Course description
COURSE INFORMATION
Chemistry is one of the key strands of modern science and connects with almost every aspect of everyday life, through innovations such as advanced medicines, alternative fuels, health and beauty products, new construction materials and cutting-edge forensic science. The European Union is one of the world's leading science centres and chemistry plays a vital role in maintaining that position. Here in the UK, for example, chemicals and pharmaceuticals provide one of our largest manufacturing industries, with 230,000 employees, and UK chemistry is noted for its outstanding scholarship and innovation.
Chemistry is essentially an experimental science and our MRes course is designed to reflect this, with an extended laboratory-based research project and coursework tailored to develop your research skills. The research project is carried out under the direct mentoring of one of our faculty, meaning that you will have the opportunity to develop your research abilities with one-to-one guidance from an established scientist.
The course provides knowledge and skills, and uses tools, techniques and methods which are immediately useful to employers, both in the UK and overseas. You will develop transferable skills with the emphasis on personal time management, problem solving abilities and life-long independent learning.
Graduate Science Research Methods
This module will provide you with an opportunity to develop your skills in the use of literature and quantitative methods. You will learn how to evaluate and contribute to scientific literature and to interpret and disseminate scientific information as well as assessing scientific data and tests of hypotheses. You will appreciate the desirable properties of research design, will be able to select an experimental design appropriate to a given system and create the design matrix. You will be able to select, apply, and interpret the output from statistical methods of data analysis and evaluate the results of statistical analyses as applied to a given data set.
Subject Exploration
This module is designed to provide you with an opportunity for advanced exploration into a subject area of interest so that you can develop a critical appreciation of primary research within a relevant field and apply your pre-existing scientific/technical knowledge. It will also enable you to further develop your key skills including information retrieval, evaluative, analytical, and problem solving skills, together with group-based written and oral communication skills.
Research Proposal
This module is designed to help you to understand a specific research area. You will identify an individually tailored program with your academic supervisor. Directed reading, guided and independent study will be used to enable you to gain a more sophisticated awareness of your chosen area.
MRes Project
This project is a research-based dissertation which may encompass a wet-laboratory based, computer-based or theoretically-based project. All projects will include development of research skills and discussion of results as well as an opportunity to compose a written dissertation.
Quantum Chemistry
The module will use quantum chemistry calculations to explore various chemical phenomena. Methods will be mainly ab initio for calculations on spin-paired and open shells and for ground and excited states. The effects of basis set choice will be demonstrated.
Heterocycles, Macrocycles and Green Chemistry
This module aims to explore modern aspects of advanced heterocyclic, macrocyclic and green chemistry. You will be able to critically evaluate the impact and achievements in these areas, rationally devise synthetic routes to molecules covered in these areas and appraise, interpret experimental data and discuss the uses and impacts of these chemistries.
MODULE INFORMATION
Year 1 Modules
CH0911 SUBJECT EXPLORATION (CORE, 20 Credits)
CH0916 MRes Project (CORE, 90 Credits)
CH0919 Research Proposal (CORE, 10 Credits)
CH0923 Graduate Science Research Methods (CORE, 20 Credits)
CH0945 Advanced Synthetic Chemistry: Heterocycles & Macrocycles (OPTION, 20 Credits)
CH0946 Advanced Applied Chemistry: Polymer and Green Chemistry (OPTION, 20 Credits)
CH0557 HETEROCYCLES, MACROCYCLES AND GREEN CHEMISTRY (CORE, 30 Credits)
CH0916 MRes Project (CORE, 90 Credits)
COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT
The modules are assessed by combinations of coursework, laboratory reports and/or examination including viva voce.
CAREERS
Upon successful completion of the course, there will be a range of exciting careers open to you. Many of our graduates have taken up employment in education, industry, consultancy or research.
APPLICATION DETAIL
Applicants should complete a standard university application form available from the enquiries office listed on the right of this page.
