1. The Bachelor of Science Degree
2. Postgraduate Programmes

The Department of Biochemistry offers a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Biochemistry. Details on this course are outlined below. The Department also participates at different levels in a number of other degree and diploma courses at UCC. It is one of the three main Departments responsible for the Biomedical Sciences degree. It is one of the four main Departments responsible for the BSc in Genetics.
It teaches medical and dental students in the preclinical years of the medical degree (MB, BCh, BAO) and dental degree (BDS) courses and in the medical foundation year. It also participates in the BSc in chemistry of pharmaceutical compounds, the evening degree course in environmental studies and in the nursing course.
The Department is the anchor department for the Higher Diploma in Applied Science (Biotechnology) and the MSc in Applied Science (Biotechnology).
The Department has a very active research programme and graduate students pursue both Masters in Science (MSc) and Doctorates (PhD) by research. Current positions available for graduates can be viewed on our notice board web page.
Further information on each course (and all other UCC courses) can be viewed in the UCC college calendar in the UCC web site at http://www.ucc.ie/academic/calendar/science

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Biochemistry

Entry to Biochemistry at UCC

CAO entry to Biochemistry is via the Biological and Chemical Sciences CK402. There are about 200 places in this course. The points required to enter CK402 vary each year. Mature students wishing to enter Biochemistry should contact the Science Faculty office for entry details.
If you are successful in your CAO application, you will be accepted for the 4 year BSc degree programme at UCC in the Biological and Chemical Sciences.
The courses in the degree programme are called modules and are measured in credits. A typical 5 credit module consists of 36 hours of teaching. This is usually broken down into 18 one-hour lectures and 6 laboratory practicals with each practical lasting 3 hours. The degree programme is a 4 year programme and modules amounting to 60 credits are taken in each year.

The First Year

The first year of Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402) is a general year focusing on Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics. The pass rate for first year is very high (80% in the summer exam which includes almost all students interested in the course).

First Year (First Science Modules)

At the end of first year, you have to decide what modules to do in second year. 
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The Second Year

In second year, if you decide to pursue a biochemistry degree option, you will take 6 essential modules and 6 (3 x 2) modules of your own choice (elective modules). The 6 essential modules are as follows:  2 in basic biochemistry, 1 in molecular biology, 1 in statistics (biostatistics) and 2 in chemistry. Your entry into the third year is dependent on your exam results in the six essential modules in your second year exams. Your selection of the 6 elective modules of your own choice is designed in a way to ensure that you have at least 3 different degree options at the end of second year. For example, a student doing the elective 6 modules for biochemistry with elective modules in microbiology, physiology and zoology can decide at the end of second year to do a degree in biochemistry or microbiology or physiology or zoology. Once you decide on your degree choice at the end of second year and gain entry to the subject of your choice (based on your performance in your exams) you commit fully to a degree programme in the subject and continue your chosen course for the following 2 years.  Students following a degree programme in chemistry may request permission from the Head of Department (Biochemistry) to change to the biochemistry degree programme provided that they take the modules BC2001, BC2002 and ML2001 in their second year.

Second Year (Second Science Prescribed Modules)

• BC2001 Biomolecules
• BC2002 Principles of Metabolic Pathways
• ML2001 Introductory Molecular Biology
• ST2001 Introduction to Biostatistics
• PLUS 2 Chemistry modules

Any two second year Chemistry modules can be chosen as long as they are compatible with your timetable. You cannot continue further with biochemistry if you do not do two chemistry modules in second year.

Elective Modules

In addition to the 6 essential modules, students take elective modules (you choose the ones you like best yourself, or that complement the subject that you are most interested in).  The elective modules can be taken from a large number of possibilities in the biological sciences. Students must choose modules in such a way that they have three degree options at the end of second year. For example, in addition to the essential courses, a student could choose to do Microbiology modules MB2001 and MB2002 (10 credits), Plant Science modules PS2001 and PS2002 (10 credits) and Physiology modules PL2010 and PL2011 (10 credits). Completion of the essential and elective modules means that you can choose a degree programme in third science in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Plant Science or Physiology.
At the end of second year, you have to decide the degree programme that you wish to follow and apply for acceptance into the third year in the relevant Department.
Students following a degree programme in chemistry may request permission from the Head of Department (Biochemistry) to change to the biochemistry degree programme provided that they take the modules BC2001, BC2002 and ML2001 in their second year.
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The Third Year

In third year if you decide for a degree programme in Biochemistry, you will specialise in Biochemistry and complete a course consisting of ten Biochemistry modules (50 credits) and two additional elective modules of your choice from other Departments in the Biological and Chemical Sciences.
Entry into biochemistry in third year is subject to a quota of 30 places (quotas operate in all Departments for entry into third year). Places are awarded on the basis of your performance in the essential modules in second year. In 2001, students with an average of 48% or higher were offered places in biochemistry. Once accepted into biochemistry in third year, you are accepted for the degree programme in biochemistry and continue right through to the end of the fourth (final) year.

Third Year (Third Science) Modules

In third year if you decide for a degree programme in Biochemistry, you will specialise in Biochemistry and complete a course consisting of ten Biochemistry modules (50 credits) and two additional elective modules chosen from other Departments. The Biochemistry modules in third year are at an intermediate level and are

• BC3001 Structural Biochemistry
• BC3002 Advanced Metabolism
• BC3003 Membrane Biochemistry
• BC3004 Cell Signalling
• BC3005 Biochemical Immunology
• BC3006 Molecular Biology
• BC3007 Principles of Medical Genetics
• BC3008 Biochem of the Central Nervous System
• BC3009 Biophysical and Biochemical Methods
• BC3010 Bioinformatics

The Fourth Year

In your fourth and final year, you will specialise extensively in Biochemistry and complete a course consisting entirely of Biochemistry modules (60 credits). This includes a major research project (15 credits), which you will carry out in one of the research laboratories in the Department.  The research project is one of the highlights of the degree programme and is a stimulating, challenging and rewarding experience in independant experimental research.

Fourth Year (Fourth Science) Modules

• BC4001 Cell and Developmental Biology
• BC4002 Advanced Enzymology
• BC4003 Ion Transport
• BC4005 Environmental Biochemistry and Toxicology
• BC4006 Current topics in Biochemistry
• BC4007 Protein Structure
• BC4008 Immunochemistry, Health and Disease
• BC4009 Cancer Biology/Molecular Oncology
• BC4010 Ultrastructural Analysis
• BC4011 Molecular Basis of Brain Disorders
• BC4012 Research Project

Performance of class that graduated in 2001

• First Class Honours: 7 people
• Second Class Honours grade 1: 28 people
• Second Class Honours grade 2: 5 people
• (Quota of 40 in operation in 2001)

Where can I get further information?

There are several ways to get further information on Biochemistry at UCC

BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry (4 years)
http://www.ucc.ie/academic/modules/descriptions/page007.html
BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science (4 years)
http://www.ucc.ie/academic/modules/descriptions/page009.html

Postgraduate Programmes

Graduate Programme in Applied Science (Biotechnology)

This interdisciplinary graduate programme in Applied Science is coordinated by Dr Justin McCarthy, (Email: jv.mccarthy@ucc.ie) and consists of two courses:

Higher Diploma in Applied Science (Biotechnology)

Overview of Programme
The Higher Diploma in Applied Science (Biotechnology) is targeted at suitably qualified graduates who are attempting to further their career prospects in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. The Higher Diploma in Applied Science (Biotechnology) is a one-year full-time course designed to give participants a thorough training in the theory and practice of biotechnology, with special regard for the basic scientific concepts and their applications in biotechnology and pharmaceutical Industries. Towards these ends the course will consist of (i) lectures, (ii) laboratory work on set experiments and (iii) a short research/development project on the principles and practice of biotechnology.

Learning Objectives

• Provide the participants with an introduction to the theory and practice of Analytical Chemistry.
• Introduce the students to Molecular Biotechnology, Eukaryotic-, Prokaryotic- and Plant-Biotechnologies, recombinant DNA technologies and their application in the Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutical Industries.
• Introduce students to the principles of Process and Biochemical Engineering.
• Introduce students to the role of Process Validation and Quality Assurance in pharmaceutical industry, and to be aware of the latest trends in good manufacturing, laboratory and validation practices.
• Provide the participants with an introduction to Database design, Administration and Management Systems, including data distribution, security and sharing of data and advanced data models.

Masters in Applied Science (Biotechnology)

Overview of Programme
The Masters in Applied Science (Biotechnology) is a 12-month full-time intensive course designed to provide highly motivated graduates with the appropriate theoretical and practical skills for leadership in the critically important and dynamic industries of biopharmaceutical, agrochemical and biotechnology.

The programme is suitable for graduates with a second-class honours degree or higher in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or similar science-based subjects. Strongly interdisciplinary, this innovative degree programme draws its faculty and course content from University College Cork’s Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, Pharmacy and Process Engineering departments. The MSc Degree in Applied Science (Biotechnology) is awarded to successful candidates after passing written examinations across taught course units, the continuous assessment of practical work and completion of a six-month University- or Industry-based research project, which has to be written up in the form of a dissertation and approved by an external examiner. Past students have gained employment in a diversity of industry sectors including; Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Microbiology, Analytical chemistry, Technical Transfer, Research and Development, and Regulatory Affairs.

Learning Objectives

• Provide the participants with an introduction to the theory and practice of bio-analytical Chemistry.
• Introduce the students to Molecular Biotechnology, Eukaryotic-, Prokaryotic- and Plant-Biotechnologies, recombinant DNA technologies and their application in the Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutical Industries.
• Introduce students to the principles of Process and Biochemical Engineering
• Introduce students to the role of Process Validation and Quality Assurance in pharmaceutical industry, and to be aware of the latest trends in good manufacturing, laboratory and validation practices.
• Introduce students to the principles of Food and Industrial Microbiology.
• Provide the participants with the opportunity to conduct and complete a body of independent research in a biotechnology-related area and present research findings in a minor dissertation.

MSc in Biochemistry by research

PhD in Biochemistry by research

The Department has very active research programmes and graduate students pursue both Masters in Science (MSc) and Doctorates (PhD) by research. Current positions available for graduates can be viewed on the notice board web page.