Biology,Biochemistry & Biotechnology Degrees Imperial College London is one of the foremost centres for both teaching and research in the Life Sciences in Britain. Its Biological Sciences teaching was graded excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency and it received 5* ranking, the highest category, in the most recent national Research Assessment Exercise. In the Department of Life Sciences there are two degree streams: Biochemistry & Biotechnology and Biology and between them there are 27 different degrees offered. The degrees are either 3, 4 or 5 years in length and lead to the award of an Imperial College London BSc honours degree and also Associateship of the Royal College of Science.
Our Research Quality research is essential for high quality teaching, and over 90% of our teaching is carried out by research staff from our own Faculty. The Faculty of Natural Sciences is home to some of the world s leading research groups in many areas, including: Our Facilities All undergraduate degrees in the Department of Life Sciences are taught at the main campus in South Kensington. Biology lectures and laboratory work take place in the Sir Alexander Fleming Building, a modern state-ofthe art development with unique open plan research areas. Laboratory work for Biochemistry/Biotechnology courses is carried out in the Royal College of Science Building and lectures are held within Sir Alexander Fleming and other nearby buildings. Both the lecture theatre and labs have been recently renovated and provide students with excellent learning environments. Our researchers provide first-hand expertise in cutting-edge technologies and use modern research tools and resources such as genomic, proteomic and glycomic facilities, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) machines, electron and cryo-electron microscopes, flow cytometers, confocal and fluorescent life time imaging microscopes, controlled environment facilities and much more. These resources greatly enhance the quality of our teaching, especially the student research projects. As a Science and Technology University we have the highest quality ICT facilities. We have a large number of PCs and Notebooks, spread over several computer suites. Lecture theatres are state-of-the-art with data projectors and air conditioning. Undergraduate teaching has well equipped, dedicated laboratories run by teams of trained technicians. Structural Biology (solving and understanding the structure of important biological macromolecules) Genomics, Proteomics and Glycomics (the array of genes, proteins and carbohydrates expressed by an organism) Systems and Synthetic Biology (Multidisciplinary research in quantitative biology aiming to understand the design principles of biological networks and the redesign of these for applications in bioengineering and pharmacology) Crop Protection (ecological solutions for pest and disease management) Immunology and Infectious Diseases (studying the molecular and cell biology of pathogens, such as E. coli, and how they interact with the immune system) Molecular Cell Biology (membranes, organelles and how proteins are processed by the cell, with reference to development and disease) Protein Engineering (designing and producing engineered proteins with novel functions) Neurobiology (the structure and function of neuronal cells and signalling) Plant and Microbial Sciences (including mechanisms of photosynthesis and cell and metabolic engineering) Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology (including population and community ecology, biodiversity and global change biology) Biotechnology (research leading to therapies, products and devices) Animal Behaviour Our Place in the IDEA League Imperial is part of the IDEA League, a strategic alliance between ourselves, TU Delft, ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen and ParisTech. This network of prestigious European universities facilitates exchange of teaching and research resources and student exchanges. Our Degrees You can see how the degrees in each stream are structured by viewing the flow charts in the middle pages. The curriculum is continually monitored and updated to deliver a fully up-to-date degree appropriate for 21st Century science and technology in whatever career you may choose. Imperial College London courses are renowned for their high practical content and every undergraduate s progress is continually monitored to ensure that each student is able to realise their full potential. Our Location The main campus is situated in South Kensington; one of the most prestigious areas of London and the capital s cultural centre. It is right next to the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Geographical Society and the Royal Albert Hall. It is a short walk to the major shopping, social and entertainment areas of Kensington, Fulham and Knightsbridge. South Kensington is also one of the safest areas in London. About us
Outside of formal teaching you are expected to engage in further reading. As in the later years, 25% of marks are earned for coursework (essays and practical write-ups), the remaining 75% depends on exam performance. It is easy to change your degree title within the Biology stream at any point during the first year. The Second Year As indicated in the flow chart, there are some compulsory subjects in the second year but the majority of subjects are chosen by students to reflect their interests and degree title. Courses are run consecutively as four to five week modules and each consists of a mix of lectures (usually about 30), tutorials and laboratory work. Students are also required to take a humanities, language or business course. Those taking Biology with a Year in Europe are generally expected to study the relevant language for their placement the following year. Biology with Languages for Science students take additional language classes. Second years can also attend a Marine Ecology field Course in Guernsey for two weeks in the September preceding the Autumn Term of their Second Year or complete a Tutored Dissertation; a 4,000-word review of the published primary literature on a specific aspect of Biology. Biology Degrees Biology is the study of living things in all their forms. It covers the whole organism and its environment down to some fundamental cellular processes. All Biology degrees have a common first year during which students learn the fundamentals of Biology. After this core year, students are able to choose the option courses most appealing to them from the second year curriculum. Most students go on to complete their final year in the Faculty studying topics which take them to the frontiers of knowledge in many key areas of Biology. Some students, depending on their degree course, spend their third year in the Business School studying management, business, and commerce topics. Students taking the year in industry/ research or the year in Europe degree spend their third year on placement (see Placements section). These students return the following year to complete their final year in College. The First Year All students follow the lecture courses outlined in the Biology flow chart. The four courses are taught as modules of two to three weeks duration alternating throughout the year. In addition there are lectures on general study methods, computing and statistics and tuition in Mathematics and Chemistry for those who need it. Biology with Languages for Science students also take weekly language classes. The whole year group also participate in three one day field trips to the Silwood Park campus in the first term. As well as giving students a taste of quantitative work in the field it is also an enjoyable social occasion, enabling students to get to know each other quickly. First years attend two one hour lectures each morning and two three hour afternoon practical sessions relating to these lectures each week. In addition, each course has linked tutorials in which students met in smallgroups with a member of staff to discuss aspects of the lectures and are helped to produce essays and other coursework. Placements The Placement, for those taking one of the with a Year in courses, is in the third year. In Biology there are two Placement Tutors; one who deals with the Industrial Placements for students doing a with a Year in Industry degree and one who deals with Placements at Continental Universities for those studying for a with a Year in Europe degree. Students on these degree programmes liaise closely with these tutors throughout the duration of their degree. Students taking Biology with a Year in Europe normally spend the year at one of the universities with whom we have a formal link. These are situated in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Biology with Languages for Science students spend the year in a university in France, Germany or Spain. Students attend lectures and may also work as a junior scientist in a research group. They produce a report of the work done on placement and a second report on some cultural topic of relevance to the country visited. Students on the Year in Industry or Research placement select and apply for research positions in companies and government research institutes. There are a wide range of opportunities, including some abroad, and in some cases students may receive payment while in post. Students in these placements also produce two reports, one on the work they have done and one which is a review of some specialist aspect of Biology relevant to their placement. Final Year The aim of the final-year courses is to take you to the frontiers of knowledge in a number of areas of Biology that are of particular current interest. You can also see from the flow chart that students can choose to attend one of two field courses. Biodiversity and Conservation is conducted at Silwood Park and Marine Microbiology, run in conjunction with the University of London, is held at a marine station in Scotland. Biology with Languages students also take language classes in Terms 1 and 2. The final year research project takes place after the final exams and may be undertaken at South Kensington, Silwood Park, one of the College s London teaching hospitals, or one of the Continental Universities with whom we have links. Studying Biology
OUR BIOLOGY DEGREES All our Biology students study the same courses in their first year regardless of which specific degree they are enrolled on. This will equip you with the fundamental skills and knowledge in all areas of Biology so that you can begin to specialise from your second year onwards. Biology BSc 3 Year (C100) Biology with a Year in Europe BSc 4 Year (C102) Biology with a Year in Industry/Research BSc 4 Year (C110) Biology with Management BSc 3 Year (C1N2) 4 Year (C1NG) Biology with Management and a Year in Industry/Research BSc 4 Year (C1NF) 5 Year (C1NA) Ecology and Environmental Biology BSc 3 Year (C180) Plant Biology BSc 3 Year (C200) Zoology BSc 3 Year (C300) Microbiology BSc 3 Year (C500) Biology with Microbiology BSc 3 Year (C1C5) Biology with French for Science BSc 4 Year (C1R1) Biology with German for Science BSc 4 Year (C1R2) Biology with Spanish for Science BSc 4 Year (C1R4) FIRST YEAR Biological Chemistry and Cellular Metabolism Cell Biology Biology of Organisms Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution SECOND YEAR Students taking specialist degrees such as Ecology and Environmental Biology, Microbiology or Zoology are required to take some specific option courses. CORE COURSES Applied Molecular Biology Statistics and Computing in Biology Supplementary Course: (Humanities/Languages/ Management) OPTIONAL COURSES Bacterial Physiology or Plant and Animal Physiology Immunology or Ecology Virology or Resource Management Mycology and Plant Pathology or Parasitism and other Life Strategies or Genetics or Global Change Biology Tutored Dissertation or Marine Ecology Field Course Year in Management (C1NF/C1N2) Year in Industry / Research (C1NA/C1NF) Year in Europe (C102/C1R1/C1R2/C1R4) FINAL YEAR SESSION 1 In the final year students can drop one subject in favour of the Marine Microbiology, Tropical Biology or Conservation and Biodiversity field courses. These are held in the summer vacation between years 2 and 3. Medical Microbiology Genetics and Genomics Animal Behaviour Advanced Topics in Plant Molecular Biology Population and Community Ecology FINAL YEAR SESSION 2 Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions Evolutionary Biology Advanced Topics in Parasitology and Vector Biology Applied Ecology Integrative Systems Biology FINAL YEAR SESSION 3 Environmental and Industrial Microbiology Plant Environment Physiology Cellular Signalling and Neurobiology Development and Evolution of Animal Form Epidemiology FINAL YEAR SESSION 4 Advanced Topics in Neuroscience Research Advanced Topics in Molecular, Cell and Immunobiology Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Synthetic Biology Plant Biotechnology and Sustainability FINAL YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT Year in Management (C1NA/C1NG) Biology Degree Routes
OUR BIOCHEMISTRY / BIOTECHNOLOGY DEGREES All our Biochemistry and Biotechnology students study the same courses in their first two years regardless of which specific degree they are enrolled on. This allows us to teach the fundamental core Biochemistry and basic principles of Biotechnology in the first two years - something most other institutions devote the whole three years to. This gives our students a solid foundation on which to build on in their final year when they can focus on the topics of most interest to them. Biochemistry BSc 3 Year (C700) Biotechnology BSc 3 Year (J700) Biochemistry with a Year in Industry/Research BSc 4 Year (C701) Biotechnology with Research Abroad BSc Biochemistry with Research Abroad BSc 4 Year (C702) 4 Year (J701) Biotechnology with a Year in Biochemistry with Management BSc Industry/Research BSc 4 Year (J702) 3 Year (C7N2) 4 Year (C7NG) Biotechnology with Management BSc Biochemistry with Management and 4 Year (J7N2) a Year in Industry/Research BSc Biotechnology with Management and 4 Year (C7NF) 5 Year (C7NA) a Year in Industry/Research 5 Year (J7NF) FIRST YEAR Biological Chemistry Proteins and Enzymes Molecular Biology 1 Molecular Cell Biology 1 SECOND YEAR Molecular Biology 2 Physical Biochemistry Molecular Cell Biology 2 Immunology Protein Science Supplementary Course: (Humanities / Languages / Management) Year in Management (C7N2/C7NF) Year in Industry / Research (C701/C7NA/C7NF/J702//J7NF) Year in Research Abroad (C702/J701) FINAL YEAR SESSION 1 Cell signalling and Protein Sorting Damage and Repair in Biological systems Macromolecules in 3D Genetics and Genomics Advanced Topics in Plant Molecular Biology FINAL YEAR SESSION 2 Mechanisms of Gene Expression Cellular Neuroscience Cancer Integrative Systems Biology FINAL YEAR SESSION 3 Molecular Neurobiology Medical Glycobiology Molecular Basis of Development Bioreactor and Bioprocess Technology FINAL YEAR SESSION 4 Biochemical Pharmacology and Drug Action Protein Engineering and Drug Design Molecular Basis of Bacterial Infection Synthetic Biology Biotechnology and Business FINAL YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT OR DISSERTATION Year in Management (C7NG/C7NA/J7N2/J7NF) Biochemistry/Biotechnology Degree Routes
The First Year Students follow three courses in parallel, which are designed to give a basic grounding in all the areas of fundamental biochemistry. These are called Biological Chemistry - applying chemical principles to biological systems, Molecular Biology I - understanding the processes related to the central dogma of DNA makes RNA makes protein and other topics involving the manipulation of DNA and Molecular Cell Biology - studying the various cellular structures processes and how they relate to the function of organisms. In the second half of the year, Biological Chemistry is followed by Proteins and Enzymes which examines the structure and function of these important molecules and how these relate to biological systems. There are also general classes and tutorials on study methods, ICT, Mathematics support and new scientific discoveries. Molecular Life Sciences is one of the most rapidly growing areas of science so we expect some outside reading, which increases each year. Staff will guide students towards suitable material. Biochemistry and Biotechnology Degrees Biochemistry is the study of the molecular reactions of life and Biotechnology focuses on the applications of this knowledge. Biochemical knowledge holds the key to solving some of the most urgent problems in the modern world and highly trained specialists in the life sciences will play an essential and increasingly important role in the community. All Biochemistry/Biotechnology degrees have a common two years with core Biochemistry teaching. Most students then go on to complete their final year in the Department of Life Sciences where they will study their chosen topics from a selection covering the breadth of current cutting-edge research. Students on the Biochemistry/Biotechnology with Management course spend their final year at the Business School studying management, business and commerce topics. Some students spend one year on a placement year doing research before returning to complete their final year in the Faculty (see Placements section). A typical first year day would be two 1-hour lectures in the morning and a 3-hour practical class in the afternoon. Often, tutorials or small group classes supporting lectures or practicals take place in the afternoon. All first years attend regular meetings with their personal tutor who will provide guidance and support for all academic matters and anything related to your time at Imperial College. Each first year course contributes one unit towards your degree. Each course has an exam (75%) and coursework (25%). The first year is weighted to represent 5% of the whole degree. Second Year Students now follow five courses sequentially, allowing one to focus fully on a particular core topic. These include covering the areas of Molecular Biology and Molecular Cell Biology in more depth and breadth, as well as introducing more specialised courses such as immunology - examining how the immune system works at a cellular and molecular level, and physical biochemistry - understanding some of the more physical chemical techniques used to study biological systems. The Protein Science course expands what was taught in the first year Proteins and Enzymes, with more of a focus on structural biology. Students are also required to take a humanities course, run centrally by the College during extended lunch breaks in the first and second term. A variety of subjects from science communication, philosophy, music technology, economics and politics are available, including languages at various levels (usually compulsory if you are planning to study abroad as part of your course). A typical second year day would be one 1 hour lecture in the morning with one or two lectures in the afternoon. Practicals lasting up to 12 hours are run each week, with supporting tutorial, small group problem classes held during the week. Each course contributes 0.625 units towards your degree (Protein Science is 1 unit) and the second year is worth between 25-35% of the whole degree (depending on your choice of degree; 50% if you choose a year in management which is completed in the business school). Students can change their degree registration mid-way through their second year. Studying Biochemistry & Biotechnology
Placement Year For the Year in Industry degrees, the Department helps students to compete nationally to gain paid employment for the placement year within a large company or to obtain a placement with a more academic emphasis in a prestigious research institute. The Biochemistry and Biotechnology Degrees have a Placements Tutor who works closely with students and host research laboratories to secure the best possible arrangements for placements. The Placements Tutor helps to ensure that the year combines valuable work experience with academic work, making the year an integral part of the degree programme. The placement year is a very rewarding experience for the students who opt to take it and these students generally perform very well in their final year of study. When it comes to interviews towards the end of students degrees, employers frequently comment on the enhanced abilities of those who have had the experience of placement work. Students on the With Research Abroad degrees spend their placement year in a research laboratory in a university environment abroad. This can be in one of the many labs which have research links with staff in the Department. Most often, placements involve universities with ERASMUS/ SCORATES agreements with Imperial and thus students can benefit financially from the European mobility award grants. You will be required to produce a research dissertation which is examinable by a viva voce. The industrial year must be passed in order to proceed, but carries no weighting for the degree. Final Year (BSc) The fundamental core Biochemistry is taught in the first two years, covering most of what is found in textbooks. The basic principles for Biotechnology are also covered in the first two years. In the Final year, students choose to focus on the topics of most interest to them. Students choose four courses from sixteen and can study a specialist area such as Genetic Technology, Neuroscience or Infectious Diseases, or opt for a varied and general degree. Some courses have a high biotechnological content and are required for a degree in Biotechnology. All final year courses are aimed at taking you to the frontiers of research and include topics on the very latest discoveries. The final exams are before the Easter break, after which is a 7-week full time research project or literature dissertation. Students can choose to carry out a novel research project in a laboratory at Imperial College or an institution/hospital in London. The research report or dissertation is examinable by a viva voce. Each course contributes 0.75 units and the project, 1 unit. The final year is worth 60% of the whole degree. Students taking Biotechnology Degrees Biotechnology degrees are awarded to students selecting final year courses and research projects with high biotechnology content and relevance. Also taught in the final year are other essential aspects of biotechnology, such as intellectual property and patents, commercialising technology and entrepreneurship, with lectures and case studies from biotechnology business leaders and academics. Studying Biochemistry & Biotechnology
Entry Requirements Biochemistry/Biotechnology: Minimum Entry Requirements AAB at A2 (340 points). These must include Chemistry and at least one other science subject (Biology is preferred but not mandatory) or Mathematics at grade A. The ideal combinations would be Chemistry and two further science subjects or Chemistry and one further science subject and Mathematics but other combinations are considered. General Studies will not be accepted at any level. Other qualifications, such as Key Skills or Critical Thinking, while useful, will not count towards an offer. Two AS levels may be acceptable in place of a third A level. This is in addition to Grade C or above in GCSE Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology (or Combined Sciences), and English Language (or an overall score of 7.0 in IELTS with 7.0 in all elements). For Research Abroad options, foreign language to GCSE or AS level beneficial. For International Baccalaureate we ask for 38 overall with grade 6 in Chemistry and grade 6 in Biology required at Higher level and Grade 5 in English at Standard level. We also accept many other non-standard qualifications. For the full list of possible entry qualifications please see our UCAS entry or visit our website at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/naturalsciences/courses/ug/ Biology: Minimum Entry Requirements AAB at A2 in any order (340 points). These must include Biology and either Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics. General Studies will not be accepted at any level. Other qualifications, such as Key Skills or Critical Thinking, while useful, will not count towards an offer. Two AS levels may be acceptable in place of a third A level. This is in addition to Grade C or above in GCSE Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology (or Combined Sciences) and English Language (or an overall score of 7.0 in IELTS with 7.0 in all elements). For the Year in Europe or Year in Research (if taken abroad) options, candidates must have a relevant foreign language to GCSE (minimum grade C) or AS level. For Languages for Science degrees (C1R1, C1R2, C1R4) a minimum grade B in the relevant foreign language must be achieved to at least AS level (or equivalent). For International Baccalaureate we ask for 38 overall with grade 6 in Chemistry and grade 6 in Biology required at Higher level and Grade 5 in English at Standard level. We also accept many other non-standard qualifications. For the full list of possible entry qualifications please see our UCAS entry or visit our website at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/naturalsciences/courses/ug/ Open Days For those who wish to see the Department there are a number of Open Days throughout the year which everyone is welcome to apply to attend. Details of these are available at http://www3. imperial.ac.uk/naturalsciences/courses/ug/admissions/opendays All students who apply through UCAS and are made an offer will be invited to one of these open days which are held on Wednesdays or Saturdays from November to March. At these events applicants can discuss their offers, listen to a research talk and a sample lecture, meet staff and students, tour the campus and find out about their chosen course in greater depth. We do not carry out formal interviews. For younger students who have not yet applied for University and who wish to look around the College there is a general open day each June. Details of which can be found on our website at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/ outreach/opendays/scienceengineeringopendays There are also opportunities for workshops or taster days. More details can be found on our website at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/outreach/ scienceactivitiesandsummerschools/departmentaloutreach Careers in Life Sciences The Department of Life Sciences has many close connections with industry and research organisations. A high percentage of our research is funded by industry and some staff have commercialised their discoveries by setting up spin-out companies. Destinations of Imperial students who graduated in 2006: Further study for PhD/MSc (50%) Career Paths Biological Science (4%) Health (5%) Education (2%) Financial (7%) Other (Manufacturing/IT/etc) (21%) Seeking employment (4%) Not available (6%) Graduates in Life Sciences from Imperial College London have a very wide range of vocational career options. These typically include: University research and teaching Medicine (following further study) Industrial research or management (eg. pharmaceutical or food technology) Research in government or independent laboratories (eg. medical and forensic investigations) Our training also enables students to enter a wide range of alternative careers where technical communication, IT, organisational and analytical skills are needed. Recent surveys have shown that employers value Imperial College London graduates most highly and our graduates have a higher starting salary and subsequently a higher earning potential than those from virtually all other UK universities. The College, Faculty and Departmental Web sites are the major sources for up-to-date information. Please visit regularly for updates. Dr. Jeff Bates Admissions Tutor Biology Contact Details Marcus Heneghan Undergraduate Admissions Officer Department of Life Sciences Biochemistry Building Imperial College London SW7 2AZ United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5398 Email: m.heneghan@imperial.ac.uk Dr. MP Deonarain Admissions Tutor Biochemistry/Biotechnology Useful web sites College web site: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/ Undergraduate prospectus: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/ugprospectus Visiting Imperial: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/ugprospectus/visitimperial For further information on courses offered by the Faculty of Natural Sciences and our specific admission criteria please go to: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/naturalsciences/courses/ug/ admissions Entry Requirements, Career Prospects and Contact Details