Program Overview

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Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry BSc (Honours) 2025 entry

Overview

The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry focuses on the important interface of chemistry with biology and medicine. You will learn about the critical role of chemistry in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries and in solving problems such as antibacterial resistance and developing healthcare for an aging population. You will receive a broad base of chemical knowledge, focusing on biological and medicinal chemistry, and reinforced by extensive practical experience and familiarity with modern laboratory, instrumental and computational techniques.

Accreditation

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

UCAS code

F150

Start date

September 2025

End date

September 2029

Duration

Four years full time

School

School of Chemistry

Entry requirements

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.

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.
• Integrated Masters: It is possible to take Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry as a five-year Integrated Masters course, allowing you to graduate with a Master in Chemistry.
• 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).

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.

Course details

The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry is a four-year course run by the School of Chemistry. During the course, you will develop awareness and appreciation of the latest advances in medicinal chemistry in addition to the fundamentals of the subject. You will receive a highly transferrable scientific training, which allows many graduates to enter challenging careers in areas not directly related to chemistry.

Modules

• First year:
  • Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
  • Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 1
  • Organic and Biological Chemistry 1
• Second year:
  • Inorganic Chemistry 2
  • Organic Chemistry 2
  • Physical Chemistry 2
• Honours:
  • Examples of medicinal chemistry Honours modules that have been offered in previous years include:
    • Blockbuster Pharmaceuticals
    • Fragrance, Food and Colour Chemistry
    • Heterocyclic and Pericyclic Chemistry
    • Quantitative Aspects of Medicinal Chemistry

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.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

• UCAS code C761: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Chemistry
• UCAS code FF16: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry and Earth Sciences
• UCAS code FG11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry and Mathematics
• UCAS code FF13: Master in Science (Honours) Chemistry and Physics

"With" degrees

You can take Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject.

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1R1
• Chemistry with French (With External Placement) - UCAS code F1RA
• Chemistry with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code F1RC
• Master in Chemistry (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1RD
• Master in Chemistry (Honours) Chemistry with Mathematics - UCAS code F1G1

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

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.