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
MChem, BSc Medicinal Chemistry, a chemistry degree examining drug design and the molecular foundations of pharmaceuticals. Core topics include Data Analysis. This accredited course features extensive practical work in specialist teaching laboratories and research facilities, alongside industrial placement opportunities and study abroad options. The first year covers core chemical principles through 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, and an optional module in Maths for Scientists. The second year progresses into specialized concepts with 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 continues with advanced topics including Extended Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry, Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Development, Quantum Mechanics and Bonding, and Project and Research Skills, alongside optional modules such as Chemistry in the Real World, Big Data, Big Science, Ethical Issues in Chemistry, and Chemistry into Schools. The fourth year offers a range of specialized optional research topics like Developing novel inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, The design and optimisation of novel inhibitors of amylin, Third generation drug discovery: human-on-a-chip, Discovery of drugs and biomarkers for cancer therapy, Re-engineering bacterial toxins for drug delivery, Developing novel inhibitors for bacteria toxins via DNA nanotechnology, Biosensors for point-of-care detection of bowel diseases, Optimisation of small molecule inhibitors for uncontrolled bleeding, and Developing an online drug discovery project for use in the undergraduate laboratory course.
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
- 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
- Extended Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry
- Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Development
- Quantum Mechanics and Bonding
- Project and Research Skills
- Chemistry in the Real World
- Big Data, Big Science
- Ethical Issues in Chemistry
- Chemistry into Schools
- Developing novel inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease
- The design and optimisation of novel inhibitors of amylin
- Third generation drug discovery: human-on-a-chip
- Discovery of drugs and biomarkers for cancer therapy
- Re-engineering bacterial toxins for drug delivery
- Developing novel inhibitors for bacteria toxins via DNA nanotechnology
- Biosensors for point-of-care detection of bowel diseases
- Optimisation of small molecule inhibitors for uncontrolled bleeding
- Developing an online drug discovery project for use in the undergraduate laboratory course