Chemistry

Chemistry
Interested in developing chemical compounds? Curious about the structure of chemicals and the reactions they have with one another? Enter the fascinating world of Chemistry at Kent to gain the knowledge and practical skills to help tackle the challenges of the 21st century. From combating climate change and creating energy storage devices, to developing new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Our distinctive course includes a set of ‘chemistry in context’ modules where you can apply your knowledge to specific case studies. You'll also gain skills and knowledge that you can apply to solve real-world problems in areas such as chemistry and the environment.

It is possible to select modules which lead to the Forensic Science pathway course Chemistry (Forensic Science) BSc.

Accreditation

This course is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

MChem

Interested in developing chemical compounds? Curious about the structure of chemicals and the reactions they have with one another? Enter the fascinating world of Chemistry at Kent to gain the knowledge and practical skills to help tackle the challenges of the 21st century. From combating climate change and creating energy storage devices, to developing new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Our distinctive course includes a set of ‘chemistry in context’ modules where you can apply your knowledge to specific case studies - in our state-of-the-art facilities - as well as the opportunity to work with our leading research teams on your own project. You'll also benefit from our expert careers advice – we'll help you to achieve your ambitions.

On this four-year integrated Master's course, you'll also complete your own research project in an area that fascinates you. Under the guidance of a supervisor, you'll explore how to develop an idea into a fully worked-up research proposal. These extra skills will give you an edge in the job market.

Year Abroad

You'll spend your year abroad studying at one of our partner institutions. Studying and living abroad helps you grow in confidence and enhances your employability. You'll also make friends in the country you're studying in and meet other adventurous students from around the world.

Year In Industry

On your Year in Industry, you'll get hands on in the workplace, gaining relevant work experience and putting into practice the skills you’ve learnt. The paid placement takes place between your second and final years and can be in the UK or abroad. You'll also produce an independent research project.

Foundation Year

This course is designed for students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to Stage 1 of our degree courses, and is an excellent conversion course for applicants who have shown academic ability in non-science subjects.

Year 1

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following

• Fundamentals of Chemistry

  Embark on a fascinating journey into the heart of matter with our Fundamentals of Chemistry module, designed to ignite your curiosity and lay the foundations for your understanding of the chemical world. Delve into the fundamental principles that govern the behaviour of atoms and molecules, explore the mysteries of chemical reactions, and investigate the endless possibilities that chemistry offers in shaping our world. From understanding atomic structure to unraveling the complexities of bonding and reactivity, equipping you with indispensable knowledge essential for both forensic analysis and broader chemistry applications.

• Chemistry and the Environment

  As a burgeoning chemist, you will explore how chemical processes shape and influence the world around us. By fostering an understanding of environmental chemistry alongside essential skills in scientific communication, data analysis, and ethical conduct, this module equips you with the tools you need to tackle pressing environmental challenges and contribute to a sustainable future.

• Organic Chemistry 1: Structure and Reactivity

  We'll introduce you to the basics of fundamental organic chemistry, looking at the structures of carbon-based molecules and how they can be put together in millions of different ways. This module equips you with all you need to know about organic chemistry leading into your later studies in Chemistry or Forensic Science, laying the foundations for your degree and your career.

• Inorganic Chemistry 1: Periodicity and Metals

  This module gives you an understanding of how the variation in bonding across the periodic table leads to predictable and useful trends in structure and properties.

  The key properties of the transition metals are explored; this will enable you to understand how their fascinating and versatile properties arise, laying the groundwork for their application in diverse and distinctive settings. You'll develop your ability to understand and apply the key underpinning principles of inorganic chemistry supported by associated mathematical methods.

• Physical Chemistry 1: Energy and Rates

  We discuss the key ideas of thermodynamics and kinetics in a chemical context. It shows how the universe may be understood in terms of the flow of energy, allowing us to understand what transformations are possible and how fast they will occur. These essential physical principles are then applied to real world phenomena, showing that even the most fundamental theories have direct and important applications in the modern world. This understanding is key to you not only become a successful chemist, but an ethical and responsible one, which is crucial when looking for a professional role following graduation.

• Experimental Chemistry 1

  Practising chemists are respected for their ability to understand complex theory, and test it experimentally. This module guides you through the introductory stages of your journey to competency in applied experimental chemistry. Comprising a rigorous set of practical experiences, you'll gain a robust understanding of core practical chemistry skills, from working hands-on skillfully in the wet laboratory, to venturing into the modern world of coding and computation. Along the way you'll explore organic and inorganic synthesis, physical and analytical chemistry, and the use of computational techniques in experimental chemistry, while developing key skills in data manipulation, data presentation and scientific report writing. This sets up up for an exciting and successful career as a chemist, or in a wider range of fields, putting you in the driving seat of your career.

Year 2

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following

• Analytical Chemistry 1: Methods and Validation

  Analytical chemistry is essential throughout the chemical and forensic world - covering not only how we design experiments to understand the composition of unknown samples, but also how we confirm and quantify results and assign a level of confidence to our findings. This module takes a pragmatic, application-driven approach to sample preparation, analysis, and data validation, providing key foundations for the modern analytical chemist - and the key skills needed for a number of careers in chemical and forensic industries.

• Biochemistry: Biomolecules and Enzymes

  This module introduces you to the key ideas and fundamental molecular components of biochemistry. You'll look at simple biomolecules and non-covalent interactions, building up to biological oligomers before you are introduced to key concepts in pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, illustrated with medicinal chemistry case studies. This application of theory into practice through examining case studies prepares you for a career where you can get hands-on and make a real difference.

• Organic Chemistry 2: Molecular Synthesis

  Organic Chemistry is the science of making molecules. Understanding organic reactions helps scientists invent new drugs, discover eco-friendly materials, and decode the language of life. This module builds upon your knowledge of structure and reactivity and applies it in the context organic synthesis, molecular design, reaction mechanisms. You'll dive deeper into learning about creating more challenging target molecules from simple ones; along with industry-standard techniques to identify and follow the progress of any organic reaction. Upon completion, you'll be able to identify the most important concepts in the rational design of synthetic routes for useful complex organic molecules such as drugs, pesticides, dyestuffs, and perfumes. So you have the knowledge to launch a career in chemistry in a industry you are passionate about.

• Inorganic Chemistry 2: Organometallics and Main Group

  Explore the fascinating interplay between transition metals, organic molecules, and main group elements, unlocking the secrets behind some of the most pivotal chemical transformations shaping our world. From unraveling the intricate mechanisms of catalysis to harnessing the catalytic power of transition metal complexes, you'll delve deep into the frontiers of chemical innovation. You'll also gain an understanding of the rich structural and chemical diversity of inorganic solid-state compounds that enable their applications as functional materials. This further builds on your knowledge of inorganic chemistry and gives you the tools you need for a successful and exciting career as a chemist.

• Physical Chemistry 2: Quantum Mechanics

  In this module, you'll explore the core principles of quantum chemistry and molecular spectroscopy, two pillars of modern chemistry that illuminate the intricacies of matter at its most fundamental level. Starting with the foundational postulates of quantum mechanics and the wavefunction, you'll explore how these principles govern the electronic structure of atoms and molecules. You'll discover how spectroscopy reveals the identity and properties of molecules.

• Experimental Chemistry 2

  The modern practical chemist must operate successfully across the range of chemical disciplines, applying core chemical knowledge to a range of unfamiliar problems. You'll venture through a diverse and challenging range of practical and theoretical experiences, conducting experiments across many disciplines to illustrate the multi-faceted, versatile, and employable characteristics of a practising chemist.

Year 3

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following

• Analytical Chemistry 2: Advanced Methods

  This module builds upon your knowledge of fundamental concepts and methods to understand the specificity, advantages and limitations of these more advanced techniques, and explore approaches to best apply them across a broad range of applications. Using this knowledge, you'll strategically choose and expertly apply advanced analytical methods across a range of scenarios explored elsewhere within your course.

  Beyond this course, you can apply these interdisciplinary skills and technologies to pioneering research and in support of impacting real world issues in fields including environmental chemistry, forensic trace analysis and pharmaceutical development and detection.

• Materials Chemistry: Methods and Materials

  Gain an understanding of how such functional properties work, the types of inorganic materials that can be used for them and how these can be made and characterised. We'll give you the knowledge needed to synthesise and optimise new functional materials for a wide range of useful applications through a systematic understanding of key classes of functional solids, this knowledge will be the basis for any career in chemistry where you want to tackle challenges and answer pressing questions.

• Organic Chemistry 3: Advanced Synthesis

  In this module, we'll explore advanced complex methods for different organic transformations bringing together the beauty and complexity of organic chemistry. You'll also broaden and extend your knowledge of organic chemistry to standards used in modern chemistry research, academia, pharmaceutical science, and other related industries. You'll study the principles to master various bond formations and functional group transformations at an advanced level, gaining the essential skills you need to pursue a career in organic chemistry.

• Inorganic Chemistry 3: Structure and Reactivity

  This module offers a comprehensive journey through the principles governing the behaviour of both main group elements and transition metals, unlocking the secrets behind their diverse reactivity and profound impact on the world of chemistry.

  You'll explore the deeper mechanistic explanations for their unique reactivity and electronic properties that enables the efficient synthesis of the wide variety of compounds needed to address global challenges across areas as diverse as healthcare, the green economy and quantum technologies.

• Physical Chemistry 3: Computational Chemistry

  Computational modelling and simulations are increasingly used by industry to complement experimental work and can be used to provide unique insight, especially when experiments are expensive, dangerous or prohibited. In this module you'll be introduced to a range of cutting-edge modelling and simulation approaches that chemistry practitioners may encounter through their career in aid of solving complex chemical problems and in driving the design processes for new biomolecules, photovoltaic cells and bio-degradable polymers, supporting a range of topical global challenges.

• Chemistry Research Project

  You'll undertake a comprehensive research project, selected from a range of chemical disciplines. You will also gain skills in conducting and directing scientific research, data analysis and interpretation, problem solving and communication of results, culminating in the writing of your dissertation. This isn't just your chance to hone you skills and develop as a chemist, your dissertation itself is a real piece of scientific research you can use to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to employers following graduation.

Year in Industry (Optional)

Year in Industry

After successfully completing stage 1 at your first attempt, with an average pass mark of at least 60%, you have the opportunity to spend a year in industry between Stages 2 and 3. We give advice and guidance on finding a placement.

Please note that acceptance onto the course is not a guarantee of a placement. The responsibility of finding a placement is on the student, with help and support from the department. If you cannot find a placement, you will be required to change your registration for the equivalent BSc programme without the Year in Industry option.

This can be added during your studies.

Year 4 (MChem)

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following

• Substances of Abuse

  You'll be immersed in key elements of synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry in the context of different substances of abuse. You'll delve into the theoretical chemistry and principles of analysis and identification for several controlled pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs, taught with legal considerations and interpretations in mind throughout. This understanding of chemistry both scientifically and social will make you a more effective, and more ethical and responsible chemist.

• Advanced Research Skills

  Communicating complex chemistry to a wide variety of audiences is a key skill of the modern scientist. You need to adapt your approach to the audience to deliver information that enthuses and informs. In this module you'll consider the different aspects of science communication and the role that is plays in science perception and confidence, learning how to evaluate the current state-of-the-art to predict future chemical field trajectories and to advise or persuade funding agencies, government, industrial bodies or policy makers. Additionally, you will explore the challenges faced with public engagement. Confronting these challenges will allow you to better communicate chemistry to the wider public and is crucial when starting a career in science.

• Advanced Chemistry Project

  From new materials and processes to address climate concerns and advanced technologies, to drug delivery systems and antimicrobials, many of the problems facing today's society will be solved by chemical research.

  We give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in independent cutting edge chemical research. You'll implement the skills you have learned throughout your degree to plan, conduct and troubleshoot research in your chosen chemical field (inorganic, materials, organic, analytical or computational). You'll learn new analytical and modelling techniques and perform complex data analyses to provide new insight in the chemical sciences, preparing you for roles in industry research and development teams and academic research pathways where you can make a real difference.

Optional modules may include the following

• Science Communication and Public Engagement

• Artificial Intelligence for Natural Sciences

Please see our website for module details.

Year Abroad

Go Abroad

Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally.  You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.

You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stages 1 and 2 to proceed to the year abroad. If the requirement is not met, you will be transferred to the equivalent three-year programme. The year abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not count towards your final degree classification.

This can be added during your studies. For further information, please see our website and ‘Go Abroad’.

Foundation Year

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Compulsory modules currently include the following

• Foundations of Science 1

  Since the dawn of time, humans have explored the natural world that surrounds us. Questions like, “What is life?” and “How did it all begin?” are essential because they intersect with virtually every aspect of human thought and activity, from the search for knowledge and meaning to the practical implications for science, ethics, and society.

  The foundations of biological and chemical sciences are built on a set of fundamental principles and concepts that underpin the structure, behaviour, and interactions of matter and life. These foundations are vital for understanding the complexity of living organisms and the chemical processes that sustain them.

  In this module you’ll be starting from the structure of simple atoms and molecules to the incredible complexity of the human genome. You’ll investigate the building blocks of matter and examine how atoms form complex molecules, which ultimately give rise to living organisms.

• Scientific Methods and Data Handling

  You will ignite your curiosity while gathering critical practical experience, skills and confidence in conducting scientific experiments.

  You will test hypotheses with laboratory classes that investigate the science that surrounds us. You will analyse your own experimental data, develop your numeracy and data handling skills and use appropriate software to draw meaningful conclusions.

  Blending theoretical understanding with practical laboratory investigations, you’ll be equipped with the tools necessary to progress in scientific inquiry and analysis.

• Foundations of Science 2

  In this module, you’ll continue your journey into the foundations of scientific theory and method and find answers to questions like these.

  You will learn the essential proteins and enzymes that exist in everyday life, the metabolic processes that allow us to create energy, and some of the chemistry that underpins these processes such as equilibria, acids and bases. You will deepen your academic knowledge in these areas, and explore the factors that drive chemical and biological processes.

• Scientific Methods and Academic Skills Development

  In this module, you’ll outline the essential steps associated with undertaking scientific research, and consider issues related to the experimental process and statistics.

  You’ll undertake experiments that develop proficiency in collecting, analysing, and interpreting large data sets. You’ll also be able to communicate as a scientist and improve your skills in academic writing and referencing, information retrieval and analysis, and effective presentation.

• Fundamental Human Biology and Genetics

  Studying human biology and genetics provides insights into the workings of the human body, from fundamental cellular processes to complex physiological systems. Grounded in fundamental biological principles, you’ll explore the intricate functions of human tissues and organs, gaining insight into their roles in sustaining life.

  You’ll examine the essential principles of genetic inheritance and the factors driving genetic variation, laying the groundwork for understanding the diversity of human traits. By understanding the processes that keep our organs working well, you’ll begin to understand how diseases emerge. By the end of the module, you’ll have developed a thorough and holistic understanding of the human body, health and disease onset, all of which help to shape out understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

Optional modules may include the following

• Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science

• Chemical Reactivity and Analysis

Please see the course page on our website for module details.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Chemistry, Royal Society of