Pharmaceutical Chemistry BSc

• If you choose to study for a BSc or MChem degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry you will, on graduation, be equipped with the skills to work in the pharmaceutical industry or in the health and biomedical sectors. Pharmaceutical Chemists are at the forefront of drug development, design, synthesis, trials and marketing, and as one of the largest employer sectors in the UK, a diverse range of careers will be open to you.
• The School of Chemistry at Leicester is one of the best in the UK for both teaching and research. We have a reputation as a friendly, supportive School that produces highly trained graduates with skills valued by employers. This is because we offer high quality courses that are designed to give you a wide range of employment opportunities, and are carefully structured to ensure you will cover all the relevant topics.
• Whichever degree you study, you will always benefit from our excellent teaching, our well-equipped laboratories, our high-quality welfare provision and academic support. You will also reap the benefits of the cutting-edge research being carried out in the School by our academics – the same academics who teach you.
• Our specialist research areas include atmospheric chemistry, chemical biology, materials and interfaces, spectroscopy and dynamics, and sustainable synthesis and catalysis. You can be sure of learning about the very latest breakthroughs in each area throughout your course. In your final year, you will carry out your own personal research project, working under one of our academic staff and applying the knowledge and practical skills which you have gained on the course – placing you at the cutting-edge of chemistry research.

What's the difference?

• Study for a BSc and you will receive rigorous training in chemistry and related, transferable skills – which will put you in a strong position to apply for a range of different employment sectors. Or you may want to continue your studies by applying for a Masters degree (MSc).
• If you specifically want to find work as a chemist, whether in industry or the public sector, you should consider an MChem. The extra depth of experience and knowledge you will gain is valued by prospective employers that use chemical processes, and will keep you competitive in the job market against graduates who may have studied for the longer degrees taught in some European countries. Alternatively, an MChem provides a solid basis for progressing to a PhD.
• Each of our MChem degrees share a common first two years with the respective BSc, during which you can switch between them (transfer from BSc to MChem is subject to satisfactory progress). Both the MChem and BSc degrees are taught and assessed to the same high standards. The difference is one of content, not quality.
• Also please note that the Year Abroad option is not available on our BSc degrees.

Year 1

• During your first year you will be taught a range of fundamental chemistry theories and techniques. In addition to this, you will begin to look at the aspects of chemistry that form the foundations of pharmaceutical chemistry.

Modules

• General Chemistry
• Introductory Organic Chemistry
• Introductory Inorganic Chemistry
• Introductory Physical Chemistry
• Introductory Practical Chemistry
• Chemistry Key Skills and Maths
• Scientific Method and Principles of Analytical Chemistry
• Introductory Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• This is the same as the first year of the MChem.

NB. It is possible to switch at the end of your first year to a regular Chemistry degree.

Year 2

• You will learn more advanced practical techniques, increase the number of specialised pharmaceutical modules you are taking and begin to reflect on your career ambitions and how to go about realising them.

Modules

• Spectroscopy Theory and Practice
• Organic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Practical Chemistry and Key Skills (double module)
• Analytical Chemistry in Practice
• Physiology and Pharmacology
• This is the same as the second year of the MChem.

Final Year

• In your final year you will gain advanced knowledge in core areas of chemistry and specialist fields of pharmaceutical chemistry.

Core modules

• Advanced Organic Chemistry
• Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
• BSc General Paper and Key Skills
• BSc Project Practical
• BSc Project Report
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Option modules

Choose two option modules from:

• Advanced Physical Chemistry
• Biological Chemistry
• Metals in Synthesis
• Advanced Analytical Chemistry
• Advanced Materials Chemistry

Year in Industry (optional)

• If you want to, you can spend your third year working in an industrial placement (eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2). Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
• NB. A year spent on an industrial placement still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.
• You will carry out a year long project in the research and development section of your host company, such as developing new drugs or exploring new analytical techniques for testing the purity of petroleum products.
• In addition to getting paid, throughout your industrial placement you will have all the same entitlements as other employees in the company. Salaries vary but the average is around £15,000-17,000 per year.
• Recent host employers include: GlaxoSmithKline, Astra Zeneca, 3M, BASF, the Ministry of Defence, Lubrizol and Reckitt Benckiser.

UK Students

• Starting in 2022
• £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
• Year in Industry: your fee will be 15% of the full-time tuition fee that applies in that year
• If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.