First year

MedST/VetST Part IA Molecules in Medical Science (MIMS)

The MIMS course sets the core agenda of biochemistry and genetics for medical students, focussing on diseases which will be familiar by name and of high perceived relevance - diabetes and cancer.

Biochemistry is the lead department, and also provides course organization and facilities for the conduct and discussion of experimental work and for problem-based learning exercises conducted in small groups. Lecturers are drawn from several departments besides Biochemistry, including Clinical Biochemistry, Genetics, Medical Genetics, Pathology and Pharmacology.

NST Part IA

The information below relates to the courses in the 2025-26 academic year. Current students can visit the NST CourseHub for more information. Students thinking of applying for 2026 should look at the information on the NST website for the revised courses.

Biology of Cells

This interdepartmental course is the key enabling course for cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry, introducing basic concepts and experimental approaches and technologies. Animals, plants and microbes all feature in this course. The Biochemistry Department contributes 25% of this inter-departmental enabling course in Cell Biology. Those wishing to study biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology and any aspect of cell biology in later years should take this course.

Mathematical Biology

The Biochemistry Department currently contributes lectures and classes to this first year Mathematics course.

Evolutionary Biology

The Biochemistry Department contributes lectures on Early Events in Evolution to this interdepartmental course.