Program Overview

Medicinal Chemistry (BSc)

Overview

Medicinal chemists are at the forefront of modern medicine, developing new therapies and vaccines to prevent and treat infections and disease. This programme focuses on the biological aspects of chemistry, giving students the skills to join this exciting field.

Why Study This Course

• Medicinal chemists develop new therapies and vaccines to prevent and treat infections and disease, supporting people's health worldwide.
• The course covers data science, project planning, leadership skills, and more to prepare students for their future career.
• Students can transfer to the BSc Chemistry or MChem Chemistry (with Year in Industry or Placement Year Abroad options) during their first year (subject to academic achievement).
• The course is taught by acclaimed researchers, with 99% of the university's research being world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021).
• Excellent career prospects are available, making the course ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Subject Area

• Subject area: Chemistry
• UCAS code: F150
• Next intake: September 2026
• Duration: 3 years
• Mode: Full time

Entry Requirements

• A level: AAB-BBB, including grade B in Chemistry.
• International Baccalaureate: 34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects, including grade 5 in HL Chemistry.
• Baccalaureate Wales: Accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
• GCSE and other essential requirements:
  • English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent.
  • GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification.
• English language requirements:
  • GCSE: Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
  • IELTS (academic): At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
  • TOEFL iBT: At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.
  • PTE Academic: At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
  • Trinity ISE II/III: II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits, III: at least a Pass in all components.

Tuition Fees for 2026 Entry

• Fees for home status:
  • Year one: ｣9,535
  • Year two: ｣9,535
  • Year three: ｣9,535
• Fees for overseas status:
  • Year one: ｣30,700
  • Year two: ｣30,700
  • Year three: ｣30,700

Additional Costs

• The School covers the cost of everything that is an essential part of the programme.
• Students may be required to cover additional costs that are either not essential or are basic costs that a student should be expected to cover themselves, including laptop computers, calculators, general stationery, textbooks, and basic copying/ printing.

Course Structure

• This is a three-year programme, where each year is made up of two semesters comprising modules totalling 120 credits.
• The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2026/2027 academic year.

Year One

• Core theory chemistry modules are supplemented with practical work and mathematical workshops.
• Core modules for year one:
  • Foundations of Physical Chemistry (CH5101, 20 credits)
  • Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry (CH5102, 20 credits)
  • Foundations of Organic Chemistry (CH5103, 20 credits)
  • Introduction to University Chemistry (CH5108, 10 credits)
  • Year 1 Chemistry Foundation Practical (CH5110, 30 credits)
  • Mathematical Methods for Chemistry (CH5116, 10 credits)
  • Introduction to Drug Development (CH5130, 10 credits)

Year Two

• Modules in the areas of chemistry that are of most importance to medicinal chemists.
• Core modules for year two:
  • Enterprising Chemistry (BS2603, 10 credits)
  • Project Management (CHEMY) (CE5515, 10 credits)
  • Further Organic and Biological Chemistry (CH5203, 20 credits)
  • Introduction to the chemistry of life (CH5207, 10 credits)
  • Applications of Molecular Spectroscopy (CH5208, 10 credits)
  • Communicating Chemistry: Key Skills for Medicinal Chemists (CH5225, 10 credits)
  • Practical Skills in Medicinal Chemistry (CH5230, 30 credits)
  • Physical Chemistry in Drug Design (CH5231, 10 credits)
  • Macromolecules as Drug Targets (CH5250, 10 credits)

Year Three

• Theory modules in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry, statistics, and data science.
• Core modules for year three:
  • Advanced Practical Training for Medicinal Chemists (CH5301, 20 credits)
  • New Modalities in Drug Discovery (CH5306, 10 credits)
  • Project (CH5325, 40 credits)
  • Foundations of Statistics and Data Science (CH5330, 10 credits)
  • Strategies in Organic and Biological Chemistry (CH6303, 10 credits)
  • Data Science Foundations (CM3801, 10 credits)
• Optional modules for year three:
  • Structure and Mechanism in Organic Chemistry (CH3315, 10 credits)
  • Engineering Biosynthesis (CH3317, 10 credits)

Learning and Assessment

• Teaching is undertaken through a series of lectures, tutorials, workshops, and practical classes.
• Laboratory work: In year one, the emphasis is on basic techniques and simple but accurate recording of observations.
• Project: All students on this course will undertake a one-semester research project within a Cardiff Chemistry research laboratory.
• Assessment: Formative and summative assessments are carried out during each year of study, including formal examinations, reports, and oral presentations.

Careers and Placements

• Career prospects: This programme will equip students with the theoretical and laboratory skills in synthetic and analytical chemistry for careers and postgraduate study in drug development and biomedical research.
• Placements: All students on this course will undertake a one-semester research project within a Cardiff Chemistry research laboratory.
• Possible career destinations include medicinal chemist, formulation chemist, analytical chemist, regulatory affairs, intellectual property, as well as postgraduate study leading to academic research or graduate-entry medicine.