Chemistry (Digital Methods and Computational Modelling)

Digital technologies are transforming chemistry research with data science, AI and machine learning, enabling scientists to make discoveries and run experiments faster and at lower cost. On this degree you’ll gain the chemistry knowledge and computing skills you need to join this fast-growing field.
This is the ideal course if you have a passion for chemistry and a fascination for all things digital. You don’t need previous computing knowledge as your programming training will be tailored to your level. By the time you graduate you’ll be able to write your own programs, use state-of-the-art software to analyse big data, and look at digital simulations of molecules in incredible detail.

Placement opportunities
The final year of your degree could include an extended project that can be taken within our research facilities, as part of a year-long industrial placement or as an external placement at a university overseas. A university placement could take you to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Singapore or almost anywhere in the world. Most placements within industry are based in the UK and are paid, whichever type you choose you’ll gain specialist experience and transferable skills which will impress employers.

Southampton is one of just a few UK universities where you can study this subject to an advanced level. Here you’ll learn in recently refurbished labs and use the University’s supercomputer for your project work.

Your career
There will be plenty of demand for your skills with every branch of industry and research looking to harness the potential of AI, computer modelling and big data. As a fully trained chemist, you could pursue a career in any area of the chemical industry, for example in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, renewable energy and manufacturing sectors.

Your modelling and analysis skills could secure you a role in finance, banking or management. Or, as you will have learned programming to a professional standard, you could choose to work in a tech company as a software developer.

This degree is also excellent preparation for a PhD.

Outstanding undergraduate laboratories and equipment
Study in refurbished laboratories, which opened recently as part of a £12m investment in Chemistry’s facilities. In this spacious, modern environment you’ll gain hands-on practical experience of equipment such as NMR and IR spectrometers and X-ray diffractometers. There are also laptops for each student so that you can record your practical work.

It’s the same high-tech equipment you’ll find in industry or academic labs, and you’ll learn to make and analyse your own samples, with full support and training – all excellent preparation for your future career.

Learn about research as it happens
Southampton is a Russell Group University, this means you’ll learn from staff who are spearheading computational chemistry research. Our researchers are using AI and digital modelling to benefit society, for example by improving renewable energy technologies and supporting research into treatments for contagious diseases.

They will share their expertise with you, bringing the most up-to-date knowledge to your seminars and lectures, and you’ll be able to take part in their research during your individual project work. In addition, our leading role in the UK’s AI for Scientific Discovery Network will give you access to seminars with leading data and computer scientists.

Supporting your studies
You’ll be part of a supportive Chemistry community, with a personal academic tutor to provide any extra help you need, both academically and personally.
Between classes, the Chemistry department will be your ‘home’ on campus, where you can grab a coffee in the common room, catch up with friends and talk to staff.

Years one and two:
You’ll gain a foundation in the fundamentals of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, as well as practical lab techniques. A programming module tailored to your level of knowledge and a computational practical will prepare you for more in-depth study in years three and four.

Core modules in the first and second year are shared across most of our chemistry degrees. This makes it easy to transfer if you decide you’d like to join our MChem Chemistry or MChem with placement degrees.

Year three:
You’ll take a specialist module, Chemistry through the Computational Microscope, alongside your advanced organic, physical and inorganic chemistry studies. Optional modules include:
• Atoms, Molecules and Spin: Quantum Mechanics Chemistry and Spectroscopy
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

An advanced practical project and literature-based research on a computational chemistry topic will help you develop your research skills.

Year four:
You’ll undertake an advanced chemistry project in an area of computational chemistry that interests you. The project could be working with one of our research groups in Southampton or could be taken as part of an industrial or overseas placement. You’ll also take a specialist module: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Chemistry.

Year four options include:
• Advanced Chemical Biology
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Principles, Techniques and Energy Applications of Electrochemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry of Functional Molecules and Materials

There are written examinations at the end of each semester to test your knowledge and understanding of material presented in the lectures and workshops. The practical work is continuously assessed primarily through written reports. Project work is assessed by dissertation and oral examination together with a report on your relevant skills from your supervisor. A written literature review related to the project is also assessed. Coursework exercises based on the lecture material are set each week and feedback is provided promptly. In some cases, coursework marks are used in calculating your overall mark for the module of study. However, in most cases coursework is simply to give you an indication of your progress. The research project will be assessed via a variety of means including review of your laboratory notebook, your assessments of the risks and hazards of your work, written reports, oral presentations, the production of a dissertation, and an oral examination.