Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
Explore the industrial development, production and quality control of new drugs in this specialist chemistry course.
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry and a Year in Industry
Explore the industrial development, production and quality control of new drugs in this specialist chemistry course.
Build your appreciation of the chemical sciences and the drug development process
Build laboratory-based skills towards a career in biomedical research or the pharmaceutical industry
Engage with medicinal chemistry concepts in detail on a research project and develop your expertise on an optional year in industry
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSci
-
-
Duration
4 years
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Start date
October 2025
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UCAS course code
F124
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£9,250 per year Home
£43,300 per year Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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White City
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-
Applications: places
6 : 1 (2023)
Minimum entry standard
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AAA (A-level)
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38 points (International Baccalaureate)
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Qualification
-
MSci
-
-
Duration
5 years
-
Start date
October 2025
-
UCAS course code
F125
-
Study mode
Full-time
-
Fees
£9,250 per year Home
£43,300 per year Overseas
-
Delivered by
-
Location
-
South Kensington
-
White City
-
-
Applications: places
6 : 1 (2023)
Minimum entry standard
-
AAA (A-level)
-
38 points (International Baccalaureate)
Course overview
Build your appreciation of the chemical sciences and the drug development process in this four-year course.
Designed to prepare you for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or biomedical research, this course will help you develop an interconnected understanding of core chemistry topics.
You'll deepen your knowledge of key topics relating to inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, synthetic and computational chemistry. You'll also focus on the identification, development and production of new drugs.
Extensive laboratory-based work will help develop your practical skills. You'll learn to synthesise chemicals and study chemical systems and build expertise in experimental measurements and computational models.
As the course develops, you'll study strategies for targeting diseases and work with complex portfolios of data. This includes opportunities to specialise across a series of advanced topics in your third and fourth year.
Part of your studies will see you analyse emergent ‘industry 4.0’ approaches and technologies such as rapid prototyping, biohacking and machine learning.
Your study reaches Master's level in your final year, where your work will culminate with a substantial research project.
Teaching is primarily delivered at our South Kensington campus, as well as the state-of-the-art Molecular Sciences Research Hub in White City.
Build your appreciation of the chemical sciences and the drug development process on this five-year course.
Incorporating a year in industry, this course will prepare you for a career in the pharmaceutical and related industries, or in biomedical research.
You'll develop an interconnected understanding of core chemistry topics, and deepen your knowledge of inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, synthetic and computational chemistry.
You'll also focus on the identification, development and production of new drugs.
Extensive laboratory-based work will help develop your practical skills. You'll learn to synthesise chemicals and study chemical systems and build expertise in experimental measurements and computational models.
As the course develops, you'll study strategies for targeting diseases and work with complex portfolios of data. This includes opportunities to specialise across a series of advanced topics in your third and fourth year.
Part of your studies will see you analyse emergent ‘industry 4.0’ approaches and technologies such as rapid prototyping, biohacking and machine learning.
Your fourth year is spent in industry. During this period, you'll place chemistry in an industrial context on an extended placement with a leading industrial partner. Previous placement partners have included GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Pfizer.
Your study reaches Master's level in your final year, where your work will culminate with a substantial research project.
Teaching is primarily delivered at our South Kensington campus, as well as the state-of-the-art Molecular Sciences Research Hub in White City.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll study the following core modules.
Core modules
Begin to engage with university chemistry and receive training in teamwork and giving feedback.
Explore how structures and concepts in chemistry are represented and described and learn how to draw and name a variety of molecules.
Become familiar with the simple tools used to predict molecular structures and use theoretical models to explain the bonding in molecules and other chemical structures.
Develop your understanding of the physical and theoretical basis for spectroscopic measurements and examine spectroscopic techniques.
Learn about the major types of reactivity at carbon centres and learn how to rationalise trends in reactivity.
Explore the major theories and methodologies used to interpret chemical reactions and chemical equilibrium at a macroscopic level.
Examine concepts and trends in the chemistry of the s-, p-, d- and f- block elements, and their compounds.
Develop skills for practical chemistry and begin to apply these to investigative practical work.
Assess the principles that underpin medicinal chemistry and place drug design within a medicinal chemistry context.
You’ll study the following core modules.
Core modules
Appreciate the expectations for your second year of learning and learn about inclusivity and diversity.
Understand what electronic states are and why chemical bonds form, based on approximate quantum mechanical models.
Explore the underlying theories of spectroscopy, and investigate a variety of spectroscopic techniques and applications.
Use thermodynamic quantities to describe the state of a system, phase and interface; and calculate how such quantities change during a chemical transformation.
Build on your knowledge of properties, reactivity and synthesis, and apply it to a wider range of molecular chemical systems.
Extend your knowledge of properties, reactivity and synthesis to consider polymers and biomolecules such as carbohydrates and peptides.
Apply your prior knowledge of synthesis and properties to explain the properties of larger molecules such as bio(macro)molecules or polymers.
Develop your research skills through synthetic, physical/analytical and computational experimental work.
Further your knowledge of medicinal chemistry in areas including pharmacokinetics and the principles of drug discovery.
You’ll study all these core modules.
Core modules
Explore five advanced chemistry topics.
You’ll pick from topics including advanced synthesis, materials chemistry, and soft condensed matter.
Investigate five advanced topics and build your knowledge of cellular biology and medicinal chemistry in the context of disease.
Further develop your skills in practical chemistry and research through a short independent research project and project-style lab practicals.
Your I-Explore module offers you choices from a range of subjects hosted outside of the department.
You will be taught alongside students from other courses with options including business, management and many more.
You’ll study all these core modules.
You’ll also choose two optional modules.
Core modules
Learn how to interpret a complex and involved portfolio of data and identify potential strengths and weaknesses within a drug discovery portfolio.
Join one of the department’s academic research groups to complete a six-month independent research project in a medicinal chemistry-related research area.
Optional modules
Understand catalyst activity and selectivity through mechanistic (kinetic) studies.
Develop a high-level understanding of the tactics and strategies deployed in complex molecule and natural products synthesis and biosynthesis.
Apply fundamental concepts of chemistry to biological and medical imaging and understand the importance of chemistry in medical imaging.
Appreciate current applications and challenges in sustainable chemical processes and products.
Examine various methods for discovering and optimising nanomaterials for a wide variety of applications.
Analyse the structure and dynamics of membranes and lipid assemblies and understand how these regulate key biological processes.
Broaden your understanding of the operation mechanisms of organic electronics devices and the importance of electrodes in their design.
Understand charge generation and flow through a variety of chemical systems of relevance to energy production and storage.
You’ll study the following core modules.
Core modules
Begin to engage with university chemistry and receive training in teamwork and giving feedback.
Explore how structures and concepts in chemistry are represented and described and learn how to draw and name a variety of molecules.
Become familiar with the simple tools used to predict molecular structures and use theoretical models to explain the bonding in molecules and other chemical structures.
Develop your understanding of the physical and theoretical basis for spectroscopic measurements and examine spectroscopic techniques.
Learn about the major types of reactivity at carbon centres and learn how to rationalise trends in reactivity.
Explore the major theories and methodologies used to interpret chemical reactions and chemical equilibrium at a macroscopic level.
Examine concepts and trends in the chemistry of the s-, p-, d- and f- block elements, and their compounds.
Develop skills for practical chemistry and begin to apply these to investigative practical work.
Assess the principles that underpin medicinal chemistry and place drug design within a medicinal chemistry context.
You’ll study the following core modules.
Core modules
Appreciate the expectations for your second year of learning and learn about inclusivity and diversity.
Understand what electronic states are and why chemical bonds form, based on approximate quantum mechanical models.
Explore the underlying theories of spectroscopy, and investigate a variety of spectroscopic techniques and applications.
Use thermodynamic quantities to describe the state of a system, phase and interface; and calculate how such quantities change during a chemical transformation.
Build on your knowledge of properties, reactivity and synthesis, and apply it to a wider range of molecular chemical systems.
Extend your knowledge of properties, reactivity and synthesis to consider polymers and biomolecules such as carbohydrates and peptides.
Apply your prior knowledge of synthesis and properties to explain the properties of larger molecules such as bio(macro)molecules or polymers.
Develop your research skills through synthetic, physical/analytical and computational experimental work.
Further your knowledge of medicinal chemistry in areas including pharmacokinetics and the principles of drug discovery.
You’ll study all these core modules.
Core modules
Explore five advanced chemistry topics.
You’ll pick from topics including advanced synthesis, materials chemistry, and soft condensed matter.
Investigate five advanced topics and build your knowledge of cellular biology and medicinal chemistry in the context of disease.
Further develop your skills in practical chemistry and research through a short independent research project and project-style lab practicals.
Your I-Explore module offers you choices from a range of subjects hosted outside of the department.
You will be taught alongside students from other courses with options including business, management and many more.
Deliver a report focusing on your project proposal and a literature review of your chosen research area.
You spend this year on an industrial placement, normally for 12 months.
During this time you remain registered as an Imperial student and usually pay reduced tuition fees to the College. You also receive a salary from your host company.
Our strong industry links means we have an extensive list of firms willing to host our students, some of them in Europe. Alternatively, you can arrange your own placement in consultation with the Department.
The work you do during your placement must be predominantly related to chemical research.
You will complete a formal research project report on the work you have carried out. This will be assessed by your academic and industrial supervisors.
You will also complete the MSci Chemistry Research Proposal and Literature Review.
You’ll study these core modules.
You’ll also choose two optional modules.
Core modules
Learn how to interpret a complex and involved portfolio of data and identify potential strengths and weaknesses within a drug discovery portfolio.
Join one of the department’s academic research groups to complete a six-month independent research project in a medicinal chemistry-related research area.
Deliver a report focusing on your project proposal and a literature review of your chosen research area.
Optional modules
Understand catalyst activity and selectivity through mechanistic (kinetic) studies.
Develop a high-level understanding of the tactics and strategies deployed in complex molecule and natural products synthesis and biosynthesis.
Apply fundamental concepts of chemistry to biological and medical imaging and understand the importance of chemistry in medical imaging.
Appreciate current applications and challenges in sustainable chemical processes and products.
Examine various methods for discovering and optimising nanomaterials for a wide variety of applications.
Analyse the structure and dynamics of membranes and lipid assemblies and understand how these regulate key biological processes.
Broaden your understanding of the operation mechanisms of organic electronics devices and the importance of electrodes in their design.
Understand charge generation and flow through a variety of chemical systems of relevance to energy production and storage.
Professional accreditation
This degree leads to a Master’s level qualification and is professionally accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
This accreditation is internationally respected in an increasingly global industry and graduate market. It will allow you to demonstrate that you’ve completed a high-quality degree programme designed to meet the needs of both students and their future employers.
This MSci degree fully satisfies the academic requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Chemist (CChem). Becoming a Chartered Chemist earns you an internationally recognised qualification which can enhance your career prospects and earning potential
Our accreditation agreement with the Royal Society of Chemistry is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement was recently extended through 2027.
Associateship
In addition to your degree, you’ll receive the Associateship of the Royal College of Science (ARCS) upon completion of this course. This associateship is awarded by one of our historic constituent Colleges.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- Independent study
Years 1 and 2
- 30% Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- 70% Independent study
Year 3
- 20% Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- 80% Independent study
Year 4
- 10% Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- 90% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Practical workshops
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Guided laboratory work
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Group work
-
Literature reports
-
Research projects
Balance of assessment
Key
- Examination
- Coursework and practical work
Year 1
- 75% Examination
- 25% Coursework and practical work
Year 2
- 65% Examination
- 35% Coursework and practical work
Year 3
- 40% Examination
- 60% Coursework and practical work
Year 4
- 25% Examination
- 75% Coursework and practical work
Assessment methods
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Written examinations
-
Oral presentation
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Written reports
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Coursework
-
Academic posters
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- Independent study
Years 1 and 2
- 30% Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- 70% Independent study
Year 3
- 20% Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- 80% Independent study
Year 5
- 10% Classroom teaching and laboratory work
- 90% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
-
Lectures
-
Tutorials
-
Practical workshops
-
Guided laboratory work
-
Group work
-
Literature reports
-
Research projects
Balance of assessment
Key
- Examination
- Coursework and practical work
Year 1
- 75% Examination
- 25% Coursework and practical work
Year 2
- 65% Examination
- 35% Coursework and practical work
Year 3
- 40% Examination
- 60% Coursework and practical work
Year 4
- 0% Examination
- 100% Coursework and practical work
Year 5
- 50% Examination
- 50% Coursework and practical work
Assessment methods
-
Written examinations
-
Oral presentation
-
Written reports
-
Coursework
-
Academic posters
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
You can now submit your application via UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices and track your application.
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 29 January 2025 at 18.00 (UK time)
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 29 January 2025 at 18.00 (UK time)
This department does not use a test as part of its selection process.
Predicted grades and scores in your application are important, but it’s not the only thing that drives the decision.
Our selectors will also consider things like your personal statement and your references to understand whether there is a good match between you and your chosen subject and department at Imperial.
You can read more about our selection process, including tips on writing a personal statement, in our How to apply section.
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Post-application open day and interview
If assessment of your UCAS application indicates that you are likely to satisfy our requirements, you will be shortlisted for an academic interview as part of our interview programme.
There will be a pre-recorded talk by the admissions tutor made available online, about the department, the structure of the course and other opportunities available to enrich your experience with us. There will also be talks and presentations available by the accommodation and finance teams, and from Horizons about the great range of modules they offer. We are organising online Q&A sessions, where you will have the chance to talk to the admissions tutor and to current undergraduates, and you can see more about the department on the Chemistry and Virtual Tour websites.
We will run interviews in the morning and afternoon (UK time) to accommodate students in different time-zones, and each applicant will be interviewed individually. The interview will comprise a discussion with an experienced academic who will be looking to assess an applicant’s motivation for studying chemistry and their potential for the future.
Although the discussion may begin with topics mentioned in the UCAS personal statement, the conversations will likely expand to cover topics that the applicant may not be so familiar with. This enables the interviewer to observe how an applicant thinks and how they reason their way through a problem.
The interviewers are highly experienced and are able to see through nerves, stress and silly mistakes so you should not worry about answering the questions. There are no trick questions, if an answer seems obvious, it might be just that.
We then use the interview feedback in combination with the UCAS application, to decide whether we are able to make an offer, and what the conditions of the offer will be. We will be making offer decisions only after all interviews are complete. We will aim to contact all applicants directly by e-mail, by early March with a decision. You should be able to see this updated on UCAS Hub by the end of March.
The Department of Chemistry have put together a list of frequently asked questions that often arise during the admissions process.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
We offer both Master in Science (MSci) degrees and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees.
Our MSci degrees cover more in-depth chemistry study than our BSc degrees, making them more suited to students who are considering a career in research or who may wish to progress to further study such as a PhD.
Our MSci degrees also include a substantial individual project in the final year, which gives you the chance to work in a research environment; you also engage with more advanced research-led lecture modules.
Years one and two of our Chemistry degrees follow the same core course content, supplemented by optional modules designed to match your chosen course of study.
This structure offers you the opportunity to transfer between Chemistry degrees at a later stage providing you have studied the appropriate optional subjects, and as such you should apply to only one degree within the Department of Chemistry.
You may need to meet a certain academic standard to be eligible for placements in industry or abroad.
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Year abroad
Language requirement
Teaching is in the language of your host country in France and Germany, so you will need to reach an acceptable proficiency in the relevant language before you go. Free language classes are available at the College to help you prepare.
Availability
There are limited places available on the Year Abroad programme, which means that competition for selection is strong and a placement cannot be guaranteed.
Normally, only students with marks of 60% or above will be eligible for placements in France and Germany. Only students with marks of 70% or above will be eligible for placements in Singapore and the USA.
Please note the list of universities located abroad that the Department currently has partnerships with is illustrative.
Partnerships with universities are subject to continuous review and individual partnerships may or may not be renewed.
Year in industry
A Year in Industry allows you to gain paid experience of using chemistry in an industrial context.
You will be expected to help the Department organise your placement, however help is available:
- The Careers Service advertises placement vacancies on its online vacancy system, JobsLive.
- The Department of Chemistry has a dedicated Industrial Liaison Officer who advertises opportunities and provides support with the application process.
Securing a placement is competitive, so you may need to apply to multiple employers and take part in recruitment activities. Application procedures vary from company to company. They can include CV and cover letter submissions, online tests, Skype interviews, technical interviews and assessment centres.
Students from the Department have previously completed placements with:
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Pfizer
- AstraZeneca
The employer can often be in a location of your choice – including outside the UK – as long as you are successful in obtaining a position there and the placement is approved by the Department.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£9,250 per year
Year in industry
2025 entry
£1,850 for that year
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
We’re offering up to £5,000 each year through our Imperial Bursary scheme for eligible Home undergraduates.
If your household income remains under £70,000 a year, you’ll automatically qualify for every year of your course.
Find out more about our Imperial Bursary scheme.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£43,300 per year
Year in industry
2025 entry
20% of the fee for that year
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
86% Of Imperial Chemistry graduates in work or further study*
- 86% Of Imperial Chemistry graduates in work or further study*
- 14%
80% Of Imperial Chemistry graduates in work highly skilled or further study*
- 80% Of Imperial Chemistry graduates in work highly skilled or further study*
- 20%
*2021-22 graduate outcomes data, published by HESA in 2024
Gain transferable skills relevant to a career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, or biomedical and chemical biology research.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
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Alternatively, you may wish to consider continuing your studies at PhD level.
Potential career routes could include industrial development, production and quality control, marketing, finance and teaching.
Other potential career paths include data scientists, audit trainees, and research scientists for government.
Further links
Contact the department
- Email: ch.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Department of Chemistry website
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Request info
Learn more about studying at Imperial. Receive useful information about our life in our undergraduate community and download our latest Study Guide.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Course data
Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications