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HELP!! International student applying to biochem or nat. sci or chem

Hi, I'm an international student from Shanghai, China, and would like to study biochemistry. Currently, I'm not sure about my oxbridge choice of oxford chem / biochem or cam nat.sci. I have an IB grade of 40-41/42, and my background is approximately 50-50 for biology and chemistry. I have read that oxford biochem offers really few places and even less for international students.
So, I would like some advice on which uni and course I should apply to and which college if possible. My parents recommend me to apply to oxford chem, but I feel like thats throwing away 50% of my bg and I also don't want to learn a lot of OChem in the future. Thanks guys and wish yall a good day and success in the future!

Reply 1

Original post by Aaron80G
Hi, I'm an international student from Shanghai, China, and would like to study biochemistry. Currently, I'm not sure about my oxbridge choice of oxford chem / biochem or cam nat.sci. I have an IB grade of 40-41/42, and my background is approximately 50-50 for biology and chemistry. I have read that oxford biochem offers really few places and even less for international students.
So, I would like some advice on which uni and course I should apply to and which college if possible. My parents recommend me to apply to oxford chem, but I feel like thats throwing away 50% of my bg and I also don't want to learn a lot of OChem in the future. Thanks guys and wish yall a good day and success in the future!

Which university you pick will mostly depend on which course you pick. Oxford offers pure undergrad degrees in biochemistry and chemistry but no NatSci degree, whereas Cambridge offers NatSci (where you can take modules in biochemistry, chemistry, biology etc and later specialise if you change your mind or whatever) and no pure undergrad degrees in biochemistry or chemistry.

My understanding is that in the first year of Oxford biochemistry, you do have a lot of organic chemistry- particularly mechanisms and organic synthesis. I wouldn’t be surprised if these principles of organic chemistry came up later when explaining things like the roles of amino acid residues in enzyme reactions or similar, but I honestly have little idea as to whether this is even assessed. There is no entrance exam.

Oxford chemistry of course requires you to study all the major fields of chemistry in the first three years of the course, though you begin to specialise in third year and specialise properly in the fourth year. There is no entrance exam.

I know absolutely nothing about the Cambridge NatSci course beyond there being modules in a multitude of disciplines before you specialise in third year and that only certain options allow you to take an accelerated masters in the fourth year. You will also have to sit the ESAT as part of your application. I recall that a number of colleges have very specific entry requirements of their own and you may need to take note of them.

I’m a current second year chemistry student at St John’s College, Oxford - if you have further questions, feel free to ask them as required.

Reply 2

Original post by TypicalNerd
Which university you pick will mostly depend on which course you pick. Oxford offers pure undergrad degrees in biochemistry and chemistry but no NatSci degree, whereas Cambridge offers NatSci (where you can take modules in biochemistry, chemistry, biology etc and later specialise if you change your mind or whatever) and no pure undergrad degrees in biochemistry or chemistry.
My understanding is that in the first year of Oxford biochemistry, you do have a lot of organic chemistry- particularly mechanisms and organic synthesis. I wouldn’t be surprised if these principles of organic chemistry came up later when explaining things like the roles of amino acid residues in enzyme reactions or similar, but I honestly have little idea as to whether this is even assessed. There is no entrance exam.
Oxford chemistry of course requires you to study all the major fields of chemistry in the first three years of the course, though you begin to specialise in third year and specialise properly in the fourth year. There is no entrance exam.
I know absolutely nothing about the Cambridge NatSci course beyond there being modules in a multitude of disciplines before you specialise in third year and that only certain options allow you to take an accelerated masters in the fourth year. You will also have to sit the ESAT as part of your application. I recall that a number of colleges have very specific entry requirements of their own and you may need to take note of them.
I’m a current second year chemistry student at St John’s College, Oxford - if you have further questions, feel free to ask them as required.

Thanks! I would like to study biochemistry but my main concern is its low acceptance rate to international students🥶

Reply 3

Original post by Aaron80G
Thanks! I would like to study biochemistry but my main concern is its low acceptance rate to international students🥶

I wouldn't worry about the acceptance rates as they will be pretty low regardless of which course you apply for at Oxford or Cambridge.

You will need to apply to Oxford if you wish to do a pure degree in biochemistry, but you can always pick Cambridge NatSci instead if you would be okay with specialising later or have any doubts. Just bear in mind the specific entry requirements for each college and the need to do well on the ESAT.
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 4

Original post by Aaron80G
Hi, I'm an international student from Shanghai, China, and would like to study biochemistry. Currently, I'm not sure about my oxbridge choice of oxford chem / biochem or cam nat.sci. I have an IB grade of 40-41/42, and my background is approximately 50-50 for biology and chemistry. I have read that oxford biochem offers really few places and even less for international students.
So, I would like some advice on which uni and course I should apply to and which college if possible. My parents recommend me to apply to oxford chem, but I feel like thats throwing away 50% of my bg and I also don't want to learn a lot of OChem in the future. Thanks guys and wish yall a good day and success in the future!
Have you done any IGCSEs? Or don't you do exams at 16 in Shanghai, China? 😧

Reply 5

Oxford doesn’t have different quotas for home/international so your chances are not worse due to being an international student.

Reply 6

the oxford biochem course does have a significant aspect of organic chemistry to it... afaik (not 100% sure) the first year exams contain a paper which is strongly organic chemistry based.

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