Introduction

The bachelor's degree in Biochemistry trains professionals equipped with the necessary conceptual tools and techniques to generate new knowledge, at the molecular level, about the structural transformation, metabolic, energy and information processes that take place in living beings.

The bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at the University of Barcelona provides the knowledge required to understand the biological processes and underlying molecular mechanisms, and enhances the acquisition of skills in standard biochemistry techniques and experimental design.
The degree stands out for its highly experimental nature, including four integrated laboratories and specific practical work associated to the different areas of study: microbiology, cell biology and signalling, molecular genetics and genetic engineering, physiology, cell cultures and tissue engineering, bioinformatics, structure-function of macromolecules, etc. Students are also involved in controlled laboratory work and acquire knowledge of the ethical and bioethical aspects of this activity.
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Simultaneously, the acquisition of cross-disciplinary competences is also encouraged, to support the employability of graduates, to help them become professionals capable of adapting to a fast-paced scientific, technological and social environment.

Basic information

TypeBachelor's degrees
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Biology
Branch of knowledge
  • Sciences
  • Health Sciences
Mode of delivery

face-to-face

Credits240
Number of places available

60

Length of course4 academic years
Language(s) of instructionCatalan 70,8%, Spanish 19,2%, English 10%
Admission grade

11,794 (July 2023, start of process, via official entrance examinations/vocational training)

 

Approximate price per credit18,46 €
Compulsory placementsNo
CoordinatorJOSEP IGNASI RAMIREZ SUNYER
Course detailsIndicators

Objectives and competences

Objectives

  • To acquire conceptual and methodological training required to work and to continue studying at a postgraduate level.
  • To become knowledgeable of the standard techniques of biochemistry and use them properly.
  • To acquire training in the principles of experimental design and basic quantitative aspects of biochemistry.
  • To acquire the general preparation required for a career in science, industry or academia.
  • To learn to use cutting-edge technologies and common research tools and resources.
  • To apply the safety techniques to work in a laboratory and understand the ethical and bioethical aspects of this area.
  • To develop entrepreneurial skills and an understanding of the dynamics of knowledge transfer and patent development.

Competences

General competences

  • Commitment to ethical practice (critical and self-critical capabilities, and capacity to demonstrate attitudes consistent with accepted notions of ethical practice).
  • Capacity for learning and responsibility (capacity for analysis and synthesis, to adopt global perspectives and to apply knowledge in practice, and capacity to take decisions and adapt to new situations).
  • Ability to work in a team (capacity to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project, and capacity to work in cross-disciplinary and multicultural teams).
  • Creative and entrepreneurial skills (capacity to conceive, design and manage projects, and capacity to research and integrate new knowledge and approaches).
  • Concern for sustainability (capacity to assess the social and environmental impact of actions taken in a particular setting, and capacity to adopt integrated and systemic approaches).
  • Communication skills (capacity to understand and produce spoken and written Catalan, Spanish and a third language, including the comprehension and use of specialized terminology, and capacity to research and integrate information in these languages).
  • Capacity to study organisms at the cell and molecular levels in order to understand life processes.
  • Knowledge of biochemical bases of biological diversity, from molecule to organism.
  • Ability to work safely in the laboratory environment.

Specific competences.

  1. Knowledge of the main metabolic circuits and systems, of their regulation and integration and their relations with the environment.
  2. Capacity to understand and explain the underlying chemical principles of biochemical reactions and techniques.
  3. Skills in the application of instrumental, analytical and molecular techniques.
  4. Capacity to separate substances isolated from living cells and determining their structures, chemical properties and functional properties.
  5. Capacity to combine substances isolated from living cells under controlled conditions, to determine how they react and what results are obtained.
  6. Ability to research and interpret databases of biological and chemical data, compare data on integrated biological systems ('omic' disciplines), and understand the main concepts of bioinformatics.
  7. Capacity to design, plant, carry out and evaluate experiments and research projects.
  8. Skills in the assessment and interpretation of scientific literature, as well as in communicating results orally and in writing.
  9. Knowledge of basic probability and statistics tools to apply them to the analysis of data from biochemical studies.
  10. Knowledge of basic mathematical tools applied to modelling experimental situations in biochemistry.
  11. Capacity to use quantitative tools to analyse biochemical data.
  12. Understanding of the concept of life and its physical and chemical principles.
  13. Understanding of the mechanisms of genetic inheritance, particularly at a molecular level.
  14. Ability to describe the structure and function of living beings at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels.
  15. Understanding of regulation and integration of functions in organisms.
  16. Knowledge of structures and processes conforming a eukaryotic cells.
  17. Knowledge of structures and processes conforming a prokaryotic cells.
  18. Ability to prepare cell, tissue and microorganism cultures.
  19. Understanding of organisms' reaction to molecules alien to their metabolism.
  20. Knowledge of the applications of biological systems to human activities.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

Successfully completed school-leaver studies in the fields of science and technology, especially biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.
English language skills.

Access requirements and conditions

Admission for students with studies completed outside Spain.

Applicants holding higher educational qualifications from a university outside Spain should consult the page Admission with foreign qualifications to find out about specific admission requirements.
 

Pre-enrolment

Students that have studied abroad and who wish to study at the University of Barcelona may be admitted to EHEA bachelor's degree courses. Procedures for gaining admission will depend on the qualifications held by each applicant.

For further information about admission, consult the page Admission with foreign qualifications.
 

Enrolment

As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online via the Món UB portal. To find out the date and time you have been assigned, check the specific information for your course. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned.

Academic information

 

Welcome

Support and guidance

Pre-enrolment information and events

 

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Basic training 66
Compulsory 126
Optional 36
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 12
TOTAL 240

List of subjects

Subject Language Type Credits
Biology 1st semester Basic training 6
Chemistry I 1st semester Basic training 6
Mathematics 1st semester Basic training 6
Physics 2nd semester Basic training 6
Structural Aspects of Organic Chemistry 1st semester Compulsory 6
Bases of Organic Reactions 2nd semester Compulsory 6
Chemistry II 2nd semester Basic training 6
Cytology and Histology 2nd semester Compulsory 6
Laboratory I 1st semester Basic training 6
Statistics 2nd semester Basic training 6

Pathways and specializations

Biochemistry
Check the planning of the different pathways of the degree

Previous years

Placements

Placements are supervised by tutors and subject to assessment.They are therefore included in the academic record.  There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 500 hours, which can be extended to 900 hours. For both curricular and non-curricular placements, an educational cooperation agreement is signed between the UB and the company, institution or other organization at which the placement will be carried out.
 

Institutional information

Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

  • Basic and applied research in public centres.
  • Applied research in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food and biotechnology sectors.
  • Medical laboratories.
  • Laboratory analysis and diagnosis.
  • Private sector provision of services, materials and scientific equipment.
  • Specialist publishing and science dissemination.
  • Secondary and higher education.

Data from the university system in Catalonia

Contact us

Faculty of Biology

Diagonal, 643 - 08028 Barcelona

Secretary: 934 021 087
secretaria-biologia@ub.edu

 

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