chose Boston scientific in Galway for my placement as they offered a great opportunity to gain insight into working in industry and promised an exceptional training plan.

Up to now, I have really enjoyed my time here and I would definitely recommend UCC as a top class university to anybody who is planning to start on a degree course in biochemistry.

Jamie

Jamie's career profile on LinkedIn

Laura Fine

Upon graduating the BSc in Biochemistry, I went on to secure a graduate position in the biopharma industry where I now work as a production specialist in one of the leading biopharmaceutical companies in the world.

I could not recommend the Biochemistry course enough. It was exciting and interesting and provided me with a unique skill set that has made me an attractive candidate to work within industry, which is the career path I always wanted to pursue. I particularly enjoyed the practical component of the course which included lots of hands-on laboratory work over the four years. In my final year, I got the chance to try my hand at independent research and completed an 8-week research project with staff and researchers at the well-acclaimed Biosciences Institute.

I found the Biochemistry School and all the staff members to be extremely helpful and supportive throughout my time at UCC and I even got the opportunity to join the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Society during my final year of the course. I have made life long friendships from the course both with my classmates and lecturers. I will always look back at the course and my time at UCC with the fondest of memories.

Laura's career profile on LinkedIn

Colm Doyle

My time studying with the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at UCC has been an immensely inspirational and life-affirming experience which has proven a perfect start to my career as a research scientist. 

Through the BSc in Biochemistry I have acquired an expansive knowledge on a huge breadth of research topics from advanced cell biology in physiology and disease, to state-of-the-art genetics and to the complexities of the molecular basis of neurobiology. The course content is delivered by an expert faculty who are experienced and active members of the international scientific community, and who are always available to explain, guide and advise you through the course and into the future. The scope of the scientific theory is equally complemented by a central focus on practical experience, where students are equipped with broad technical proficiency and an adaptable skill set which allows for the pursuit of any scientific career from academic research to industrial work in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

The faculty of the school provide amazing support, advice and encouragement to pursue the many opportunities available to BSc Biochemistry students. In the summer of my third year at UCC, I received a studentship award to undertake an independent research project on the immunological response of human colonic epithelium to the bacterial pathogen associated with Chron’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis at the APC Microbiome Ireland centre here at UCC, under the supervision of Dr. Silvia Melgar & Dr. David Clarke. The experience of working in a modern research institute with advanced systems to better understand a prominent disease in the human population was incredibly insightful and inspiring.

Together with my final year project on the molecular processing of ACE2 by the g-secretase in human, under the mentorship and supervision of Dr. Justin McCarthy, my aspiration to pursue a doctorate became even more cemented in my mind. As a final year student looking to undertake a PhD, I was given an incredible amount of guidance and support from the faculty and staff. Their help was in no doubt instrumental in my award of a Cancer Research UK postgraduate studentship at the CRUK Cambridge Institute to undertake a PhD in Medical Science at the University of Cambridge, under the supervision of Prof Sir Shankar Balasubramanian.

After completing the BSc in Biochemistry course, I can now pursue my doctorate degree with full confidence that I have an established repertoire of technical skills and an encompassing knowledge foundation on which to become an active member of the scientific community myself. In all, the BSc in Biochemistry is truly the perfect start to a career in science.

Colm's career profile on LinkedIn

Martina Foudy

I found the Biochemistry Honours degree at UCC to be a very worthwhile and well planned out degree course, and taught well by the lecturers. With its mix of genetics, microbiology and chemistry as well as the core aspects underpinning biochemistry itself, the degree equips students with a good knowledge for a career in research or as a foundation for other science related areas.

I went on to do the Masters in Biotechnology. I picked the course at UCC because of its wide range of modules. The course covers a huge area in the various different aspects of the biotechnology field, including plant sciences, many of which went into the subject in depth. The course is both challenging and rewarding. We were encouraged to think for ourselves, voice our opinions and asked countless questions! The lecturer’s were always available to turn to for guidance. As part of the Masters, either a research- or industry-based placement is undertaken. I undertook the 6-month placement in Pharmaceutics at UCC, developing a novel way to deliver peptide drugs via the mouth. During these 6 months, I greatly developed my investigative and problem-solving skills. The issues that arose saw me looking outside the box to identify ways to solve them. The Biotechnology Masters was of huge benefit as I was able to progress to the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen studying Pharmacy. The course delved into very relevant pharmacy areas covering areas of pharmaceutics, chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology. I have used this knowledge to help build on what I am learnt in the pharmacy, and having already learned more than the basics, it has been hugely beneficial.

For anyone with an interest and a passion in science, but really not too sure of what particular area they want to work in, I would recommend a degree in Biochemistry followec by Biotechnology Masters at UCC. By covering the vast areas of the up and coming biotechnology industry, students can see which areas interest them most, and which don’t, and make informed decisions on where they would like their career path to go. The course prepares the student for a career in industry, in research, or like me, as a stepping stone for further learning.

Martina's career profile on LinkedIn

David Hardwicke

I graduated from UCC with a BSc Biochemistry, and while I thoroughly enjoyed my classes and labs in biochemistry, I also became heavily involved with learning activities outside of the classroom through society work, internships and various part-time jobs in more business and marketing focused roles. UCC really is an incredible university for student societies and activities!

The extra-curricular learning drove me to want something different in my career and by the time I was starting my final year of biochemistry, I was convinced that I wanted to fuse my two passions of science and business and build a career around that.

That is where the ESTEEM Masters Program at the University of Notre Dame comes in. ESTEEM stands for Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Masters. It essentially helps to develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) students into entrepreneurs and effective business leaders. For a whole year, you learn about how to commercialise high potential science and engineering based technologies. I was lucky enough to be accepted to the program in my final year at UCC and knew it was the right master’s for me.

ESTEEM is an option for any STEM graduate from UCC and many students from the university have been accepted in the past including two biochemistry students in 2016 and 2017. Studying in the US is known for being expensive but there are incredible internship opportunities for UCC students through the Naughton Fellowship covering fees and living expenses.

The field of biochemistry and biotechnology is evolving constantly and I am very grateful to the outstanding teaching and support staff at the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology for giving me such a solid foundation in biochemistry which I am now harnessing in a business role at a biotechnology start-up in the US. 

The key takeaway is that biochemistry is a great way to begin a fulfilling career and you have numerous options as you approach graduation. Whether it is going into industry, pursuing further learning or branching out and going into the business world, there is always demand for biochemistry graduates from UCC and the skill-sets they bring with them.

David's career profile on LinkedIn

Elizabeth Hinchy

I enrolled in Biological and Chemical Sciences at UCC initially unsure which stream I would choose. The first two years of the course gave me a very broad introduction to a wide variety of subjects I had never studied before, like ecology, physics and organic chemistry. With advice from lecturers, I chose to enter into BSc Biochemistry for my third and final year; it combined my love of the fine details of molecular and cell biology with a growing interest in human physiology and disease, including diabetes and cancer. I was encouraged to think about and discuss current scientific problems and opportunities and the lecturers were always willing to offer help and guidance in making career decisions.

The degree opens many doors to jobs in Ireland and abroad, in the biotechnology industry, in teaching and communication and in academic research. I have chosen the latter route for now; entering into post-graduate research in Biological Science (specifically mitochondrial biology) at the University of Cambridge, UK, where the UCC's reputation is held in great regard. The hands-on laboratory experience throughout the Biochemistry course and especially during the two-month research project in 4th year really helped me to settle into a research environment.

I would recommend BSc Biochemistry at UCC to anyone with an interest in natural sciences. It is often the case that people will shape our experiences and both my classmates and the excellent teaching staff in the School made my four years at UCC fun, exciting and rewarding.

Elizabeth graduated with a first class honours degree in Biochemistry, and is a recipient of the Art Champlin Gold Medal Award for being the top student graduating BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry in her year.

Elizabeth's career profile on LinkedIn

Aonghus McCarthy

My curious nature enticed me towards the world of science first day, yet it was my flair for understanding the intricacies of the natural world that drew me to the field of biochemistry.

The BSc in Biochemistry at UCC offered me the opportunity to nurture my scientific understanding, while simultaneously developing key lab skills, and was thus an easy choice for me having completed the second year of biological sciences. Third year focused on the fundamental aspects of cell biology and also the basics of lab techniques. Following on from this, the final year of my degree concentrated on more complex concepts while addressing their clinical context. I found this really fascinating – explaining the molecular background of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. For me, the most rewarding part of the degree was the 8 week lab-based project completed in final year. This culminated all the theoretical and practical knowledge which I gained over the 4 years, allowing me to participate in the most up-to-date biomedical research. During my time at UCC, I completed both industrial and lab-based summer placements, which the School of Biochemistry and Cell biology assisted me to obtain.

The research conducted during my fourth year research project was published in the Biochemical Society Transactions.

Having completed the course, I subsequently decided to study Graduate Entry Medicine at University College Dublin, for which my undergraduate degree has proved to be extremely beneficial. This is a testament to the dimension of opportunity which this course offers its graduates – it provides the skills and knowledge required to be competitive candidates for employment, while simultaneously providing strong foundations for those pursuing postgraduate education.

The BSc in Biochemistry at UCC is a superbly structured course, delivered by a highly skilled and respected faculty, which allows those with an inquisitive mind to delve into this forever evolving field of science.

Aonghus's career profile on LinkedIn

Elaine O'Brien

Looking back on that day when I made my final choices on the CAO, I can definitely say that I made the right decision. I initially opted to study the Biological and Chemical Sciences course in University College Cork because of its broad range in degree specialisations…at 18 years old I was not yet ready to commit to a definite career path! I also really enjoyed biology and chemistry at secondary school and was interested to see how these areas of science evolve by studying them at 3rd level. However, it was the UCC open day at Western Gateway that consolidated my choice. After speaking to the lecturers in the Biochemistry and Microbiology departments, who were so passionate about their research, I knew that I wanted to share the same passion for science.

Through first and second year of the degree, I paved my way towards specialising in biological sciences. I really wanted to major in biochemistry particularly, as it was never a chore to study the biochemistry modules. I always wanted to find out more about the topics in question at lectures. Luckily, I was selected for the BSc in Biochemistry and was soon learning about the mechanisms of disease at a molecular level and studying the cellular processes that underlie the everyday function of the human body. The best thing about being a biochemistry student for me, was knowing that everything I was studying in college was current and making an impact on society. One day you too could be studying about the latest drug combination to tackle breast cancer, or the latest gene editing techniques such as CRISPR.

I had some fantastic opportunities during my degree that have got me to where I am today. In 3rd year I spent a month as a research assistant in the Cork Cancer Research Centre. I was involved in a project investigating the role of autophagy related genes in oesophageal cancer. The skills I had developed from the laboratory practical’s in the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology helped me immensely during this time. Without a doubt, the highlight of my BSc in Biochemistry was conducting my final year project “Construction of Arabinose Inducible Expression Vectors for Recombinant Production of Hagfish Slime Thread Proteins” under the supervision of Dr Paul Young. I was exposed to a whole area of science that I had not been previously familiar with - synthetic biology. It also gave me an insight as to what undertaking a PhD might be like. My project was also very much biotechnology-based which in turn influenced my decision to undertake an MSc in Biotechnology here at University College Cork, as I was keen to develop my knowledge of this sector.

I believe that graduating with a BSc in Biochemistry gives one a great platform to work from; whether it be moving onto further education or starting a career in industry. During the course, not only are you encouraged to maintain a high standard with regards to academics, but also to get involved in the science community. Such opportunities are offered to students through the Biochemical & Biotechnology Society and research and industry seminars which allowed me and other students to network with experts. As students, the facilities, teaching and mentoring that we experienced from the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology has been outstanding. I am sure the lessons that we have learned from our mentors within the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology will be invaluable to us all throughout our careers.

Now, with a first class honours degree in Biochemistry under my belt, I am looking forward to the next step which happens to be the MSc in Biotechnology. I have had the best time during my four years at University College Cork that would not have been the same without my classmates or lecturers.

Elaine's career profile on LinkedIn

Daniel Nyhan

During my leaving cert year at Clonakilty Community College I was very unsure about the path I wanted to take with respect to my career. I always had a keen interest in science, particularly biology, and for that reason I chose the Biological and Chemical Sciences Degree (CK402) at University College Cork. Having studied a wide range of modules in first and second year, I choose to do the degree in Biochemistry at UCC.

Studying biochemistry during years three and four was a great experience. However, on completion of the BSc in Biochemistry I decided I wanted to pursue a career which allowed me to work with people in a more hands-on manner. I choose to study an MSc in Diagnostic Radiography at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. I really enjoy the patient contact and practical nature of this masters, however, it would not have been possible without the knowledge and skills I gained while studying the BSc in Biochemistry at UCC.  The well-regarded Biochemistry degree at UCC played a huge part in securing my place in the highly competitive MSc in Diagnostic Radiography. The physics, physiology and anatomy modules in first and second year of my undergraduate course have also stood greatly to me in my progression through the masters. The level of academic writing and analytical skills I acquired through my final year project with Dr Paul Young were very beneficial to my studies in Diagnostic Radiography.

If you have an interest in Biology or science in general I would highly recommend pursuing a degree in Biochemistry at UCC. The course is known for its high employment rates and for successful entry of its graduates into masters and PhD programs. This degree not only provides you with a wealth of job opportunities in the Biopharmaceutical Industry in Ireland but also globally. It is especially important to remember that the BSc in Biochemistry is a great foundation for those of you who are unsure of where you want to go in life on completion of your undergraduate degree. This degree is a fantastic stepping stone towards a career in Medicine, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, and in my case, Diagnostic Radiography.

Daniel's career profile on LinkedIn