Chemistry or Biochemistry

msmith2008

What are people’s recommendations? Enjoy chemistry but wondering which is better for job opps? Looking at working in the drug industry - not labs.

Reply 1

normaw

Original post

by msmith2008

What are people’s recommendations? Enjoy chemistry but wondering which is better for job opps? Looking at working in the drug industry - not labs.

Are you trying to decide what degree course to study?

Reply 2

McGinger

Pharmacology - Pharmacology (Hons) | BSc | University of Southampton
Medicinal Chemistry - Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry MChem (UCAS F125)
Pharmacy - Pharmacy MPharm - University of Birmingham
Biochemistry specialisms (scroll down) - Undergraduate | School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine | University of Bristol

Reply 3

msmith2008

Original post

by normaw

Are you trying to decide what degree course to study?

Yes

Reply 4

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

Original post

by msmith2008

What are people’s recommendations? Enjoy chemistry but wondering which is better for job opps? Looking at working in the drug industry - not labs.

Hi! @msmith2008 🙂
I totally understand the struggle of choosing between 2 subjects! I was in a similar boat, I applied for chemistry but I later changed to natural sciences as I enjoyed the biology aspect of chemistry too.

If you want to work in the drug industry, I'm assuming you enjoy biology to some degree as drug making will require you to study how the body will react to certain chemicals etc... If so, I'd recommend biochemistry over chemistry as biochemistry will be more focused on applications of chemistry in a biological systems setting.
Chemistry degrees will focus on all aspects of chemistry (physical, inorganic, organic etc...) but won't necessarily go too in depth in how this relates to biological systems.

Of course, courses vary from university to university so do have a look at university websites. One thing that helps quite a lot is going to applicant days or open days as you get a feel for the courses when you talk to the lecturers. As I said, I applied to study chemistry at UEA but I really wanted to keep the biology aspect in my degree so I asked if I could attend other applicant days and I quickly realised that Natural Sciences was the best option for me. Don't be afraid to ask questions at open days, applicant days etc... because it really does help you make the right choice!

Overall, no one can decide what the right degree for you is, but you might find that a biochemistry degree will focus more on the drug development compared to a chemistry one!
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions 🙂
Fatma.

Reply 5

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

The important thing to bear in mind is that "biochemistry" is not "chemistry with biological applications". Biochemistry is a bioscience degree in molecular and cell biology - after first year there's probably relatively little actual chemistry in most biochemistry degrees in the UK. It's also not more aligned to pharmaceutical industry needs - it's a course in fundamental molecular biology concepts.

In any event if your principal interest is in chemistry, the only degree which contains substantive amounts of chemistry throughout is chemistry itself. Biochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science - none contain anywhere near the amount of chemistry as you might be expecting.

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