Course description
Special features
We take good care of our students and have several tutors to oversee the process - from the Director of Undergraduate Studies in overall charge, Academic Tutors in all branches of the subject, a programme tutor for the F101 course, and a Personal Tutor for each student.
MChem Chemistry with Industrial Chemistry is a highly flexible degree involving courses from the School of Chemistry and a range of outside departments. For full details of all the courses see our undergraduate syllabus on our web site.
The third year is spent gaining valuable paid experience in the chemical industry. The course tutor will keep in contact throughout the year and visit you at your placement. You will undertake core chemistry modules by distance learning over the web, for which tutorial support is provided. Assessment will also involve reports marked by the course tutor and the industrial supervisor.
Course content for year 1
Core first-year topics include:
-Bonding in molecules
-Organic reaction mechanisms
-Natural product chemistry
-s, p, and d block chemistry
-Thermodynamics
-Kinetic and quantum chemistry
-Mathematics
You also attend courses covering presentational, computer, and IT skills.
Finally, there is time to take subsidiary courses from outside Schools such as Life Sciences (Biochemistry), Earth Sciences (Geology), Geography, Material Science, Mathematics, Physics and also Lanaguages.
Course content for year 2
The second year continues developing the core and extends topics from first year, introducing new areas such as:
-Molecular spectroscopy
-Bonding and reactivity
-Surfaces and interfaces
-d and f block chemistry
-Molecular symmetry
-Metal-ligand bonding
-Polymer science
-Structure dermination
-Sterochemistry
-Heterocyclic chemistry
In addition other courses from outside Schools involving Biological and Computational Chemistry.
During the second year students prepare CVs and attend interviews to obtain a placement. Full training is given in CV writing and interview techniques.
Course content for year 3
The third year is spent in industry, although eligibility for the MChem programme is at the discretion of the programme tutor taking into account your general performance and your second year mark. If you have not performed to a satisfactory standard, you will be transferred to the BSc (Hons) Chemistry programme.
The programme tutor will maintain contact with students and visit them during their placement year. Core chemistry material is taught by distance learning modules using the web. You will also be required to present a detailed report on the placement year and give an oral presentation at the end of the year.
Course content for year 4
In the fourth and final year, you carry out an extended project associated with one of the research groups in the School of Chemistry. You will study course units related to the area of the project, take units from other areas of Chemistry and attend specialist lectures chosen in consultation with your project supervisor.
