Chemistry with Study Abroad MSci

Our Chemistry with Study Abroad programme allows you to spend the third year of your four-year degree studying at one of our partner universities around the world. You can choose to study at an English-speaking university or a non-English-speaking university if you have the requisite language skills. If you are planning to study at a non-English-speaking university you will take language modules in Years 1 and 2 to hone your language skills for your year abroad.

Each year contains 120 credits of taught material, delivered in modules that are typically worth 10 or 20 credits. Core modules (60 credits in Years 1 and 2) are taken by all students enrolled on both single honours and major/minor degree programmes and cover those fundamentals of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry that we deem essential.

The remaining 60 credits in the first two years comprise maths and data analysis modules in Year 1 and optional material in Year 2, along with laboratory modules (with embedded communications and employability skills) designed to support these core courses, allowing you to develop your practical skills and techniques as well as consolidate the associated theory from your lectures.

In Year 1, you will take core modules in the traditional sub-disciplines of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, all of which are supported by two additional modules comprising an extensive laboratory work programme. Your remaining 20 credits will give you a solid grounding in the maths and data analysis techniques you will need during your degree.

Those of you who do not have A-level maths or an equivalent – don’t worry! In the introductory maths module in Semester 1 you can learn at your own pace, supported by lectures and workshops to bring you up to speed with the common mathematical techniques needed for chemistry. All students take this module, whether they have A-level maths or not, since not all A-level maths syllabuses cover the same material.

In Semester 2, additional mathematics is embedded in the physical chemistry module, as you begin to apply your mathematical skills to chemical problems. All of the maths material is delivered by staff from Chemistry, which ensures you are equipped with those skills you need to tackle the more physical and theoretical aspects of our courses.

• Inorganic Chemistry I - 20 credits
• Organic Chemistry 1a - 10 credits
• Organic Chemistry 1b - 10 credits
• Physical Chemistry I - 20 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ia1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ia2 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ib1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ib2 - 10 credits
• Fundamental Mathematics for Chemists - 10 credits
• Innovative Approaches to Data Analysis and Presentation - 10 credits

In Year 2, you will build on material from your first year as we employ a combination of lectures and practicals to further your understanding of the fundamental aspects of chemistry. In addition to core courses in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, you will also take two chemistry options modules, choosing from a range of courses which include analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry and biological chemistry.

• Inorganic Chemistry IIa - 10 credits
• Inorganic Chemistry IIb - 10 credits
• Organic Chemistry IIa - 10 credits
• Organic Chemistry IIb - 10 credits
• Physical Chemistry IIa - 10 credits
• Physical Chemistry IIb - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIa1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIa2 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIb1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIb2 - 10 credits
• Year 2 Chemistry Options A – 10 credits
• Year 2 Chemistry Options B – 10 credits

Students may proceed with the MSci programme providing a minimum of 220 credits have been accumulated by the end of Stage 2 and an Overall Stage 2 mark of greater than 60% has been obtained, normally to include passes in core chemistry exams.

You take a 10-credit intensive lab course before leaving Birmingham, the remainder of Year 3 is spent out at your chosen university at which you will take 110 credits of modules. These will have been chosen to ensure that when you return to Birmingham to re-join your MSci cohort, you possess the necessary skills and knowledge to underpin a successful final year of your MSci. This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry for those students choosing to study at a university in which English is the language of instruction.

• Year Abroad - 110 credits
• Intensive Practical Chemistry - 10 credits

After spending your third year studying abroad at your chosen university, you will return to Birmingham for your fourth year. You will find significant flexibility in this, your final, year, as you choose 60 credits of taught modules from a range of courses pitched at the cutting edge of the discipline.

In addition to 60 credits of taught modules, you will join one of the School’s research groups, and become a member of the Research School as you undertake a major research project (worth the remaining 60 credits). You will work closely with your project supervisor to tailor your project to your particular interests and ensure you develop those research skills that you feel will be most beneficial to you after completing your degree.

• Masters Research Project - 60 credits

Select 60 credits of optional modules, examples listed below:

• Materials Chemistry - 10 credits
• Applications of Supramolecular Chemistry - 10 credits
• Synthesis of Natural Products - 10 credits
• Clusters, Surfaces and Interfaces - 10 credits
• Bio-inorganic Chemistry - 10 credits
• Modern Methods for Molecular Synthesis - 10 credits
• Soft matter - 10 credits
• Statistical Mechanics, Symmetry and Spectroscopy - 10 credits
• Advanced Sustainable Polymeric and Advanced Molecular Materials - 10 credits

As a condition of RSC accreditation and to provide sufficient breadth of knowledge, students must choose at least one module from each of the three main branches of the discipline, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.

Each year contains 120 credits of taught material, delivered in modules that are typically worth 10 or 20 credits. Core modules (60 credits in Years 1 and 2) are taken by all students enrolled on both single honours and major/minor degree programmes and cover those fundamentals of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry that we deem essential.

To prepare you for studying abroad, you will also take 20 credits of language modules in each of the first two years; these courses are delivered by staff in the University’s Department of Modern Languages. The remaining 40 credits in the first two years comprise laboratory modules (with embedded communications and employability skills) designed to support these core courses, allowing you to develop your practical skills and techniques as well as consolidate the associated theory from your lectures.

In Year 1, you will take core modules in the traditional sub-disciplines of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, all of which are supported by two additional modules comprising an extensive laboratory work programme. You will also take a module in the appropriate modern language.

Those of you who do not have A-level maths or equivalent – don’t worry! We provide a self-paced introductory maths course in Semester 1, which will bring you up to speed with the common mathematical techniques needed for chemistry. All students take this course, whether they have A-level maths or not, since not all A-level maths syllabuses cover the same material.

In Semester 2, additional mathematics is embedded in the physical chemistry module, as you begin to apply your mathematical skills to chemical problems. All of the maths material is delivered by staff from Chemistry, which ensures you are equipped with those skills you need to tackle the more physical and theoretical aspects of our courses.

• Inorganic Chemistry I - 20 credits
• Organic Chemistry 1a - 10 credits
• Organic Chemistry 1b - 10 credits
• Physical Chemistry I - 20 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ia1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ia2 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ib1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry Ib2 - 10 credits

In addition you must select ONE language module, examples listed below:

• IWLP Mandarin Level 1 - 20 credits
• IWLP Japanese Level 1 - 20 credits
• French Module according to IWLP - 20 credits
• German Module according to IWLP - 20 credits
• Spanish Module according to IWLP - 20 credits

In Year 2, you will build on material from your first year as we employ a combination of lectures and practicals to further your understanding of the fundamental aspects of chemistry. In addition to core courses in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry and practical work, you will take a further module in the appropriate modern language.

• Inorganic Chemistry IIa - 10 credits
• Inorganic Chemistry IIb - 10 credits
• Organic Chemistry IIa - 10 credits
• Organic Chemistry IIb - 10 credits
• Physical Chemistry IIa - 10 credits
• Physical Chemistry IIb - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIa1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIa2 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIb1 - 10 credits
• Practical Chemistry IIb2 - 10 credits

In addition you must select ONE language module, examples listed below:

• IWLP Mandarin Level 2 - 20 credits
• IWLP Japanese Level 2 - 20 credits
• French Module according to IWLP - 20 credits
• German Module according to IWLP - 20 credits
• Spanish Module according to IWLP - 20 credits

Students may proceed with the MSci programme providing a minimum of 220 credits have been accumulated by the end of Stage 2 and an Overall Stage 2 mark of greater than 60% has been obtained, normally to include passes in core chemistry exams.

Year 3 is spent out at your chosen university at which you will take 120 credits of modules. These will have been chosen to ensure that when you return to Birmingham to re-join your MSci cohort, you possess the necessary skills and knowledge to underpin a successful final year of your MSci.

• Chemistry Year Abroad - 120 credits

After spending your third year studying abroad at your chosen university, you will return to Birmingham for your fourth year. You will find significant flexibility in this, your final, year, as you choose 60 credits of taught modules from a range of courses pitched at the cutting edge of the discipline.

In addition to 60 credits of taught modules, you will join one of the School’s research groups, and become a member of the Research School as you undertake a major research project (worth the remaining 60 credits). You will work closely with your project supervisor to tailor your project to your particular interests and ensure you develop those research skills that you feel will be most beneficial to you after completing your degree.

• Masters Research Project - 60 credits

Select 60 credits of optional modules, examples listed below:

• Materials Chemistry - 10 credits
• Applications of Supramolecular Chemistry - 10 credits
• Synthesis of Natural Products - 10 credits
• Clusters, Surfaces and Interfaces - 10 credits
• Bio-inorganic Chemistry - 10 credits
• Modern Methods for Molecular Synthesis - 10 credits
• Soft matter - 10 credits
• Statistical Mechanics, Symmetry and Spectroscopy - 10 credits
• Advanced Sustainable Polymeric and Advanced Molecular Materials - 10 credits

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2020. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.