Good morning
First, congratulations on your AS results. It's a great preparation for your A-levels to have done so well with your AS. I'm also delighted that you're thinking of applying to Sheffield.
At Sheffield, we normally make an offer based on 3 A-levels and the normal offer for biochemistry or genetics is AAA or AAB, with chemistry being the key subject for these courses.
Our preference would always be for a student to focus on 3 A-levels and achieve the grades we've asked for rather than for a student to do 4 A-levels and miss their grades. For example if your offer was AAB and you did 4 A-levels and achieved ABBB then you have missed your offer. Please be aware that this answer is the Sheffield perspective - some universities may feel differently so please contact the other universities you're interested in for their view.
We offer a range of courses in Biochemistry and Genetics and you can find out more about them here:
www.sheffield.ac.uk/mbb/prospectiveug/coursesThe courses share a common first year which provides you with extra flexibility because if you start on one course (eg Biochemistry) and then decide at the end of the first year that you'd like to switch to a course from the same department (eg Genetics), then that's not a problem.
In terms of the ratio for applications to places, at Sheffield the average is that we receive 7 applications for every undergraduate degree place (so for every offer we make, we have to turn down 6 applicants). The department provides guidance on the application process at:
www.sheffield.ac.uk/mbb/prospectiveug/apply A couple of things to note when you apply:
(i) There is no advantage to applying for more than one course in this department
(ii) This department likes to interview applicants and you will be invited to a departmental open day after we've received your application. However, if you are unable to attend the interview day, then the decision about your application will be based solely on your UCAS application form.
I hope that information is useful. Our next Undergraduate Open Days are on Saturday 5 September and Saturday 24 October and you are very welcome to visit us on either of those dates. As part of the day you can attend a subject talk led by the department to find out more about the courses and, in the subject exhibition, talk to staff and students more informally about the courses. There's also lots of other activities taking place to introduce you to Sheffield (accommodation tours, university fair, self-guided campus tour, study abroad talks, managing your money etc etc!). You can book a place at:
www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/opendaysGood luck with your UCAS application and your A-level studies.
Best regards
Elizabeth
UK/EU Student Recruitment Officer