Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)

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(3-year average, 2022-24)

For more detailed admissions statistics, consult the University's undergraduate admissions statistics.

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To find out more about how Oxford's teaching year is structured, visit our Learning at Oxford pages.

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The options listed above are illustrative and may change. For a full list of current options, please visit the department website.

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For all courses, you must pass your first University examinations (usually known as ‘Prelims’ or ‘Mods’ and taken during your first year) to progress to the next stage of your degree. All students must pass their final year examinations (Finals) to pass their degree. ‘Finals’ for some courses occur not only in the final year, but may be staggered over the remaining years of the degree. 

Read the information in the accordions above (or the Course Information Sheet if you have received an offer to study) for further details on course assessment.

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Significant self-study is expected of all students – for further details read workload and independent study information. Undergraduate courses at Oxford are full-time during term time. The University expects students to spend at least 40 hours per week on academic work during term time. 

Read more general information about Learning at Oxford. 

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The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out above. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. For further information, please read the University's Terms and Conditions and information about potential course changes.

You are also referred to the Student Handbook (which is updated every September).

Read more about potential course changes.

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Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read more about how we use contextual data. 

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If a practical component forms part of any of your science A‐levels used to meet your offer, we expect you to pass it.

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If you want to study at Oxford, you need to apply a year before the start date of your course by completing an online application form. Applications open in May so you can start work on the form then.

You must submit your application by the strict deadline of 6pm (BST) on 15 October.

Read more about your UCAS application.

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You do not need to take a written test as part of an application for this course.  

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You do not need to submit any written work as part of an application for this course.

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All shortlisted candidates will be invited to online interviews in December.

Read more about Oxford interviews.

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Deferrals are made on a case-by-case basis and are not always possible. If you would like to request a deferral you should contact the college considering your application and provide your UCAS ID number, full name and date of birth alongside your request. 

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Oxford University does not accept transfer students. If you wish to follow an undergraduate course here, you will need to start the course from the beginning.  

If you are currently studying at a university either in the UK or outside, and are thinking of applying to Oxford to start the first year of an undergraduate course, please note that normally we will only consider such applications in exceptional circumstances and you should make very clear in your application why you do not wish to continue on your current course. Please note we are not able to give examples of these exceptional circumstances as applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you do decide to apply whilst at another university and you do not have A-level (or equivalent qualifications) at the grades required for the standard offer for the course you are interested in applying for, you will need to demonstrate how your subsequent study has prepared you for studying at Oxford, including any evidence of your performance on your current course, as well as a reference from your current tutor or equivalent.

Please note that you must declare on your UCAS form whether you are currently studying at another university, and that failure to do so could result in Oxford withdrawing any offer made to you.

Please also remember that not only will you incur a year of additional costs but your eligibility for government support or loans may be affected by any study you have already undertaken, whether or not you have completed your course.

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If your first language is English and you have always been a resident and citizen of a majority English-speaking country recognised by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) you do not need to demonstrate your level of English.

If English is not your first language you may also need to meet our English language requirements. Oxford’s undergraduate courses are demanding, and you will need to demonstrate that you have a high level of proficiency in English to take up a place here.

To meet the English language requirements for your offer to the University you must, where applicable, receive all qualifying test component scores (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) from the same session; we will not consider scores from multiple sessions ('superscoring'). See the list of certificates which we do and do not accept. 

All courses now require the higher level of ability in English.

You do not need to have evidence of your English Language proficiency when you make your UCAS application.

If you are offered a place, you will need to show the correct level of proficiency by 31 July in the year you receive your offer. Note this deadline applies even if you are not due to start your course until the following October.

Read more about English Language Requirements and visas. 

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You do not need GCSEs or IGCSEs in order to apply to Oxford although, where students have taken these, as evidence of prior academic attainment, they can form an important part in the assessment of an application. All GCSE (or IGCSE) results should be listed on your UCAS application. Higher grades at GCSE can help make your application more competitive but they are just one aspect we look at. GCSE grades will be looked alongside all other aspects of your application and where possible we look at these in context to help us better understand your achievements in the context of your individual background.

However, we recognise that many students will not have taken them, particularly if they have not been to school in the UK. If you have taken equivalent exams at this stage, please include details of these in your application form. If your country does not have equivalent exams, your application will be considered based on the selection criteria for your course. It is useful to have some indication of your academic progress at school, so your teacher may instead comment on the results of any internal school exams that you have taken. We provide comprehensive guidance for teachers on writing academic references for UCAS applications. 

The admissions requirements for Oxford are based on A-levels or equivalent qualifications. These are a stage higher than GCSEs. All applicants for Oxford must be taking either A-levels or an accepted equivalent qualification: please see our international qualifications page for details.

Read more about Oxford's use of contextual data.

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• Sign up to our Choosing Oxford applicant newsletter  
• Read our Guide for applicants 

• International students 
• Disabled students 
• Mature students 
• Care-experienced students 
• Young carer students

• Information for families
• Information for teachers

• Access Oxford
• See Connect with us below 

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The University of Oxford is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. Our undergraduate applicant privacy policy describes how we collect and use your personal data during the admissions process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and related UK data protection legislation. It should be read in conjunction with the privacy policy of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Read our undergraduate applicant privacy policy.

Read UCAS' privacy policy.

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Please note that for full-time Home undergraduate students, current university policy is to charge fees at the level of the cap set by the government, which for 2026/27 is £9,790. In the 2027/28 academic year course fees for Home fee status students will rise to £10,050 (in line with the government fee cap).

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Living costs at Oxford might be less than you’d expect, as our world-class resources and college provision can help keep costs down.

Living costs for the academic year starting in 2026 are estimated to be between £1,405 and £2,105 for each month you are in Oxford. Our academic year is made up of three eight-week terms, so you would not usually need to be in Oxford for much more than six months of the year but may wish to budget over a nine-month period to ensure you also have sufficient funds during the holidays to meet essential costs. For further details please visit our living costs webpage.

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*For courses starting on or after 1 August 2021, the UK government has confirmed that EU, other EEA, and Swiss Nationals will be eligible for student finance from the UK government if they have UK citizens’ rights (i.e. if they have pre-settled or settled status, or if they are an Irish citizen covered by the Common Travel Area arrangement). The support you can access from the government will depend on your residency status.

**If you have studied at undergraduate level before and completed your course, you will be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification student (ELQ) and won’t be eligible to receive government or Oxford funding

Fees, funding and scholarship search

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College tutorials are central to teaching at Oxford. Typically, they take place in your college and are led by your academic tutor(s) who teach as well as do their own research. Students will also receive teaching in a variety of other ways, depending on the course. This will include lectures and classes, and may include laboratory work and fieldwork. However, tutorials offer a level of personalised attention from academic experts unavailable at most universities.

During tutorials (normally lasting an hour), college subject tutors will give you and one or two tutorial partners feedback on prepared work and cover a topic in depth. The other student(s) in your tutorials will typically be doing the same course as you and covering the same topic. Such regular and rigorous academic discussion develops and facilitates learning in a way that isn’t possible through lectures alone. Tutorials also allow for close progress monitoring so tutors can quickly provide additional support if necessary.

Significant self-study is expected of all students – for further details see workload and independent study information. Undergraduate courses at Oxford are full-time during term time. Students typically spend approximately 40 hours per week on academic work.  

Read more about tutorials and an Oxford education.

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Our colleges are at the heart of Oxford’s reputation as one of the best universities in the world.

At Oxford, everyone is a member of a college as well as their subject department(s) and the University. Students therefore have both the benefits of belonging to a large, renowned institution and to a small and friendly academic community. Each college or hall is made up of academic and support staff, and students. Colleges provide a safe, supportive environment leaving you free to focus on your studies, enjoy time with friends and make the most of the huge variety of opportunities.

Each college has a unique character, but generally their facilities are similar. Each one, large or small, will have the following essential facilities:

• Porters’ lodge (a staffed entrance and reception)
• Dining hall
• Lending library (often open 24/7 in term time)
• Student accommodation
• Tutors’ teaching rooms
• Chapel and/or music rooms
• Laundry
• Green spaces
• Common room (known as the JCR).

All first-year students are offered college accommodation either on the main site of their college or in a nearby college annexe. This means that your neighbours will also be ‘freshers’ and new to life at Oxford. This accommodation is guaranteed, so you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere to live after accepting a place here, all of this is organised for you before you arrive.

All colleges offer at least one further year of accommodation and some offer it for the entire duration of your degree. You may choose to take up the option to live in your college for the whole of your time at Oxford, or you might decide to arrange your own accommodation after your first year – perhaps because you want to live with friends from other colleges.

While college academic tutors primarily support your academic development, you can also ask their advice on other things. Lots of other college staff including welfare officers help students settle in and are available to offer guidance on practical or health matters. Current students also actively support students in earlier years, sometimes as part of a college ‘family’ or as peer supporters trained by the University’s Counselling Service.

Read more about Oxford colleges and how you choose.

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Oxford takes the wellbeing of its students very seriously and we want everyone to feel at home here and settle in quickly. It's important to know who can help if times get tough and there are lots of people on hand to help, both in your college and in the wider University. Life at Oxford extends well beyond your studies, with a wide range of opportunities to get involved, pursue your interests and become part of a vibrant and supportive community. 

Read more about wellbeing and community at Oxford.

Discover life beyond your studies and the wide range of opportunities to pursue your interests.

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Studying at Oxford opens up a lifetime of opportunity, both personal and professional, and you will have a choice of interesting careers or further study options when you finish.

The Oxford University Careers Service offers a wealth of tailored support to help University of Oxford students develop their skills and put themselves in the best possible position for entering the jobs market or progressing their career. Whatever career you are interested in, and whichever degree you are taking, the Careers Service is here to provide expert advice and resources.

Read more about the careers guidance on offer at Oxford.

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Super-curricular study is important when preparing to make an Oxford application as it as it demonstrates the intellectual curiosity, independent thinking and academic engagement that tutors look for when assessing a student’s suitability for studying here and in particular for our tutorial-style learning.

What is super-curricular study?

You can think of it in three parts:

1. Explore - read, watch, listen to or try to find out things related to your subject other than what you are being taught in class.
2. Engage - question everything you encounter. Do you agree? Does it fit with what you have learnt previously? Has it changed your mind? How does it link to other ideas?
3. Reflect - tutors want you to be able to explain what you learned and why it interested you. Being able to talk in depth about one subject resource is more impressive than reeling off a list of books you have read. 

Examples include:

• Reading books or articles related to your subject, for example, via subject-specific reading lists on department or college websites or academic blogs or journals written for general audiences
• Watching documentaries and videos related to your subject
• Attending public lectures or online talks
• Listening to academic and general podcasts
• Entering essay competitions or seek out free short online courses on topics which interest you
• Carrying out small independent projects on something which interests you
• Attending Oxford's University, department or college outreach events. These may offer support with your application but many also include a learning component which you may find inspiring and helps with your super-curricular study. Connect with us has more information on these opportunities. 

Explore our new supercurricular resource hub.

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Explore the suggested subject-specific resources on Oxford's University, department and college websites.

• Look for pre-reading lists and other useful study resources on department websites
• Check out our supercurricular hub
• Watch our Impact research video series
• Discover Oxplore, our online learning platform for 11-18 year olds

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Many academic departments and faculties at Oxford have dedicated outreach events and activities aimed at promoting their subject area(s) and supporting talented students from all backgrounds to apply to their courses.

These sessions are likely to tell you how to make a competitive application but they might also include an academic and learning component which you are likely to find inspiring and will also support your super-curricular study.

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In addition to exploring department-run activities, we recommend checking out the outreach event calendar for upcoming University-wide events and other subject and college activities. 

UK state school students interested in this or similar courses may like to explore UNIQ, Oxford's free flagship outreach programme for students in their first year of further education. UNIQ offers a choice of academic residentials in over 30 courses and each year provides around 1,500 students with the opportunity to experience Oxford's teaching, explore student life and receive expert support with their application to university.

Read more about Oxford's widening access initiatives and other ways to connect with us before applying. 

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To stay up to date with all the latest outreach and admissions content, make sure you follow us on Instagram and YouTube.