Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry BSc Honours

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised. Please contact our friendly advisers to find out if you’re eligible for a place. You can get in touch through our hotlines: 

• For domestic students please call us on 0800 073 5050
• If you’re an International student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2025.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2025. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

Medicinal chemistry is the discovery, design and synthesis of new clinical drugs and medicines.

This exciting degree allows you to broaden your interests as you discover the subject. It includes the option to spend a year studying abroad or working in industry.

You’ll explore the role of chemistry in:

• drug design
• cancer chemotherapy
• enzymology
• toxicology

You'll study medicinal, organic, inorganic and structural chemistry. You'll investigate modern analytical techniques and computational chemistry.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Additional information

Flexible degree structure

Our Chemistry degrees share a common first year before offering different pathways and opportunities to specialise. Explore what you enjoy and then branch out.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

Our chemistry degrees share a common first year which explores the fundamentals of organic, inorganic, physical and biological chemistry.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Chemical Laboratory Skills 1	20
Chemical Skills and Professionalism	10
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry	20
Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry	20
Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry	20
General Chemistry	10
Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry	10

Additional compulsory module information

If you have A Level Maths grade C or below you take the following compulsory module:

Mathematical Skills for Science (10 credits)

 

Optional Modules	Credits
Mathematical Skills for Science	10
Introduction to Scientific Computing for Chemists	10
Introductory Astrophysics	10

You'll explore concepts in medicinal chemistry including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, enzymes and drug design. You’ll be introduced to structure-based drug design using CCP4 Molecular Graphics software.

You'll take an employability module that includes a Professional Awareness Event. You'll have the opportunity to interact with a range of companies.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Sustainable Solutions	10
Chemical Laboratory Skills 2	20
Structural Chemistry	10
Organic Chemistry	20
Inorganic Chemistry	20
Physical Chemistry	20
Medicinal Chemistry	10

Optional Modules	Credits
Applied Computational Medicinal Chemistry	10
Chemistry of the Atmosphere	10

You'll discover more advanced concepts in medicinal chemistry including toxicology, enzymology, cancer chemotherapy and chemotherapy of infectious diseases.

You'll study advanced organic and inorganic chemistry and explore topics including chemical nanoscience, synthesis and bioinorganic chemistry.

You'll take an employability module that includes a Professional Awareness Event. This is a great opportunity to interact with a range of companies.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Professional Development and Employability Skills for Chemists	10
Advanced Organic Chemistry	20
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	20
Advanced Medicinal Chemistry	20
Advanced Structural Chemistry	10
Chemical Laboratory Skills 3M	20
Analytical Chemistry in Practice	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2024-25.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

Teaching is by a combination of lectures, tutorials and lab-based and computational experiments. You will have practical classes for two afternoons each week in Stage 1 and these increase in later years.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Practical skills

You'll have the opportunity to develop professional laboratory skills through practical experience in our high-spec teaching labs.

You'll also develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills. These will enable you to pursue careers outside of Chemistry, including:

• accountancy
• patent law
• marketing

Business skills

We’ll help you develop your professional and business skills, so you’re ready for your career. During your degree you’ll learn to communicate complex ideas, manage projects and work in a team.

You'll develop your skills through:

• employability skills training across all stages
• work placements
• study abroad opportunities
• industrial visits

During our Professional Awareness Day, you’ll meet and talk with our alumni and leading companies.

We’ll also focus on developing your skills in:

• writing proposals
• writing scientific reports and papers
• delivering presentations

Research skills

Research is at the heart of what we do. Our latest research discoveries feed into your curriculum. You'll learn on the cutting-edge of Chemistry. Our discoveries include:

• discovery of new anti-cancer drugs
• development of battery technology
• creation of nanoscale electronics

Opportunities

Study abroad

Gain a global perspective, enhance your academic profile and open doors to exciting new experiences by studying abroad for one semester or a full academic year at one of our partner universities overseas. Study abroad usually takes place in stage 3 of your studies and extends your degree by one year.

You'll have the choice to study at a leading international university, including:

• Monash University 
• University of Hong Kong
• University of Pittsburgh

You can also opt for short-term global opportunities like summer schools, virtual exchanges or internships that usually take place over the summer months.

Work placement

Work Placements During your degree you can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an industrial placement, in the UK or abroad. Your work placement is a great opportunity to gain practical experience, acquire key business skills and make industry contacts. You’ll get University support from our dedicated team. Work placements usually take place between Stages 2 and 3 and extend your degree by a year.

Recent chemistry industrial placements include:

• Placement student at Procter and Gamble
• R&D Analytical Chemist at Reckitt Benckiser
• Drug Substance and Product Analyst at GSK
• Placement student at AkzoNobel

If you take an assessed year abroad or industrial placement, you'll study both the Advanced Inorganic and Advanced Organic Chemistry modules via distance learning, alongside an 80 credit project.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

The Bedson Building is the home of Chemistry and is located on our city-centre campus. It's based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

Here you will benefit from well-resourced teaching and research laboratories and facilities including:

• advanced instrumentation for analytical chemistry
• mechanical, glassblowing and electronic workshops
• facilities for the synthesis and characterization of novel materials
• extensive computational resources for molecular modelling and dynamics

We also have analytical research facilities which include:

• mass spectrometry
• nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
• ion beams
• X-ray diffraction

These resources offer you invaluable hands-on experience, preparing you for a successful career in Chemistry.

Support

We take your health and wellbeing seriously and are committed to supporting you throughout your studies so you can fulfil your potential at university. This support includes:

• a personal tutor who is an academic member of staff who can help you with academic and personal issues throughout your degree
• a peer mentor scheme which pairs you with a current student from your course to help you navigate your first year at university
• a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works
• support, treatment and guidance on mental and physical health from our wellbeing team

Your future

Join a network of successful graduates

Employers hold our graduates in high regard. Our graduates go on to work in a wide variety of sectors, including:

• drug development
• pharmacologist
• data analyst
• laboratory technician

Benefit from strong industry links

You'll also benefit from our well-established links with organisations within the industry, such as:

• Astra Zeneca
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Proctor & Gamble

Sustainable solutions

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The Sustainable Solutions module at Newcastle University offers you the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals on projects that address real-world sustainability challenges. This hands-on experience enhances your problem-solving skills and prepares you for successful careers in sustainability-focused roles.

You'll have many opportunities to interact with industry through:

• guest speakers
• visits
• industry networking events
• opportunities to attend conferences

Careers support

Our Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for academic year 2026-2027

The 2026 entry home fees have not yet been confirmed.

Qualification: BSc Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (Year 1) Not set
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (Year 1) Not set

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2025 entry

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course. £9,535 is the maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students for the academic year 2025-26. This is set by the UK government. This fee has not yet been confirmed for 2026-27.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages