Program Overview

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Overview of Medicinal Chemistry: Chemical Sciences

The Medicinal Chemistry: Chemical Sciences program is a four-year, full-time honors bachelor degree (NFQ Level 8) offered by Trinity College Dublin. This program is designed for students who are interested in the creative and scientific aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.

Course Details

• Awards: B.A. (Moderatorship) Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)
• CAO Information: CAO Points 531 (2024), CAO Code TR061
• Duration: 4 Years Full-Time

Admission Requirements

Leaving Certificate:

• H6 or O4 Mathematics
• H4 in two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics/Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Computer Science

GCSE:

• Grade B/6 Mathematics

Advanced GCE (A-Level):

• Grade C in two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics/Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Computer Science

International Baccalaureate:

• SL Grade 5 Mathematics
• HL Grade 5 in two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics/Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Computer Science

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Structure

First Two Years

Students will study foundation courses in Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.

Third Year

The course will provide the fundamentals of medicinal chemistry in drug design and development, maintaining overlap with the Chemistry degree, especially in the realm of organic chemistry. Lectures are complemented by laboratory experiments, where students will gain experience in more sophisticated preparative chemical techniques and will also be able to carry out their own spectroscopic analyses and computer-based modeling. Students will also be able to choose up to two Trinity electives in other areas.

Fourth Year

In addition to core chemistry modules, students will cover the medicinal chemistry of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, combinatorial chemistry and drug delivery, as well as computational medicinal chemistry and modern analytical methods. Case studies in medicinal chemistry (focusing on specific diseases or drug types) will also feature in the program.

Practical Work

Practical work in the final year will consist of a Capstone project. This may be carried out either in Trinity under the supervision of a member of staff, in a chemistry department at an overseas university, or in a commercial laboratory.

Study Abroad and Internship Opportunities

The School of Chemistry has exchange agreements with many universities and research institutions in Europe and North America where Medicinal Chemistry students carry out their final year Capstone research projects from September to December or undertake internships. Individual groups in the School offer summer internships.

Career Opportunities

As with graduates in other branches of chemistry, the skills acquired during this degree program will make students highly attractive to employers in a wide variety of areas. In addition to the pharmaceutical industry itself, business, finance, administration, publishing, and teaching are all possibilities that are open to students as a medicinal chemistry graduate. Most students progress to postgraduate studies in the School or other top-tier institutions abroad.

Graduate Skills

Graduates will have extensive knowledge of molecular design, drug synthesis, and the biological function of drugs, making them expert chemists with a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry. They will be able to design and prepare new drugs, understand the biological mechanisms by which they operate, and have a natural flair for chemistry. The skills acquired during this degree program will make graduates highly attractive to employers in various areas.