The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry is a four-year course run by the School of Chemistry. During the course, you will develop awareness and appreciation of the latest advances in medicinal chemistry in addition to the fundamentals of the subject. You will receive a highly transferrable scientific training, which allows many graduates to enter challenging careers in areas not directly related to chemistry.
In the first two years, you will take modules in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry.
Alongside chemistry with medicinal 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):
- physical-organic chemistry
- homogeneous catalysis
- the chemistry of biomolecules
- supramolecular chemistry and molecular recognition.
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.
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 Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry focuses on the important interface of chemistry with biology and medicine. You will learn about the critical role of chemistry in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries and in solving problems such as antibacterial resistance and developing healthcare for an aging population. You will receive a broad base of chemical knowledge, focusing on biological and medicinal chemistry, and reinforced by extensive practical experience and familiarity with modern laboratory, instrumental and computational techniques.
During your degree, you will receive comprehensive academic and practical training to equip you for a wide spectrum of careers, whether in science-based industries or other fields such as teaching, management or finance.
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 medicinal chemistry in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options, including modules ranging from physical inorganic chemistry to mechanisms in organic chemistry.
Examples of medicinal chemistry Honours modules that have been offered in previous years include:
- Blockbuster Pharmaceuticals
- Fragrance, Food and Colour Chemistry
- Heterocyclic and Pericyclic Chemistry
- Quantitative Aspects of Medicinal Chemistry.
In fourth year, students 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. 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 workshops, 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 with expertise in medicinal chemistry 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.