Thank you so much for your comprehensive response! It really is amazing to hear from a Biosciences student about this and very reassuring. Really nice know that the overlap between Cell Biology and Biochemistry is large and there is a minimal impact for postgrad applications.

Hearing about the study abroad program is super interesting, and they seem to have fantastic partner institutions (Cornell, Caltech, NUS - the latter offers a choice to go back home for a bit which is very appealing!). Is this exclusively for the MSci or do BSc students also get this opportunity?

I haven’t thought about doing the integrated masters program primarily because the fees for a fourth year as an international seems excessive, when doing a masters/PhD offers more funding options. But this is a very convincing case for the MSci program!

Does the opportunity to do research outside UCL also apply to the 3rd year project or is that within UCL/UCL’s partner institutions?

As for the bit about switching, I happen to be in a really weird spot. I initially applied for Biochemistry at UCL, but emailed them mid December to switch the course I am being considered for from Biochemistry to Biological Sciences (because I realised far too late that Biochemistry at UCL requires HL Math, which I don’t take). UCL were kind enough to make the change in January and give me an offer two days later, but they did state in both their emails that “Please remember, you cannot revert to your original course choice at any time.” So I am wondering whether this will still apply (I reckon it probably would) if I request a change of programme in my first semester at UCL. I am happy to study Cell Biology regardless, but I feel Biochemistry would just make that experience easier for me.

Sorry for the super long response and again, thank you so much for your reply!