Course contact details
Admissions Team
Email:admissions@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone:029 2087 9999
Cardiff University
PO Box 921
Cardiff
CF10 3XQ
Medicinal Chemistry with a Year Abroad
- Bachelor of Science (with Honours)
- 4 Years
- Full-Time
- 27 September 2027
- Undergraduate
- Main Site - Cardiff
- Awarded by:
- Cardiff University (Prifysgol Caerdydd)
Course summary
Join the forefront of modern medicine: expand your core chemistry studies with specialist medicinal chemistry skills in this four-year degree with a year abroad.
If you're interested in the drug discovery process and want to work in the pharmaceutical industry, this course is ideal for you.
You’ll gain a solid grounding in core chemistry topics as well as specialising in biochemistry and drug design. In the lab, you'll focus on drug synthesis and testing in our dedicated lab space fitted with industry-standard equipment.
Along with developing your research and computational abilities, you’ll learn to design your own experiments. In your final year, you can specialise in an area you're interested in through a research project, supervised by one of our leading academics.
Your third year will be spent immersed in a different culture on a nine-twelve month placement overseas.
Distinctive Features of the Programme
Join the forefront of modern medicine.
Medicinal chemists develop new therapies and vaccines to prevent and treat infections and disease, supporting people's health worldwide.
Life beyond the lab
As well as the chemistry relevant to drug discovery, you'll study data science, project planning, leadership skills and more to prepare you for your future career.
Year abroad
Broaden your horizons with your third year spent on a placement overseas.
94% employment
94% of our graduates are employed, in further study or doing other activities such as travelling, 15 months after their course (Graduate Outcomes survey 2020/21).
Flexible courses
Transfer to the BSc Chemistry or MChem Chemistry (with Year in Industry or Placement Year Abroad options) during your first year (subject to academic achievement).
Excellent career prospects
This course is ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Acclaimed researchers involved in course design and teaching
99% of our research is world-leading or internationally excellent and we're 12th in the UK for research impact (REF 2021).
How to apply
Apply by
13 January 2027
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- F151
- Institution code:
- C15
- Campus name:
- Main Site - Cardiff
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Typical qualification requirements
A levelAAB-BBB
Must include grade B in Chemistry. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
T Level
Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.
UCAS TariffNot accepted
GCSE/National 4/National 5
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.
Extended ProjectA
For applicants taking the EPQ qualification, an A in the EPQ can be recognised to lower the entry requirements by a single grade. For example, an AAB offer would be “AAB from 3 A-levels or ABB from 3 A-levels and a grade A in the EPQ”. Please note that any subject specific requirements must be met.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme34-31
34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 5 in HL Chemistry.
WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales will be accepted in lieu of one A level at the A level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)DDD-DDM
Accepted subjects: Applied Science.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in place of one A-level at the A-level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
All applicants are expected to have demonstrable English language skills. Most courses ask for GCSE English grade C/4 or equivalent, but some courses ask for GCSE English grade B/6 or equivalent.https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/english-language-requirements/undergraduate
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
At Cardiff we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, as part of this our contextual admissions policy aims to widen participation and improve access to Higher Education (HE).
For more information on Cardiff University contextual admissions, including how applications are scored and how we use that score, please see our website.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Historical entry grades report
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £9790 | |
| EU & International | £30700 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Fees stated are for the 2026/7 academic year.
Tuition fees cover all reasonable costs required to complete the stated programme. Optional study trips, placements, or equipment are at your own cost. Tuition fees exclude living costs such as accommodation, subsistence and travel.
UK and Islands:
The University may increase fees as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. We will notify you of changes by the end of June in the preceding academic year.
EU, EEA, and Switzerland:
Unless eligible for UK fee status, fees will align with international fees. Check eligibility at: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student-advice/fees/full-list-of-categories-for-he-in-wales/
International:
Fees are fixed for the programme duration, excluding Medicine and Dentistry programmes. During the pre-clinical element of Medicine and Dentistry programmes the fee rate will be fixed, after which the clinical fee rate is charged. Further details: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/funding-and-fees
Sponsorship information
Scholarships and bursaries
Cardiff University has many scholarships on offer to our prospective students. Please see our website at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding/scholarships for further information.
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