The BSc in Chemical Sciences is a four-year course run by the School of Chemistry. Chemical Sciences at St Andrews provides students with a fundamental and comprehensive understanding of chemistry, along with the flexibility to study some modules at Honours level in other science, social science or business-related subjects. In addition to technical skills, you will receive a highly transferrable training in numeracy, problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills.
In the first two years, you will take modules in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry.
Alongside chemistry, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
The knowledge and skills in research and analysis that you gain during the sub-honours years will prepare you to undertake more advanced and specialist modules during your final two (Honours) years. These specialist subjects include (but are not limited to):
- organometallic chemistry
- carbohydrate and nucleic acid chemistry
- synthetic methodology
- quantum theory of atoms, molecules and solids.
During your final year, you will also carry out a research project in one of the School's highly rated research groups on a topic chosen in consultation with staff from the School of Chemistry.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
The BSc (Hons) in Chemical Sciences will teach you the fundamentals of chemistry, from the composition and properties of matter to using reactions to create new molecules and materials. You will learn about the critical role of chemistry in industries and new technologies, from pharmaceuticals to accessing drinkable water, and from efficient energy generation to sustainable food production. This degree allows you to include a small component of a non-chemistry subject at Honours level. Examples include modules in science communication and teaching, psychology, management or economics.
This degree is especially suited to students who want a career where a strong science base is needed, but who perhaps wish to apply this outside the research sector: for example, the technology sector, teaching, journalism or patent law.
In the first two years of your degree (sub-honours level) you will take the required modules in chemistry alongside modules in at least one other subject.
Typically, you will take one or two chemistry modules per semester during your first two years, and four to six per semester during your third and fourth year (Honours level).
- First year
- Second year
- Honours
Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:
- Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers origin of the elements and the periodic table, atomic structure, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, and mathematical tools for chemistry.
- Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 1: covers bonding in simple molecules, inorganic solids, chemistry of the first-row transition metals, properties of solids, states of matter, and introductory spectroscopy.
- Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: covers the structure and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, basic stereochemistry, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.
Each of the compulsory sub-honours modules in chemistry involves a mixture of lecture-based and practical teaching.
Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:
- Inorganic Chemistry 2: covers metal complexes and organometallics, descriptive transition-metal chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, solid-state chemistry and descriptive main-group chemistry.
- Organic Chemistry 2: covers methods for carbon-carbon bond formation and interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, retrosynthetic analysis, mechanistic biological chemistry and organic spectroscopy.
- Physical Chemistry 2: covers quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, molecular spectroscopy and diffraction, and advanced mathematical tools for chemistry.
Each of the compulsory sub-honours modules in chemistry involves a mixture of lecture-based and practical teaching.
If you decide to take Chemical Sciences in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced modules in chemistry alongside a small number of modules in other science, social science or business-related subjects.
Here is a sample of Honours modules in chemistry that have been offered in previous years:
- Blockbuster Pharmaceuticals
- Energy Conversion and Storage
- Fragrance, Food and Colour Chemistry
- Functional Materials and Electrons in Solids
- Heterocyclic and Pericyclic Chemistry.
In fourth year, students will conduct a research project which is designed to develop your skills in experimental design and problem-solving, the evaluation and interpretation of data, independent working, and both oral and written communication skills. The project is chosen in consultation with and supervised by a member of academic staff.
The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.
Teaching
- Teaching format
- Assessment
- Support
Chemistry is taught through a combination of lectures (80 to 200 students) and labs (20 to 50 students), which are supplemented by small group tutorials (5 to 10 students). Class sizes decrease at Honours level.
All lecture courses have online support materials, and additional teaching support is given for selected topics, such as mathematics.
When not attending lectures, tutorials and other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in a laboratory
- undertaking research in the library
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
All sub-honours modules are assessed by 60% to 70% written examinations combined with 30% to 40% coursework covering laboratories, tutorials and transferable skills exercises.
For Honours modules, assessment is either by written examination for lecture-based modules, or by coursework including written reports, oral presentations and oral examinations for laboratory, workshop and research project modules.
Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.
The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team of world-leading academics and specialists in chemical education. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken training may also contribute to the teaching of practical classes under the supervision of the module leader.
You can find contact information for all chemistry staff on the School of Chemistry website.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.