Science Research Seminars, Semester 2Chemistry
Our two principal chemistry degrees are Applied Chemistry BSc (Hons) and our corresponding Applied Chemistry MChem. These degrees advertise their applied nature in their titles - they cover all the standard core components of any chemistry degree (i.e. organic, inorganic, analytical and physical chemistry) but also contain details of how these essential theoretical elements are used in such diverse fields as medicinal chemistry, forensic science, environmental monitoring and computer-based molecular modelling. Other courses we provide offer our students the opportunity to specialise in one area which interests them most; these courses are Chemistry with Forensic Chemistry BSc (Hons), Chemistry with Biomedical Sciences BSc (Hons) and Pharmaceutical Chemistry BSc (Hons).
Our courses have parallel streams of lecture-based and laboratory-based teaching, and we pride ourselves on our emphasis on hands-on experience of the subject as a practical subject. We have close links with employers so that we keep our curriculum up to date with skills required to obtain a job in the chemical industry on graduation, and all our degrees offer the opportunity to do an additional one-year placement in a chemical company as part of a sandwich degree qualification. We are renowned for our teaching in analytical chemistry and have state of the art labs in molecular and elemental analysis in which undergraduates do hands-on practical work from the first semester of the first year.
We have a relatively small intake meaning that classes for most core subjects contain no more than forty students. We operate an ‘open door’ policy between students and staff meaning that the atmosphere is informal and relaxed. This is most apparent on any Friday during semester when staff help final year students with their projects on topics as varied as synthesis of anti-cancer drugs, detection of historic paints by mass spectrometry, design of enantioselective catalysts and forensic trace analysis of controlled substances.
