BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY

BCCB (Biochemistry and Cell Biology) is an interdisciplinary study program that has two foci: biochemistry (the chemistry going on inside cells) and cell biology (the science of how cells are structured, and how they interact with each other). Or, in exaggeration: the tool of the biochemist is the test tube, and the tool of the cell biologist is the microscope.
In addition, BCCB contains a large amount of molecular genetics (the science of nucleic acids, their information content, and its realization in cells).

You learn about how life functions in molecular terms – this is the most fascinating subject in the world. (At least we think so.)
 

 

• It's exciting (because you learn so much about the molecular basis of life, and the more you know the more interesting it gets);
• it's both theoretical and practical (there are lab courses from the first semester, and knowing how to use life science methods with your hands is one of the aims of the program);
• it's strenuous (there is a lot to learn and to do), and it gives a boost to your personality (you become organized, learn to work with others, and understand what it is that you like).

In its 20 years of existence, BCCB graduates have moved on to impressive careers in academic research, laboratory research and development in companies, in research and medical management (such as clinical trial organization), in business and investment consulting, in medicine, and in many many other professions.
Faculty keep a network of graduates that you can turn to when you have career questions. )
 

The programs are related but different.
BCCB focuses on the academic study of biochemistry (the chemistry going on inside cells) and also on how cells are structured, and how they interact with each other (cell biology).
MCCB has a very strong focus on chemistry, it mainly deals with how to discover and make chemical substances that influence the functions of the human body (drugs).
CBT deals more with the synthetic, technical, and genetic processes that are used to produce biological and chemical reagents.
See their pages for more information.

You can change your decision after you come to Constructor University, and even (with the right choice of courses) after your first semester.  

BCCB, as well as CBT and MCCB, has a lot of content that is relevant to medicine. Therefore, in those countries where medical training is a postgraduate course (such as the US and the UK), these study programs can, in principle, serve as the first degree upon which medical school can be based.

But admission to medical school is not guaranteed after Constructor University!
In most states of the US, for example, if you are not a US citizen, you need to be a resident for three years before being able to attend medical school.
In the UK, there are not many postgraduate medical schools, and admission is very competitive.
In general, therefore, the best path to medicine for Constructor University graduates is medical school in their home country, and some have done that.

Another interesting path is to learn German while at Constructor University and to then apply for the foreigners' quota in medicine at a Germany university after graduation. This has good chances of success; BCCB faculty are happy to advise. In this case, Constructor University graduates save about a year if medical school due to the courses they have taken at Constructor University. 

BCCB is an interdisciplinary program (see above) that already has a lot of content and a carefully designed study plan, so BCCB Faculty do not recommend taking a minor.)