Should I study biology, biochemistry or chemistry at Oxford?
- Elvi Nimali
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
You're an ambitious student entering year 11. Or maybe you're the parent. You've got your sights set on Oxford and you know it will be something to do with Biology or Chemistry. Naturally, you're thinking carefully about what subjects will give your application the best chance, and rightly so: brilliant students have missed out with the best personal statements and best interview performances just because they picked the wrong subject (example case study!).
If you're finding yourself drawn to Biology and Chemistry at school, but unsure of which one to study, then this article is for you. We'll break down what each of these subjects is, how they are different, what you will study, what the entry requirements are and how the job opportunities may differ.
What are each of the subjects? How are they different?
Let's clarify that Biochemistry is not Biology + Chemistry. Instead, let's view Biology and Biochemistry as being siblings and Chemistry as their second cousin. That is to say, Biology and Biochemistry fall clearly into the camp of life sciences - the study of living things. Chemistry, on the other hand, is the study of matter (see here) outside of the context of living things. Biochemistry is the study of life at the cellular, molecular and atomic levels. It is the most 'micro' level at which life sciences can be studied. Biochemists use a broader range of physical and chemical techniques to study cells. Biochemists do not study organisms as a whole. Biology is the study of life at the molecular, cellular, organism and population level - its scope is broader, from bacteria to populations of animals and their interaction with the natural environment. Think genetics + anatomy + ecological diversity and conservation.
What will you study?
Biology: A biologist's lecture series is largely focused on themes at the cellular and organism level - take a look at the current modules for Year 1 and Year 2 at Oxford.
Ecology and evolution stand out as a key recurring theme. And if fieldwork isn't really your thing (see residential field course & tropical ecology), biology is one to avoid. On the contrary, of the three subjects, this is by far the most outdoorsy, so if that is important to you, biology may be a very good choice.
Biochemistry: A biochemist's lecture series looks very different. Although the core aspects of cellular and molecular biochemistry are likely to involve shared lectures with the biologists, mechanistic, physical and quantitative biochemistry as the name of units give insight into a course that is slightly more skewed to the physical sciences. Again, compare how 'molecular' is mentioned multiple times in biochemistry, but not at all in biology.
Chemistry: The lecture content could not be more different here. The focus is exclusively on Chemistry. Whilst Biochemists will also study physical chemistry and organic chemistry topics, chemists will expand on them to higher levels in Years 2 and beyond. Note also the much larger emphasis on Maths ('quantum and statistical mechanics').
What about the entry requirements?
Course | Grades (A-Level / IB) | Science Subject Required | Admissions Test |
Biology (MBiol or BA) | A*AA / 39 | Biology + 1 other science (inc. Maths) | NONE |
Biochemistry (MBiochem) | A*AA / 39 | Chemistry + 1 other science (Maths recommended) | NONE |
Chemistry (MChem) | A*A*A / 40 | Chemistry and Maths (additional science strongly recommended) | NONE |
Chemistry is clearly the most demanding of the three subjects academically, requiring both Chemistry and Maths as obligatory A-Level / IB HL subjects. However, that obligation has been loosened with the removal of the TSA test as part of the admissions process. Biochemistry and Biology have very similar requirements, but with some differences. The former requires Chemistry and the latter Biology, while Biochemistry places greater importance on the fact that your other science subject is Maths. Another key consideration is that the Biology course can be done as a 3-year BA or a 4-year integrated master's. This can be very advantageous as it gives you the flexibility to enter a more specialised master's subject or end your studies after 3-years without having to do an extended research project if you realise being a scientist isn't your thing. In summary, an A-Level subject selection of Biology, Chemistry and Maths makes all three subjects possible. Realistically, however, a competitive Chemistry applicant will usually have 3 or 4 of the following: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry. Of course, all subjects at Oxford require an interview. More on interview preparation here.
What (likely) career paths can I take with these subjects?
With all of these subjects, you can be a researcher in academia or industry, but of course, your area of speciality will vary. In general, remember that a Chemist can become a Biologist, but less so the other way around. Biochemistry and Chemistry are subjects that lend themselves more to the start-up environment for those more entrepreneurially minded. Patent law, which concerns itself with the laws around trademarking and copyrighting scientific inventions, requires deep scientific knowledge, a Master's degree at a minimum, which makes Biochemistry and Chemistry stronger options for this route. Biology has the edge when it comes to ecology and environment-related careers, although Chemists are well-positioned in this field with their knowledge of chemical and material synthesis.
For 'general' career paths like consulting and finance, students from biochemistry and chemistry are more likely to be successful candidates due to the increased quantitative elements in these courses.
Where can I get extra support to decide between biology, biochemistry or chemistry at oxford?
Hopefully, this guide is a useful start and gives you some insights into the differences between these subjects at Oxford. If you need further personalised support, maybe a deeper exploration of the topics and career paths you are interested in and which subject they best align with, or if it's a strategic review of your current extracurriculars and personal statement and fitting it to an appropriate subject, we're here to help. From strategic consultation about subject choice, to EPQ development, personal statement and interview preparation, we're here to help you each step of the way. Book a free consultation below.
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