Excited to learn more? For a taster of what you can expect to study on our MChem Chemistry and Computing degree, take a sneak preview of some of the modules you may have the opportunity to study below.

Compulsory modules

Laboratory and Computer Skills 1

The aims of the module are to:

Enable students to develop essential laboratory skills that are required in inorganic, organic, analytical and physical chemistry, and introduce students to fundamental software packages required for chemical report writing and data manipulation.

A part aim for this module is to enable students to become aware of and develop their academic, professional and personal skills through Personal Best. Personal Best is a development programme available to all students at Loughborough University.

Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry

The aims of the module are to introduce mathematical concepts and introduce the fundamental concepts and applications of Thermodynamics and Kinetics.

Fundamental Synthetic Chemistry

The aims of the module are to introduce students to the fundamental principles underpinning core synthetic chemistry (organic and inorganic chemistry).

Spectroscopy and Analysis 1

The aim of this module is to introduce the principles and experimental methods of spectroscopy and analytical chemistry as a measurement science.

Energetics and Equilibria 1

The aim of this module is to introduce concepts in thermodynamics, redox and phase equilibria, and to introduce their applications to the understanding of chemical and physical change, and in chemical analysis.

Structure and Reactivity 1

The aim of this module is to introduce the fundamental concepts of structure and how this influences reactivity in organic and inorganic chemistry.

Compulsory modules

Laboratory and Computer Skills 2

The aims of this module are to further develop essential laboratory skills from Part A that are required in inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry; to introduce basic concepts of computer programming.

Structural Characterisation, Spectroscopy and Analysis

The aim of this module is to familiarise students with the theory and applications of analytical separation and structural elucidation techniques, and to develop their analytical data manipulation skills.

Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Quanta

The aim of this module is to familiarise students with a variety of modern Physical Chemistry topics and to teach the skills for solving the associated mathematical problems effectively.

Structure and Reactivity 2

The aim of this module is to introduce the major types of chemical reactions in organic and inorganic chemistry, and the relationships between chemical structure, reactivity and behaviour of organic and inorganic compounds.

Computer Programming

This module aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the inner workings of computers, as well as the basics of computer programming. Through this, students will gain an understanding of how computer programming is utilised in the field of chemistry. The practical skills necessary for writing computer code to solve chemistry problems will also be provided.

Computing Skills

The aims of this module is to introduce students to the fundamentals of how computers work and how to use the Python programming language to process and analyse data.

Compulsory modules

Investigative Computational Projects

The aims of this module are: to develop research skills through critical assessment of scientific literature and introduction to experimental and computational methods and procedures for undertaking investigative research work.

Data, Algorithms and Numerical Optimisation

Building on existing programming competence, the aim of this module is to equip students with practical approach to computational problem solving supported by a formal understanding of data structures, algorithm design, and introduction to numerical optimisation and regression.

Modern Aspects of Organic Chemistry

The aim of this module is to review modern methods of organic synthesis and introduce advanced NMR techniques.

Science Communication

The aims of the module are:

  • To develop a chemistry related educational outreach activity.
  • To develop confidence and competence in communicating their subject to audiences with different levels of ability and experience.
  • To provide opportunities to devise and develop science projects, and teaching methods, appropriate to the age and ability of those the student is working with.
  • To develop the student's ability to present science through oral and poster presentations.

Current Trends in Inorganic Chemistry

The aims of this module are for the student to be aware of some major issues and techniques currently at the frontiers of inorganic chemistry.

Energy, Molecules and Applications

The aims of this module are to introduce the student to advanced concepts in physical chemistry, and their application in electrochemistry, photochemistry, computational methods and the properties of materials.

Compulsory modules

Research Project

The aims of this module are to develop the skills required for original scientific research through conducting an extended literature search and practical work.

Advanced Analytical Chemistry Option

The aim of this module is to provide advanced training in modern analytical chemistry as applied to biological systems, including mass spectrometry and related techniques, biospecific techniques, elemental analysis and sample preparation, highlighting applications in health monitoring, clinical and forensic areas, illustrated with examples of current research.

The processing, modelling and evaluation of data/information/knowledge arising from these analytical systems will be a central theme of this module.

Applied Computational Chemistry

The aims of the module are to provide advanced training in modern computational chemistry and teach the students how to apply computational methods to solve a variety of problems in current chemistry and related fields using techniques from classical and quantum mechanics.

Optional modules

Contemporary Inorganic Chemistry

The aim of this module is to provide advanced training in contemporary inorganic chemistry.

Drugs: Mode of Action, Properties and Synthesis

The aim of this module is to enable students to understand medicinal chemistry, how drugs act at a molecular level and are designed and synthesised, and how these activities may be assessed in a drug development programme.

The information above is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please also see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.