BSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry

The degree programme covers topics in all areas of medicinal and biological chemistry, from the basics to the most advanced understanding and application.

In the early years, you will study core courses in chemistry and mathematics.

There is also a flexible curriculum to suit your personal interests. This means you can combine courses in other sciences, arts or humanities with your core chemistry content. This flexibility allows you to potentially switch to a different degree programme in science or engineering at the end of Year 1.

In your final year, you will gain hands-on experience of research and carry out an in-depth, individual research project.

Year 1

You will spend about a third of Year 1 in:

• chemistry lectures
• laboratory classes in the recently completed Nucleus building
• tutorials with a high staff-to-student ratio

You will also take a mathematics course.

You can choose the rest of your curriculum from a wide range of courses offered by the University.

Year 2

You will continue with your chemistry course, which will take up about a third of your time.

You will also be required to take:

• Biological Chemistry 2
• Chemical Pharmacology 2
• Data-Driven Chemistry

You can select one optional course in Year 2.

Year 3

You will study two lecture-based chemistry courses that provide a foundation for the remaining honours years. You will also take a laboratory course to develop your practical skills.

Year 4

In your final year, you will take three lecture courses and choose a fourth course from a range of advanced topics.

On the BSc programmes, you will have a choice between a final-year research project with one of our research groups.

You may take a science education project instead. The science education project provides ideal preparation for future study towards a teaching qualification.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2024/25)

Our facilities

You will have access to:

• research laboratories
• the University's libraries
• computer facilities

All teaching and labs are based at the King's Buildings campus with 1st year chemistry labs taking place in the Nucleus building.

Tour of the Nucleus building

Find out more about the Nucleus Building

The King's Buildings campus is around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh by bus.

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the School of Chemistry and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Take a virtual tour of the School of Chemistry

Placements

The Medicinal and Biological Chemistry BSc (Hons) degree programme gives you the option of undertaking a science education project in place of the final year research project.

This provides valuable experience if you wish to pursue a career as a teacher.

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of:

• lectures
• laboratory classes
• problem-solving workshops
• tutorials with a high staff-to-student ratio

How long should I study?

In your first two years, you will have 20 hours per week of timetabled study.

You should also dedicate 15 hours to prepare for:

• tutorials
• writing lab reports
• private study

In later years, you will experience more practical learning and research project work.

What skills will I gain?

All our programmes include:

• training, practice, and feedback in communication skills
• teamwork and collaboration
• exposure to the latest technology of scientific information retrieval and organisation

As you produce posters, reports and a final year thesis, you will develop skills in:

• written communication
• report writing
• IT
• oral presentation skills

You will also gain practical skills and learn about the safety aspects of laboratory work and risk assessment as part of the programme.

You will build on these skills through a research project in the final year.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of:

• coursework
• reports on laboratory practicals
• presentations
• exams
• assessment of your final year research project

Medicinal and Biological Chemistry graduates find careers in a range of technology sectors and industries like:

• chemical
• pharmaceutical
• biotechnological

Many graduates also find careers in:

• academia
• education
• scientific publishing
• the research-support sector
• consultancy

They also utilise their numerical, problem-solving and analytical skills in sectors such as:

• IT
• finance
• marketing
• advertising

Many of our graduates progress to a higher degree, typically a PhD.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAB by end of S5 or AAAA by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: AAA - ABB in one set of exams.
• IB: 37 points with 666 at HL - 32 points with 655 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 32 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Mathematics at A and Chemistry at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. Advanced Higher Mathematics and Chemistry are recommended. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: Chemistry and Mathematics at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Chemistry and Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 6 (if not at HL).

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

For direct entry to second year the standard requirements must be exceeded, including the following:

• SQA Advanced Highers: AAB to include Chemistry and Mathematics; or AA in Chemistry and Mathematics, plus at least BB in two further Highers.
• A Levels: A*AA in one set of exams to include Chemistry and Mathematics, or AAA in one set of exams to include Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.
• IB: 38 points with 766 at HL to include Chemistry and Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only).

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies..

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

English language requirements

(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)

Selection

We normally make offers to the highest qualified applicants. If competition for places is high this may mean that offers will only be made to applicants who are predicted, or who have achieved, above the single set of grades or the upper grade level in a range. Any conditional offer made may require you to achieve grades above the upper grade level. Therefore, achieving the top of our standard entry requirements does not guarantee a place on the relevant degree.

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for BSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry

Additional costs

You will need a white lab coat, which costs £15 in 2023.

You should also buy three core textbooks in Year 1, which cost around £150 in 2023.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

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