Program Overview

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Materials Chemistry MChem (Honours) 2025 entry

The MChem (Hons) in Materials Chemistry seeks to develop an understanding of the interrelationships between the composition, structure, microstructure and properties of matter in order to design and develop new materials. Examples may include: semiconductor processing and fabrication; materials for energy and IT; biomaterials; catalyst materials; ‘smart coatings’; and nanotechnology.

Accreditation

All single Honours Chemistry degree programmes are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

UCAS code

F200 (with external placement: F113)

Start date

September 2025

End date

September 2030

Duration

Five years full time

School

School of Chemistry

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAAB, including A in Chemistry and an A in one other subject from the following: Biology (or Human Biology), Computing Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: AABB, including A in Chemistry and an A in one other subject from the following: Biology (or Human Biology), Computing Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.
• Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAA, including A in Chemistry.
• Minimum entry grades: ABB, including A in Chemistry.

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 38 (HL 6,6,6), including HL6 in Chemistry and HL6 in one of the following subjects: Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Chemistry and HL5 in one of the following subjects: Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.

General entry requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

SQA qualifications

• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

GCSE qualifications

• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

Applicants must have studied Chemistry at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level, IB Higher Level, or equivalent. Preference may be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications.

Alternative study options

Direct entry to second year

Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.

Gateway programmes

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades but meet the University's contextual criteria may be interested in the Gateway to Science programme.

Study abroad

Chemistry students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. Chemistry students are only able to study abroad for the full academic year (semester placements are not available).

Working abroad

Completing a work placement abroad is a good opportunity to gain work experience in another culture or language and to enhance valuable skill sets. As part of specific degree programmes in chemistry, you may apply to undertake a work placement abroad for credit.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The MChem in Materials Chemistry is a five-year Integrated Masters course run by the School of Chemistry. During the course, you will develop an awareness and appreciation of the latest advances in materials chemistry in addition to the fundamentals of the subject. You will receive a high level of general intellectual and scientific training which allows many graduates to enter challenging careers in areas not directly related to chemistry.

Modules

In the first two years of your degree (sub-honours level), you will take the required modules in chemistry alongside modules in at least one other subject.

Typically, you will take one or two chemistry modules per semester during your first two years, and four to six per semester during your third, fourth and fifth years (Honours level).

First year

• Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers origin of the elements and the periodic table, atomic structure, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, and mathematical tools for chemistry.
• Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 1: covers bonding in simple molecules, inorganic solids, chemistry of the first-row transition metals, properties of solids, states of matter, and introductory spectroscopy.
• Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: covers the structure and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, basic stereochemistry, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.

Second year

• Inorganic Chemistry 2: covers metal complexes and organometallics, descriptive transition-metal chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, solid-state chemistry and descriptive main-group chemistry.
• Organic Chemistry 2: covers methods for carbon-carbon bond formation and interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, retrosynthetic analysis, mechanistic biological chemistry and organic spectroscopy.
• Physical Chemistry 2: covers quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, molecular spectroscopy and diffraction, and advanced mathematical tools for chemistry.

Third year

• If you decide to take materials chemistry in your third year, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options, including modules ranging from physical inorganic chemistry to quantum theory of atoms, molecules and solids.

Fourth year

• You will have the opportunity to work on a placement outside St Andrews for up to 12 months. This is a great chance to gain experience in industry and to add value to your CV at the same time.

Fifth year

• You will take advanced research-led modules in your chosen specialist area. Advanced modules offered in the past include:
  • Chemical Applications of Electronic Structure Calculations
  • Energy Conversion and Storage
  • Nanostructured Materials
  • Processing of Materials
  • Surface Science and Heterogeneous Catalysis

Teaching

• Teaching format: Chemistry is taught through a combination of lectures (80 to 200 students) and labs (20 to 50 students), which are supplemented by small group tutorials (5 to 10 students).
• Assessment: All sub-honours modules are assessed by 60% to 70% written examinations combined with 30% to 40% coursework covering laboratories, tutorials and transferable skills exercises.
• Support: The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities.

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Additional costs

• There are no additional fees for labs in the School. However, the School expects that students provide their own lab coat and, in line with University policy, to purchase a number of textbooks as part of their study.

Careers

St Andrews chemistry graduates have an employment rate of over 95% and are in demand by large multinational and grassroots companies alike. Chemistry degrees provide a range of highly desirable skills that are prized by employers across numerous sectors, including:

• problem-solving
• numeracy
• data handling
• teamwork
• oral and written communication

St Andrews chemistry graduates move into a wide range of employment both in the materials, chemical and allied industries, as well as sectors outside physical sciences. Many MChem graduates continue on to PhD-level degrees both in the UK and overseas.