Chemistry MChem (Hons)
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Master
In St Andrews
Description
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Type
Master
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Location
St andrews (Scotland)
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Duration
5 Years
The MChem (Hons) in Chemistry will teach you the fundamentals of this central science, from the composition and properties of matter to using reactions to create new materials, from pharmaceuticals to drinkable water. Chemistry at St Andrews interfaces with biology, physics, mathematics, medicine and geology, making it a highly applicable subject to many areas of study.
The MChem allows you to study chemistry at great depth with emphasis on research all combined in a single five-year programme, graduating with a Masters degree. The course is designed to give you the best possible training for a career in chemistry and is tailored for those intending to enter the professional chemical sector or to carry out postgraduate study upon graduation.
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About this course
The skills you gain in research and analysis during these years will prepare you to undertake more advanced and specialist modules during your final three years. These specialist subjects include (but are not limited to):
organometallic chemistry
carbohydrate and nucleic acid chemistry
energy conversion and storage
statistical mechanics and computational chemistry.
In your fourth year, you will have the opportunity to apply for an external placement in a leading industrial laboratory in the UK, Europe and North America. The School of Chemistry will assist you in applying for a placement.
St Andrews Chemistry graduates are highly employable and have gone on to find success in a wide variety of careers in industry and business including:
professional chemists in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries
teachers
forensic scientists
various careers in the food industry (including brewing)
management consultancy
marketing and advertising
patent lawyers
journalism and the media
finance (accountants and investment bankers).
SQA Highers AAAB, including A in Chemistry, and an additional Higher in one of the following:
Biology or Human Biology
Computing Science or equivalent
Geography
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology.
GCE A-Levels AAB, including A in Chemistry.
IB points 35, including HL6 in Chemistry.
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There are excellent support facilities along with a strong community feeling. However, the sports facilities could have been better. Also, a bigger city could offer a better experience in terms of pubs.
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Subjects
- Biology
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Ligand Design
- Spectroscopic
- Chemistry
- Introductory Inorganic
- Biological Chemistry
- Physical
- Inorganic Chemistry
Course programme
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours) 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, fourth, and fifth years (known as Honours).
1st Year
Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:
- Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers the origin of the elements, atoms and the periodic table, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics.
- 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, stereochemistry and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bio-organic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.
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 carbon-carbon bond formation, interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, mechanistic biological chemistry and organic spectroscopy.
- Physical Chemistry 2: covers quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electrochemistry, kinetics, molecular spectroscopy and diffraction and mathematical tools for chemistry.
If you decide to take Chemistry in your third year, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options, including modules ranging from physical inorganic chemistry to quantum theory of atoms, molecules and solids.
Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered in previous years:
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Quantum Theory of Atoms, Molecules and Solids
- Synthetic Methodology
- Mechanism in Organic Chemistry.
During fourth year, you will have the opportunity to work on a placement outside St Andrews for a whole year. This is a great chance to gain experience in industry and to add value to your CV at the same time.
Typically, you may join a research and development group within a company and receive a salary for the duration of your placement. It is also possible for the placement to be carried out in an overseas academic institution.
The School will assist students in applying for an 8 to 13-month placement in a leading industrial research laboratory. The School has links with large and small companies of different types, including:
- AstraZeneca (UK)
- BASF (Germany)
- BP (UK)
- DSM (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- GlaxoSmithKline (UK)
- Novartis (Basel, Switzerland)
- Proctor and Gamble (UK)
- Roche (Basel, Switzerland)
- Syngenta (UK).
Alternatively, you have the choice to complete the MChem without doing an external placement, and will take lecture and practical modules during your fourth year Honours programme at St Andrews.
5th Year
During fifth year, you will take advanced research-led modules in your chosen speciality. Advanced modules offered in the past include:
- Advanced Ligand Design
- Advanced Spectroscopic Methods
- Asymmetric Synthesis
- Chemical Biology
- Homogeneous Catalysis.
Students will also undertake a substantial research project in their final year on a topic chosen in consultation with academic staff. The project aims to develop your skills in experimental design and problem-solving, the evaluation and interpretation of data, and communications skills.
Additional information
Chemistry MChem (Hons)