Program Overview

Chemistry: Medicinal Chemistry

The course in medicinal chemistry is for those who want to learn about drug development and design from a molecular perspective. You will gain knowledge about common target molecules for drug discovery, the principles of design and development of drug molecules, the most common drug substances and their areas of use. The course also covers common methods for drug discovery and development. Additionally, you will acquire skills in analysing various molecular structures as potential drug candidates.

Overview

As a chemist, you play an important role in developing new effective drugs to combat today's and future diseases. The course is offered both as part of a programme and as a standalone course.

Teaching and Learning

The teaching consists of lectures and exercises. The examination will be written in the form of quizzes (partial exams) during the course or alternatively as a written exam at the end of the course. During the lectures, we discuss common target molecules for drug development, basic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles, and strategies for discovering and developing drugs. The relationship between chemical structure and biological activity is central to the course. You will understand how the structure of a molecule affects its biological effect. Examples of this are illustrated with antiviral drugs, antibiotics, cancer drugs, drugs affecting the nervous system, and drugs for stomach ulcers. You will also learn about biological drugs and how they compare with small organic molecules from a drug perspective.

Dates

• Autumn Semester 2026:
  • Start: 31 August 2026
  • End: 1 November 2026
  • Form: Normal learning
  • Pace: Part time
  • Language: English
  • City: Lund

Requirements and Selection

• Prerequisites: General eligibility, English 6 and 90 ECTS credits in completed Science courses, including passes in courses equivalent to:
  • KEMA20 General Chemistry 15 credits
  • KEMA01 Organic Chemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits
  • KEMA03 Biochemistry - Basic Course 7.5 credits
  • KEMB09 Physical Chemistry - Basic Course 15 credits
• Selection criteria: Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100%.

Tuition Fees

• Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens: Citizens of countries outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees.
  • Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 23,125
  • First payment: SEK 23,125
• No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland: There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.