Biochemistry

Study programme description:
The first-cycle university study programme in BIOCHEMISTRY is a three-year (six semester) programme with a total of 180 credit points.
Graduates are awarded the title(s):

• univerzitetni diplomirani biokemik (UN) – for male holders
• univerzitetna diplomirana biokemičarka (UN) – for female holders
• univ. dipl. biokem. (UN) – abbreviated title

Programme goals and general competencies

The principle objective of the university study programme in Biochemistry is to acquire a sound knowledge base in all major fields of biochemistry and molecular biology, acquire sufficient knowledge in biochemistry informatics, mathematics, and physics, and generals skills for laboratory work and practical skills for independent routine and research work in biochemistry laboratories. With this level of knowledge and skills candidates should be able to continue studies on master’s programmes in biochemistry, chemistry, biotechnology, biomedicine and other life sciences.

General competencies:

• apply standard methods in solving known problems in the field of biochemistry;
• work safely in a biochemistry laboratory and carry out risk assessment;
• carry out biochemical analyses independently following oral or written instructions;
• understand the limitations of experimental data reliability;
• carry out a small-scale project, not necessarily satisfying the criteria for publication;
• communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to the public;
• adapt to new situations and make decisions;
• acquire planning and time-management skills;
• develop professional ethics and environmental awareness;
• acquire skills necessary for junior positions in chemical and pharmaceutical industries;
• acquire habits for life-long learning in the respective field and learning skills for continuing studies at the academic level.

Admission requirements and selection criteria

Applicants for the Biochemistry programme are expected to meet the following criteria:

• completed Matura exam, or
• completed Vocational Matura exam from a relevant secondary school programme (technical and health programmes), and pass an additional Matura exam, and
• completed high-school programme or any other four-year secondary school programme before June 1, 1995.

Admission is limited to 40 candidates.

Should there be more than 40 applicants, the selection of candidates will be based on the following criteria: general results from the Matura exam (60 % points) and general learning results from 3rd and 4th years of secondary school (40 % points). For the applicants who finished secondary school programmes before June 1st, 1995, the following criteria will be taken into account: school-leaving exam (60 % points ), and general learning results from 3rd and 4th years of secondary school (40 % points ).

Criteria for recognition of knowledge and skills acquired before admission to the programme

Prior learning will be recognised if the knowledge the candidate has previously acquired is compatible with the teaching contents of the Biochemistry programme. Prior knowledge may be acquired through various forms of education, however, the recognition of knowledge and skills will depend on the decision of the Study Commission of FKKT. Applicants must submit written application and provide certificates and other evidence of the knowledge and skills acquired before.
The Study Commission will validate previous knowledge against the following criteria:

• adequacy of admission conditions (required education necessary for admission to the programme),
• comparability of the scope of previous education (number of hours per subject, content coverage),
• suitability of previous education related to the contents of the subject to be recognised.  

Previously acquired education will be recognised if the conditions for the enrolment in the previous programme are similar to the conditions  for admission to Biochemistry programme, if at least 75% of the scope of courses in previous education  are identical to  Biochemistry programme and if at least 75% of the teaching contents correspond with the subject to be recognised.  If previously acquired education has been approved and recognised by  the Study Commission, the subjects are allocated the same number of ECTS as the subjects in Biochemistry programme. 

Course progression requirements

To progress to the following year of studies, the candidate must provide evidence of lecture attendance (inscription and frequency) for all subjects, and complete all exercises and other obligations required by the subjects for a particular year. Additional progression requirements are:

For progression to the second year: 60 credit points obtained.

For progression to the third year: completed exams from the first year and 60 credit points obtained from the second year.
The Study Commission of FKKT may exceptionally approve progression to a higher year if the student has obtained minimum 30 credit points in the previous year and can provide a sufficient cause. Sufficient causes are defined by the Statute of the University of Ljubljana.

A student may repeat the year if he/she has obtained 20 credit points required for that particular year.
During the course of studies a student can repeat the year once, or once change a study programme having failed to complete the previous programme.

Course Biochemistry
1st Year		Contact hours						ECTS
Lecturer	Subject	P	S	SV	LV	DO	Σ
	1st semester
Pavešič	Mathematics I	45		30			75	5
	Physics I	45			30		75	5
Bukovec N.	General chemistry	45	30				75	5
Bukovec N.	Practical course in chemistry		30		45		75	5
Štrus	General biology	45	10		20		75	5
	General or professional elective subject	i	i	i	i	i	i	5
	Total	180+i	70+i	30+i	95+i		375+i	30
	2nd semester
Pavešič	Mathematics II	45		30			75	5
	Physics II	45			30		75	5
Bukovec N.	Inorganic chemistry	45	30				75	5
Polanc	Organic chemistry I	60	15				75	5
Lenarčič	Fundamentals of biochemistry	45	30				75	5
Renko	Practical course in biochemistry		15		60		75	5
	Total	240	90	30	90	i	450	30
	Total 1st year	420+i	160+i	60+i	185+i	i	825+i	60
General elective subjects *		Contact hours						ECTS
		P	S	SV	LV	DO	Σ
Lotrič	ICT in science and technology	45		30			75	5
Hočevar	Technical English	75					75	5
Žerdin	Entrepreneurship	60	15				75	5
Jamnik M., Gerlovič	Physical education	10				65	75	5
	Subjects from other programmes
* During the course of studies students take two general elective courses
Professional elective subjects from 1st & 2nd year		Contact hours						ECTS
		P	S	SV	LV	DO	Σ
Kastelic Avsec	Practical training					150	150	5
	Subjects from other programmes

2nd Year		Contact hours						ECTS
		P	S	SV	LV	DO	Σ
	3rd semester
Polanc	Organic chemistry II	30	15		30		75	5
Kogej	Physical chemistry I	65	10				75	5
Koller	Structure of atoms and molecules	45	30				75	5
Sterle	Cell biology	45			30		75	5
Renko	Biochemistry	30	45				75	5
	General or professional elective subject	i	i	i	i	i	i	5
	Total	215+i	100+i		60+i		375+i	30
	4th semester
Kogej	Physical chemistry II	25	5		45		75	5
Veber	Instrumental analytical methods	45			30		75	5
Dolinar	Molecular biology	45	20		10		75	5
Gunde-Cimerman	Microbiology	45			30		75	5
Zorec	Fundamentals of physiology	30	15		30		75	5
Jerala	Biochemical informatics	30		45			75	5
	Total	220	40	45	145	i	450	30
	Total 2nd Year	435+i	140+i	45+i	205+i	i	825+i	60

3rd Year		Contact hours						ECTS
		P	S	SV	LV	DO	Σ
	5th semester
Petrič	Spectroscopic methods in biochemistry	30	10	35			75	5
Dolinar	Molecular cloning	30	5		40		75	5
Lenarčič	Enzymatics	30	15		30		75	5
Čurin Šerbec	Molecular immunology with immunochemistry	45			30		75	5
Dovč, Horvat S.	Fundamentals of genetics	30	15		30		75	5
	General or professional elective subject	i	i	i	i	i	i	5
	Total	165+i	45+i	35+i	130+i		375+i	30
	6th semester
Križaj, Turk	Structure of proteins	30	30	15			75	5
	Professional elective subject 1	i	i	i	i	i	i	5
	Professional elective subject 2	i	i	i	i	i	i	5
	Diploma work					225	225	15
	Total	30+i	30+i	15+i	i	225+i	300+i	30
	Total 3rd Year	195+i	75+i	50+i	130+i	225+i	675+i	60
Professional elective subjects from 3rd year		Contact hours						ECTS
		P	S	SV	LV	DO	Σ
Pavko	Fundamentals of biochemical engineering	30	15		30		75	5
Irman Florjanc, Stanonvnik	Fundamentals of pharmacology	10	15		12	38	75	5
Kreft S., Gruden	Plant biochemistry	30	15		30		75	5
Lenarčič	Use of enzymes	30	15		30		75	5
Avšič Zupanc	Virology	30	15		30		75	5
Zupančič Kralj, Prosen	Chemical analysis of foodstuffs	30	15		30		75	5
Rozman, Petrovič	Functional genomics	30	15		30		75	5

P – lectures; S – seminar; V – exercises; D – other forms of pedagogical work  (e.g. project work); ECTS – credit points according to the European Credit Transfer System  (1 ECTS equals 30 hours of student load)

Requirements for completion of studies

The study programme is completed if the candidate has fulfilled all obligations from the courses and prepared and successfully defended his/her diploma work according to the   Rules on Diploma Work, adopted by the Senate of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana.  

Transitions between study programmes

1. Transitions between first-cycle university study programmes  
   The Biochemistry programme is open to students from other comparable university programmes.  Transition is understood as termination of studies in one university programme and continuation of studies in a new university programme. A request for transition must be officially made by written application with evidence of fulfilled obligations in the previous programme and evidence on fulfilment of the conditions for enrolment to the Biochemistry programme.  Students continue in the new programme from the level for which all transition requirements have been met and after passing all the exams, specific for this programme. Applications for transitions are approved by the Study Commission of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana.  
2. Transitions between professional higher education programmes and first-cycle university programmes  
   Students can apply for transfer from a professional higher education programme in Biomedicine or Chemistry to the first-cycle university study in Biochemistry if they fulfil the conditions for enrolment. Applications for transitions are approved by the Study Commission of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology upon submitted certification for enrolment to a particular level of studies in the Biochemistry programme. The Study Commission will determine which missing courses need to be taken to qualify for diploma in the new programme.  

Assessment methods

Student performance is assessed by knowledge testing for each individual course. Assessment and testing are carried out in the form of oral and written exams, colloquia,  seminars and projects. Forms of assessment and student obligations are set out by the syllabi for each individual subject.  Other forms of continuous performance assessment are determined by the syllabi and form a component of the final grade.  Testing and grading procedures are regulated by the Rules on Examinations of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, which has been adopted by the Senate of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana.  
Students are assessed against the grading scale, determined by the Statute of the University of Ljubljana.