Undergraduate study 2013 prospectus

General information

The search for new drugs to combat serious ailments such as cancer, heart disease and AIDS remains an exciting challenge at the forefront of medical research.

Pharmaceutical companies invest billions of pounds annually in the search for potential new drugs and the industry has a need for highly skilled graduates with a strong background in organic chemistry, coupled with a broad understanding of pharmacology and related biochemical areas.

This course offers you the opportunity to study chemistry as a major subject in courses which also contain subjects allied to the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Year 1 provides you with a sound basis of the core areas.

In Year 2 increasing emphasis is put on subjects allied to the medical and pharmaceutical industry. The biological modules do not depend on a background of biology.

After Year 2 you can take advantage of the industrial placement scheme. In Years 3 and 4 specialism is further evident and you will undertake a research project on a topic in biological organic chemistry.

Career Prospects

Recent graduates have gone on to become: Medicinal Chemists (Novel Drug Synthesis), Product and Process Development Chemists, Bioanalysts (analytical aspects of drug metabolism, kinetics, validation of medicinal products), Forensic Scientists, Formulation Scientists, Clinical Research Associates (liaison and practical aspects of clinical trials), Product Registration Officers, Pharmacologists and Microbiologists, Drug Marketing and Sales.

Many graduates continue their education and training to become: International Law Patent Officers, Accountants, Researchers
and Teachers (in universities and schools).

Course structure

Modules typically include

Year 1

• Structure and Reactivity in Inorganic Chemistry
• Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry
• Energetics and Rates of Change
• Spectroscopy and the Structure of the Universe
• Stoichiometry and Analytical Measurements
• Mathematics for Chemistry
• Chemical and Phase Equilibria
• Concepts in Main Group Chemistry
• Molecular Basis of Life
• Introduction to Analytical Chemistry

Year 2

• Synthesis of Organic Molecules
• Structure of Organic Molecules
• Cell Structure and Biochemistry
• Drug Action and Presentation
• d-Block Chemistry
• Radiochemistry
• Inorganic Structure Determination
• Solutions, Surfaces and Interfaces
• Analytical Separation Methods
• p-Block Ligands, Cages and Clusters

Year 3

• Advanced Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry
• Dissertation and Research Project
• Drugs and Disease
• Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
• Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism
• Biological Organic Chemistry or Synthesis in Drug Discovery

Year 4

• Further Aspects of Advanced Analytical, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry

Plus Dissertation and Extended Research Project.

Study options and entry requirements

Here you will find information about the various study options available for this course and the entry requirements for each option.

SQA = Scottish Qualifications Authority IB = International Baccalaureate