BSc Medicinal Chemistry
Entry requirements
A level: AAB (specific subject requirements) BTEC: D*DD with a significant number of Chemical and Scientific Modules. IB: 6,6,5 at Higher Level including Chemistry.
About this course
BSc in Medicinal Chemistry, a chemistry degree focused on the design and development of pharmaceutical agents and modern therapeutic compounds. Core topics include Data Analysis, Research Methods. Practical work features heavily across the programme, with access to specialist teaching laboratories and research facilities on campus. The first year introduces the foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Introduction to Modern Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemists for a Sustainable Future, Introduction to Practical Chemistry and Research Skills, Chemistry in Action: Atoms, Molecules, Matter, Fundamental Organic Chemistry for Biology and Synthesis, and Chemistry of the Material World, alongside an optional module in Maths for Scientists. The second year advances core knowledge through Organometallics: from Bonding to Catalysis, Organic Chemistry: Structure, Reactions and the Science of Life, Chemical Pharmacology and Drug Design, Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics, Practical, Professional and Research Skills for Medicinal Chemists, Molecular Signatures: Spectroscopy and Chromatography, and Specialisms in Chemical Science. The third year centres on advanced specialized study via compulsory modules including Fragment-based NMR screening for drug discovery, Understanding the kinetics of multisubstrate enzymes, How can biocatalysts be applied in pharmaceutical synthesis and manufacture?, Synthesis of oxetane/azetidine containing Spiro cycles: New Scaffolds for Drug Discovery, Extended Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry, Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, and Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Development. Students also complete a BSc Research Project in the final year, and may choose optional modules such as Chemistry in the Real World, Big Data, Big Science, Ethical Issues in Chemistry, and Chemistry into Schools.
Modules
- You’ll also begin to develop skills as an experimental chemist in our teaching labs, learning to:
- safely handle reagents/solvents and manipulate laboratory apparatus
- synthesize inorganic and organic molecules of straightforward structural complexity
- determine structure using spectroscopic data such as infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
- record data and physical measurements and comment on their precision and accuracy
- use PC-based spreadsheets, graphics and word-processing packages to manipulate and plot data and to prepare reports.
- Introduction to Modern Chemistry
- Chemistry and Chemists for a Sustainable Future
- Introduction to Practical Chemistry and Research Skills
- Chemistry in Action: Atoms, Molecules, Matter
- Fundamental Organic Chemistry for Biology and Synthesis
- Chemistry of the Material World
- Maths for Scientists
- Understand the principle modes of binding of small drug molecules to biological macromolecules
- Recognise that there are consequences associated with choosing to use organometallic compounds
- Have an appreciation of the bonding and reactivity of organo-main group chemistry
- Understand the pharmacokinetic and metabolic aspects of drug development
- Understand of the structure and bonding within heterocycles and how this controls heterocyclic properties
- Organometallics: from Bonding to Catalysis
- Organic Chemistry: Structure, Reactions and the Science of Life
- Chemical Pharmacology and Drug Design
- Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics
- Practical, Professional and Research Skills for Medicinal Chemists
- Molecular Signatures: Spectroscopy and Chromatography
- Specialisms in Chemical Science
- Fragment-based NMR screening for drug discovery
- Understanding the kinetics of multisubstrate enzymes
- How can biocatalysts be applied in pharmaceutical synthesis and manufacture?
- Synthesis of oxetane/azetidine containing Spiro cycles: New Scaffolds for Drug Discovery
- Extended Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry
- Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Development
- BSc Research Project
- Chemistry in the Real World
- Big Data, Big Science
- Ethical Issues in Chemistry
- Chemistry into Schools