Start date:
Course information
Typical offer BBB
UK fee £9,535
UCAS codes F121, F122, F123
International fee £24,500
Institute code L34
Taught by School of Chemistry
8th in the UK for student satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2025)
100% of students in work or further study six months after graduating (The Uni Guide 2023)
Ranked 5th in subjects aligned to Chemistry for ‘overall positivity’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data).
Course description
Course description
The medicinal and pharmaceutical industries need scientists with a firm understanding of chemistry together with a knowledge of biochemistry, disease action, and drug behaviour. Our Medicinal Chemistry degrees provide you with an excellent grounding in all these areas. They have been designed to cover all aspects of pharmaceutical drug development, from target selection, through to drug discovery and optimisation to clinical trials and marketing.
If you choose to study for a BSc or MChem degree in Medicinal Chemistry you will, on graduation, be equipped with the skills to work in the pharmaceutical industry or in the health and biomedical sectors. Pharmaceutical Chemists are at the forefront of drug development, design, synthesis, trials and marketing and as one of the largest employer sectors in the UK, a diverse range of careers will be open to you.
The School of Chemistry at Leicester is one of the best in the UK for both teaching and research. We have a reputation as a friendly, supportive School that produces highly trained graduates with skills valued by employers. This is because we offer high quality courses that are designed to give you a wide range of employment opportunities, and are carefully structured to ensure you will cover all the relevant topics.
Whichever degree you study, you will always benefit from our excellent teaching, our well-equipped laboratories, our high-quality welfare provision and academic support. You will also reap the benefits of the cutting-edge research being carried out in the School by our academics – the same academics who teach you.
Our specialist research areas include atmospheric chemistry, chemical biology, materials and interfaces, spectroscopy and dynamics, and sustainable synthesis and catalysis. You can be sure of learning about the very latest breakthroughs in each area throughout your course. In your final year, you will carry out your own personal research project, working under one of our academic staff and applying the knowledge and practical skills which you have gained on the course – placing you at the cutting-edge of chemistry research.
What's the difference?
We offer two different Chemistry subjects, which are available as follows:
- BSc (3 years), BSc with a Year in Industry (4 years)
- MChem (4 years), MChem with a Year in Industry (4 years), MChem with a Year Abroad (4 years)
Study for a BSc and you will receive rigorous training in chemistry and related, transferable skills – which will put you in a strong position to apply for a range of different employment sectors. Or you may want to continue your studies by applying for a Masters degree (MSc).
If you specifically want to find work as a chemist, whether in industry or the public sector, you should consider an MChem. The extra depth of experience and knowledge you will gain is valued by prospective employers that use chemical processes, and will keep you competitive in the job market against graduates who may have studied for the longer degrees taught in some European countries. Alternatively, an MChem provides a solid basis for progressing to a PhD.
Each of our MChem degrees share a common first two years with the respective BSc, during which you can switch between them (transfer from BSc to MChem is subject to satisfactory progress). Both the MChem and BSc degrees are taught and assessed to the same high standards. The difference is one of content, not quality.
Also please note that the Year Abroad option is not available on our BSc degrees.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: BBB including Chemistry. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-level.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBC + EPQ at grade B
- GCSE: Grade B/5 Maths (if Maths or Physics not held at A/AS-level)
- Access to HE Diploma (Science): Pass Diploma with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Distinction. To include 15 credits at Distinction in Chemistry Level 3 modules. If you don't have A-level Chemistry you will need to take an entrance exam - please contact Admissions.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 28 points, with grade 5 in HL Chemistry. Must include a minimum of grade 5 in SL Maths or 4 at HL if minimum of grade 5/B not held at GCSE.
- BTEC Nationals: BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science with DDD/D*DD, including several Chemistry related modules. If you don't have A-level Chemistry you will need to take an entrance exam - please contact Admissions.
Please note: If you do not have grade B at Chemistry A-level, you will need to take a Chemistry assessment test.
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for Chemistry with Foundation Year BSc.
Second year entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Contextual offers
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2025
The tuition fees that will be payable by you to the University for the 2025/26 academic year will be £9,535
- £9,535 in your first year. Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations. The inflation rate used will be the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage payments (RPIX)
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,430 for that year
- Year in Industry: your fee will be £1,907 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2025
- £24,500 per year
- Year Abroad: £6,125 which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
- Year in Industry: £3,675 which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Accreditation
Accreditation
This degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our Pharmaceutical Chemistry degrees blend knowledge of the cell, human physiology and pharmacology with chemistry to produce graduates desirable to the medical chemistry research and synthetic process chemistry sectors.
Our degrees include activities that were co-developed with manufacturers and researchers from industry to help you gain experience and develop skills that will give you a competitive edge when applying for lab-based roles.
Each of our Chemistry degrees includes a specialist module with guidance on searching and applying for jobs, and on writing CVs and application letters. Plus we have a dedicated Careers Tutor organising careers events throughout the academic year.
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Goal 13: Climate action
- Goal 14: Life below water
- Goal 15: Life on land
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
During your first year you will be taught a range of fundamental chemistry theories and techniques. In addition to this, you will begin to look at the aspects of chemistry that form the foundations of pharmaceutical chemistry.
Modules
- General Chemistry
- Scientific Method and Principles of Analytical Chemistry
- Introductory Medicinal Chemistry
- Introductory Organic Chemistry
- Introductory Inorganic Chemistry
- Introductory Physical Chemistry
- Chemistry Maths and Skills
- Introductory Practical Chemistry
This is the same as the first year of the BSc.
NB. It is possible to switch at the end of your first year to a regular Chemistry degree.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
You will learn more advanced practical techniques, increase the number of specialised pharmaceutical modules you are taking and begin to reflect on your career ambitions and how to go about realising them.
Modules
- Spectroscopy Theory and Practice
- Pharmaceutics
- Analytical Chemistry in Practice
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Practical Chemistry and Key Skills (double module)
This is the same as the second year of the BSc.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 3
Year 3
You will spend your third year honing your practical skills and gaining a more complex understanding of chemistry, having acquired all the necessary skills and information to be able to pursue a research project of your own.
On an MChem degree you have three options for your third year: a year abroad, an industrial placement, or further study in Leicester.
Spend a year abroad
If you choose to spend a year abroad, you will study relevant Chemistry modules at one of our partner universities and also undertake a research project there in one of the institution's research groups. Eligibility for the year abroad is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation or are self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Find out more from our Study Abroad Unit.
The School of Chemistry at Leicester has links with several European universities, administered through the Erasmus+ scheme. If you attend one of these, you may be eligible for an Erasmus grant if you comply with European Commission rules and regulations. If you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance you can apply for a travel grant from them. Languages courses, at both beginners and advanced level, are available through the University’s Languages at Leicester scheme.
We also have links with some universities outside Europe. There is no monthly grant when you attend one of these universities, however if you are receiving financial assistance from Student Finance your support will continue and you may also be eligible to apply for additional travel grants or scholarships.
Spend a year working
You will carry out a year long project in the research and development section of your host company, such as developing new drugs or exploring new analytical techniques for testing the purity of petroleum products. You will also study some Year 3 Chemistry modules by distance learning.
In addition to getting paid, throughout your industrial placement you will have all the same entitlements as other employees in the company. Salaries vary but the average is around £15,000-17,000 per year.
Recent host employers include: GlaxoSmithKline, Astra Zeneca, 3M, BASF, the Ministry of Defence, Lubrizol and Reckitt Benckiser.
Unsure whether to spend your third year working in industry or living abroad? You could enjoy both experiences by spending a year working for an overseas employer. If you need language training, this will be provided in Year 2.
If you spend a year in industry, you will take the modules listed below by distance learning.
- Core Chemistry Distance Learning Part 1 (double module)
- Core Chemistry Distance Learning Part 2 (double module)
- Placement Project Practical (double module)
- Placement Project Report (double module)
Stay in Leicester
If you choose to stay in Leicester, in your third year you will continue with your studies, looking at advanced aspects of different areas of chemistry. You will also carry out more in-depth practical experiments to prepare you for your project in Year 4.
Core modules
- Advanced Organic Chemistry
- Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
- Hit to Lead Drug Discovery
- Major Therapeutic Areas
- MChem Research Skills, Employability and General Paper
- Advanced Chemistry Practical (double module)
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
- Advanced Physical Chemistry
- Metals in Synthesis
- Advanced Analytical Chemistry
- Advanced Materials Chemistry
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
Your final year will introduce you to more specialist branches of Chemistry, such as Cancer Chemistry, and develop your existing skills to a standard suitable for professional research.
Core modules
- Advanced Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
- Modern Approaches and Biologics in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Chemistry Project Part 1 (double module)
- Chemistry Project Part 2 (double module)
Option modules
Choose three option modules from:
- Advanced Structure Determination
- Advanced Synthetic Methods
- Earth System Science
- Computational Chemistry and Quantum Mechanics
- Bioinorganic Chemistry
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
You will be taught the art of drug discovery by active researchers form the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology (LISCB).
This degree is multidisciplinary with 25% specialisation in the biological and medical chemistry topics required by the pharmaceutical employment sector.
All of our degrees make use of innovative teaching and learning approaches that allow you to develop your scientific and workplace skills.
Ranked 1st in subjects aligned to Chemistry for ‘Student voice’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data). View the NSS questions all students were asked for individual themes.
Reading list
See the types of texts you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for the course and arrive prepared and ready to go.
Teaching and learning
Teaching is a mixture of lectures, tutorials, exams, lab reports, essays, oral presentations, poster design and problem based learning. A typical week might include nine hours of lectures, seven hours of lab work, and two or three workshops or tutorials. You will also be expected to spend several hours each week on private study which might include answering problem sheets, preparing for tutorials or writing up lab reports.
All of our courses are linked to Blackboard – a virtual learning environment that gives you access to lecture notes, self-test exercises, supplementary information and background literature about the course.
We place a strong emphasis on small group tutorials, in which half a dozen students meet with a member of staff to discuss questions arising from the lectures. Often you will go over a set of problems handed out a few days earlier. Tutorials are also an ideal opportunity to discuss any aspects of the course that you don’t fully understand.
Chemistry is, of course, a very practical subject, so strong emphasis is placed on the acquisition of laboratory skills. In Years 1 and 2 you will spend about four to six hours each week in the lab. In your third year, you will increase your lab time to about 10-12 hours per week. In your fourth year you will spend up to 24 hours a week in the lab carrying out your research project.
You are assessed on your performance through exams at the end of the semester or at the end of the year and through continuous assessment throughout your modules.
NB. All lab work is continually assessed - there are no practical exams.
You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether they are academic, financial, housing, career or social issues.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Medicinal Chemistry | Qualification MChem | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F121 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Medicinal Chemistry with a Year Abroad | Qualification MChem | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F122 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Medicinal Chemistry with Year in Industry | Qualification MChem | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F123 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
With the skills I’ve gained, I feel ready to enter the working world in any number of different career paths.