Program Overview

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Chemistry with French MChem (Hons) 2025 entry

Overview

The MChem (Hons) in Chemistry with French will teach you the fundamentals of this central science, from the composition and properties of matter to using reactions to create new molecules and materials. You will learn about the critical role of chemistry in industries and new technologies, from pharmaceuticals to accessing drinkable water, and from efficient energy generation to sustainable food production.

Alongside your study of chemistry you will develop French language and communications skills to a high level of proficiency through the study of French and Francophone language, literature and culture.

Chemistry at St Andrews interfaces with biology, physics, mathematics, medicine and geology, making it a highly applicable subject to many areas of study.

Entry Requirements

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAAB, including A in Chemistry, A in French and an A in one other subject from the following: Biology (or Human Biology), Computing Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: AAAB, including A in Chemistry, A in French and an A in one other subject from the following: Biology (or Human Biology), Computing Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics, 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 and an A in French.
• Minimum entry grades: AAB, including A in Chemistry and an A in French.

IB points

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

General Entry Requirements

• 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 (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 and French at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level, IB Higher Level, or equivalent. Preference may be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications.

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 University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.

Modules

• First year
• Second year
• Honours (years 4 and 5)

Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:

• 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.
• French Language and Literature 1: aims to bridge the gulf between school and university French studies by developing language skills, offering a grounding in literary and cultural traditions in France and the francophone world.
• French Language and Literature 2: aims to ensure grammatical competence and promote comprehension and production in written and spoken modes, and to teach the reading of francophone literary texts and films in their socio-cultural background and develop basic skills of literary criticism.

Each of the compulsory sub-honours modules in chemistry involves a mixture of lecture-based and practical teaching.

Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:

• 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 (French): covers methods for carbon-carbon bond formation, interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, 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.
• Second Level French Language (1): designed to consolidate and extend the analytical and linguistic skills, understand better how the language works, how it is used and how to analyse it.
• Second Level French Language (2): develop your skills in spoken, aural and written French for a variety of academic and communication purposes and in different cultural contexts. This will prepare you directly for the linguistic requirements of the year abroad as well as the analytical skills required at honours level.

Each of the compulsory sub-honours modules in chemistry involves a mixture of lecture-based and practical teaching.

The knowledge and skills in research and analysis that you gain during your first two years will prepare you to undertake more advanced and specialist modules in Chemistry alongside French modules during your final two years.

During years four and five, you will also carry out a Chemistry research project in one of the School's highly-rated research groups on a topic chosen in consultation with staff.

Teaching

Fees

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

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation Fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and Scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Joint Honours Degrees

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

Careers

St Andrews chemistry graduates have an employment rate of over 95% and are in demand by large multinational and grassroots companies alike. Chemistry with French 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 in both English and French

In addition to your chemistry knowledge, your high level training in the French language opens further opportunities for working in the francophone world. St Andrews Chemistry with French graduates move into a wide range of employment both in the chemical and allied industries, as well as sectors outside physical sciences.

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.