Chemistry MChem Honours
UCAS Code: F103 (4 Years)

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Tutor and student in the laboratory Making new compounds, determining their structures and exploring their reactivities are just part of a chemist’s job.

The work of chemists has led to many things we now take for granted: from cosmetics to detergents, perfumes to adhesives, drugs to dyes, and paints to painkillers.

Organic, inorganic and physical chemistry form the backbone of your study programme at each Stage.

We also cover vocational topics aimed at developing graduate skills such as problem solving, teamworking, presentation and communication skills, as well as the laboratory skills required by professional chemists.

In Stage 4, you have the chance to broaden and deepen your understanding of chemistry, with a level of advanced training that provides a good basis for a PhD or a career in research.

Professional accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This means it satisfies the academic requirements for the award of Chartered Chemist (CChem). 

Teaching and assessment

The School of Chemistry at Newcastle contributes to an internationally recognised portfolio of chemistry research – a breadth of study that caters for a wide range of interests and career aspirations. Our research feeds directly into our teaching material. This makes sure that you have the chance to learn about some of the latest discoveries in your subject area, from the people responsible for making them. You will have chance to design and conduct your own research through an extended research project in Stage 4.

Teaching is a combination of lectures, tutorials or workshops. You will have practical classes for two afternoons each week in Stage 1 and these increase in later Stages. Further information can be found on our undergraduate web pages about the approach to teaching and learning at Newcastle University.

Assessment is by in-course assessment, laboratory work and written examinations. Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module, more information can be found in our individual module listings.

Facilities

The School of Chemistry at Newcastle is home to some of the highest specification laboratory facilities in the country:

  • a state-of-the-art £2.8m synthetic teaching laboratory
  • a £1.9m chemistry research laboratory
  • a £750,000 refurbishment of the physical chemistry teaching laboratory

Take a virtual tour of our facilities on the School's website.

School of Chemistry

The School of Chemistry is based in the Bedson Building, which houses newly-built teaching laboratories, specialist computer facilities and refurbished lecture theatres.

We provide all of our first-year students with a welcome pack worth £200, containing everything you need to make a smooth transition to University study – from textbooks and a calculator to a lab coat and alarm clock.

Our student-run society Nu:Kem organises a busy schedule of social and academic events throughout the year to help you meet people from all years and really feel part of life in the School of Chemistry.

From the very start of your studies, you will also be appointed a Personal Tutor from within the School who can provide guidance on both academic and non-academic matters.

+ Flexible degree structure

All of our chemistry degrees share the same first year with modules covering: basic organic chemistry; physical chemistry; structural and inorganic chemistry; biological and medicinal chemistry; and data handling. This gives you chance to see where your interests lie.

It also means that it is possible to transfer to one of our other chemistry degrees before the start of second year should your ideas change as your skills and knowledge develop.

In second year, you continue to study alongside our Chemistry BSc students. You study organic, inorganic and physical chemistry in modules that build on the material covered at Stage 1.

You take a unique group assignment module on a given chemistry topic, which develops your transferable skill set and leads to the creation of a learning pack.

You also study further specialist topics, such as light-activated reactions and polymers, and natural product chemistry.

This high level of shared content continues into Stage 3 in preparation for your year of advanced study in Stage 4.

+ BSc or MChem?

  • We offer Chemistry and Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry degrees at Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Chemistry (MChem) level.
  • All of our degrees satisfy the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) guidelines for professional accreditation.
  • Studying an RSC-accredited degree satisfies the academic requirements for the award of Chartered Chemist (CChem) and leads to full membership of the RSC on graduation.
  • Students who are planning for a career in chemical research in industry or academia, or who may wish to study for a higher qualification such as a PhD, are encouraged to apply for an MChem degree.
  • Our MChem degrees last four years and provide a more in-depth study of chemistry than our BSc degrees. They also include a research project in the fourth year which gives you experience of working in a research environment. 

Find out more on the Royal Society of Chemistry’s website.

+ Related courses

Other degrees in Chemistry at Newcastle:

You may also be interested in:

Biochemistry
Chemical Engineering

Student profiles:

Student Profile Photo

The benefits of being a Chemistry student at Newcastle are huge. In our first week we were given our essential textbooks, a lab coat, lab goggles, a spatula for lab work, a modelling kit and even an alarm clock for free!

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Student Profile Photo

My experience at Newcastle has been brilliant so far. The labs have all been recently refurbished which makes the practical lab sessions even more enjoyable.

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