The MSci in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry (CMC) retains all of the core elements of the Chemistry MSci course. It is designed to produce chemists of the highest calibre, who wish to pursue a career at the interface between the chemical and biological sciences.
Course Content and Structure
First year:
Work carried out in Term 1 constitutes the Foundation course and is crossdisciplinary Lectures: All of the following lecture modules are taken: Revision Maths; Chemical Reactivity; Atomic Structure; Introduction to Spectroscopy and Characterisation; Maths for Chemistry part 1; Aromatic Chemistry; Chemical Equilibria; Stereochemistry; Molecular Structure; Periodicity; Coordination Chemistry; Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes; Haloalkanes, Alcohols, Amines; Chemistry of Carbonyls and Carboxyls; Data Presentation and Analysis; States of Matter; Quantum Chemistry, part 1; Chemical Kinetics. Ancillary subject: Medicinal Biology. This comprises a series of lecture courses aimed to develop understanding of medicinal biology.
Practical work: Courses in Basic Techniques, Synthesis, Theoretical Methods, part 1 . A Chemical Information Technology (CIT) course including a short project is taken which introduces the use of computers for access to chemical information and for molecular modelling. Workshops in arrow pushing and spectroscopy.
Second year: All the following lecture modules are taken: Inorganic Lectures: All of the following lecture modules are taken: NMR and EPR Spectroscopy; Molecular Orbitals in Inorganic Chemistry; Main Group Chemistry; Transition Metal Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry; Crystal and Molecular Architecture. Organic Lectures: All of the following lecture modules are taken: Organic Synthesis, part 1; Introduction NMR Spectroscopy; Heteroaromatics; Bioorganic Chemistry; Pericyclic Reactions; Conformational Analysis. Physical Lectures: All of the following lecture modules are taken: Electronic Properties of Solids; Quantum Chemistry, part 2; Maths for Chemistry, part 2; Interfacial Thermodynamics; Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Kinetics. Ancillary subject: Medicinal Chemistry. . This comprises a series of lecture courses aimed to develop understanding of medicinal chemistry.
Practical work: Synthesis Laboratories parts 1 and 2; Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Theoretical Methods, part 2. A molecular modelling workshop is also held.
Third year: Inorganic Lectures: All of the following Term 1 lecture modules are taken: Inorganic Mechanisms and Catalysis; Advanced Main Group Chemistry; Advanced Transition Metal Chemistry. Organic Lectures: All of the following Term 1 lecture modules are taken: Polymers: The Essential Guide; Introduction to Physical Organic Chemistry; Organic Synthesis, part 2; An Introduction to Reaction Stereoelectronics.
Physical Lectures: All of the following Term 1 lecture modules are taken: Molecular Reaction Dynamics; Photochemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics. Specialised Lectures: You take six elective Term 2 lecture courses out of around twenty offered in Inorganic chemistry, Organic chemistry and Physical chemistry. At least 2 must be taken in each branch of Chemistry. Practical/Project work: Practical work comprises four labs in Terms 1 and 2: Inorganic chemistry laboratory, Organic chemistry laboratory, Physical chemistry laboratory, Computational chemistry laboratory. A substantial literature project is also undertaken in Term 2. Students on F124 and F125 must select a literature report on a life science, biological science, medicinal chemistry or chemistry/biological science interface topic.
Final year: You can take either a specialised or a broad course, choosing twelve elective lecture modules (about 100 lectures) from advanced topics in physical, organic, inorganic, biological and medicinal chemistry. Students on F124 and F125 must select life science, biological science, medicinal chemistry or chemistry/biological science interface modules. Inorganic Lectures: Molecular Imaging; Supramolecular Chemistry of Nanomaterials; Nanotubes; Modern Applications of Inorganic Chemistry in Industry; Ultrasound & Microwaves for Chemical Synthesis; Computational Inorganic Chemistry; Palladium Chemistry in Organic Synthesis; Green Chemistry; Green Solvents. Organic Lectures: Advanced Stereochemistry; Understanding Organic Semiconductors; Chemistry & Engineering of Polymers; Advanced Polymer Synthesis; Advanced NMR Spectroscopy; Advanced Synthesis; Pharmaceuticals; Asymmetric Catalysis; Agrochemicals. Physical Lectures: Protein-Protein Interactions; Solar Energy; Fuel Cells & Renewable Energy; Physical Methods in Biological Chemistry; Theory, Modelling & Simulation of Nanoscale Systems; Electronic, Optical & Magnetic Properties of Nanoparticles & Nanostructures. The major part of the final year is an individual research project, chosen by you and carried out under the supervision of a member of staff. This includes writing a report and making an oral presentation. Students on F124 and F125 must select a research project on a life science, biological science, medicinal chemistry or chemistry/biological science interface subject.
Universities in the United Kingdom use a centralized system of undergraduate application: University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). It is used by both domestic and international students. Students have to register on the UCAS website before applying to the university. They will find all the necessary information about the application process on this website. Some graduate courses also require registration on this website, but in most cases students have to apply directly to the university. Some universities also accept undergraduate application through Common App (the information about it could be found on universities' websites).
Both undergraduate and graduate students may receive three types of responses from the university. The first one, “unconditional offer” means that you already reached all requirements and may be admitted to the university. The second one, “conditional offer” makes your admission possible if you fulfill some criteria – for example, have good grades on final exams. The third one, “unsuccessful application” means that you, unfortunately, could not be admitted to the university of you choice.
All universities require personal statement, which should include the reasons to study in the UK and the information about personal and professional goals of the student and a transcript, which includes grades received in high school or in the previous university.
Candidates should normally offer three A levels at A grade: chemistry, mathematics and one other (not general studies). We will also consider candidates with equivalent qualifications including:
International Baccalaureate, for which we require chemistry HL at grade 7, mathematics HL at grade 6 and at least 38 points overall.
Scottish Advanced Highers, which we consider equivalent to English/Welsh A levels.
For the Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry courses F124/F125, a knowledge of biology to A level standard is recommended. Applicants not taking biology as their third subject at A level must be able to show that they are adequately prepared at the start of their course. For all courses, passes are required in English, mathematics and physics or combined science at GCSE, typically grade B or better (grade B for English).
Thermo Fisher Scholarship
Student Status EligibilityValue Required
Open pre-enrolment only
ValueValue Required
$5000
Number AvailableValue Required - 8
Further Eligibility Criteria InformationValue Required
This scholarship is available to HOME applicants who have received a conditional firm or unconditional offer from Imperial College by the published deadline. Only available to Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Earth, Science and Engineering, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Life Sciences and Mathematics students only.
Your household income must also have been assessed to be £60,000 or less by your government funding authority (e.g. Student Loans Company).
DurationValue Required
Maximum of 4 years
Application Deadline DateValue Required
07-MAY-2015
How to apply
There is no separate application form that you need to complete in order to apply for this scholarship.
Your department will assess your academic merit from your UCAS form and your predicted A-Level results, and will select the best candidate as the scholar. Each Department will be allocated one award.
Value of the Award
The successful Scholars will receive a cash bursary (the equivalent in £GBP) of $5,000 per annum. The award is for a maximum of 4 years, excluding repeat periods of study.
Outcome of the Award
The successful candidate will be notified by email no later than 4 July 2015. If you have not heard from us by this date please assume you have been unsuccessful in your application.
Please note that the successful scholar will be expected to meet informally with the donors on occasions, and will be required to submit a short statement of progress each year that will be shared with the donors.
This award is for students starting in the academic year 2015-16 and cannot be deferred.
President's Undergraduate Scholarships
Student Status EligibilityValue Required
Open pre-enrolment only
ValueValue Required
£3,000 one off scholarship payment upon enrolment
Number AvailableValue Required - 112
Further Eligibility Criteria InformationValue Required
All applicants are reviewed by their academic departments as part of the admission process and nominated on the basis of academic excellence and potential.
DurationValue Required 1 year
Selection ProcessValue Required
There is no seperate application process for these awards. Selection will be determined by departments' usual admissions processes.
The standard MSci programme lasts four academic years and carries 240 ECTS credits. Students have the option of undertaking additional study or project work in the summer vacations to raise their ECTS count to 270.
