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Medicinal Chemistry with Industrial Placement
- MChem (H)
- 5 Years
- Full-time
- 14 September 2026
- Undergraduate
- Edinburgh Campus
Course summary
This career-focused MChem Medicinal Chemistry with Industrial Placement degree has been developed to equip students with the necessary expertise to excel in pharmaceutical and drug development settings. Whether your interests lie in understanding how medicines work at the molecular level, discovering new therapeutic compounds, or contributing to the fight against devastating diseases, the programme provides a focused, modern curriculum tailored to those ambitions. From day one, you will follow a chemistry curriculum that builds strong foundations in core areas such as chemical reactivity, molecular structure and bonding, and organic synthesis. As you progress through the degree, your learning will be increasingly focused on topics central to medicinal chemistry, including pharmacology, drug design, molecular modelling, as well as pharmaceutical analysis.
As part of our MChem Medicinal Chemistry with Industrial Placement programme, you will choose an industrial placement to develop your skills and get to know an industrial chemical company. You will benefit from the staff training and assessment courses of the company, and gain wide experience of the industrial sector.
Throughout your studies, you will benefit from extensive hands-on laboratory experience, with practical classes designed to develop your technical skills and reinforce theoretical learning. Laboratory work is a key feature throughout the programme, allowing you to build confidence in experimental design, data analysis, and communication — all crucial for a successful career in the pharmaceutical sciences. Chemistry graduates from Heriot-Watt University have a good reputation with employers who appreciate this unique combination of skills and knowledge, and alumni have secured roles with organisations including Veranova, GSK, Charles River Laboratories and Novo Nordisk. You’ll also be well prepared for postgraduate research to study for a PhD.
In addition to career pathways that directly use your practical skills and chemical knowledge, you can apply your problem-solving abilities, numeracy and other transferable graduate skills to various roles beyond chemistry. The broad range of skills involved in a chemistry degree means chemistry graduates are in high demand in other employment sectors, ranging from environmental protection to education, law and finance.
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- EU has vacancies
- Wales has vacancies
- England has vacancies
- International has vacancies
- Scotland does not have vacancies
- Northern Ireland has vacancies
- Republic of Ireland has vacancies
Apply by
14 January
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:
- F1M3
- Institution code:
- H24
- Campus name:
- Edinburgh Campus
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS TariffNot accepted
A levelBBB
including Chemistry and Maths/Physics for entry to Year 1.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)DDM
in a relevant subject (including sufficient Chemistry and Maths) for entry to Year 1.
Scottish HigherAAAB
including A in Chemistry and B in Maths/Physics/Engineering Science
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme30 points
with Higher Level Chemistry and Mathematics/Physics at 5 for entry to Year 1.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)
Scottish HNCPass
HNC in a relevant subject (including sufficient Maths and Chemistry) with A in graded unit for entry to Year 1.
Scottish HNDPass
HND in relevant subject (including sufficient Maths and Chemistry) with BB in graded units for entry to Year 1.
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6)Pass
We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.
T Level
We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.
We are always welcome to transfer students, including considering advanced entry to Year 3 for students with strong academic performance. Applicants interested in this route should be in touch directly with our Admissions team.
We operate contextual admissions defined by our Fair Access Policy which may mean entry requirements are flexible.
We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK, Europe and International countries. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further information on the entry requirements for these.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff Not accepted
A level BCC
must include Chemistry and Maths/Physics with one at B.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DMM
in relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.
Scottish Higher BBBC
must include B in Chemistry and B in one of Maths / Physics / Engineering Science at B.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)
Scottish HNC Pass
HNC in a relevant subject (including sufficient Maths and Chemistry) with B in graded unit for entry to Year 1.
Scottish HND Pass
HND in a relevant subject (including sufficient Maths and Chemistry) with BB in graded unit for entry to Year 1.
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) Pass
We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.
T Level
We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.
Priority postcode areas – Home Scottish applicants from SIMD20 postcodes or RUK applicants from POLAR 4 quintile 1 areas – identified through Scottish and UK government targets.
Care experience – Home Scottish or RUK applicants who have had experience of care, including adoption, kinship care, foster care and home supervision orders.
English language requirements
Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.
HWU English Language Requirementshttps://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm
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.
We realise that not everyone has an equal opportunity to evidence their full potential from school or college qualifications alone, so we use all the information you provide on your application form to assess both your current achievements and potential to thrive at university. Our minimum entry levels apply to MD20, POLAR 4 Q1 and care experienced students. Students from other widening access backgrounds may get an adjusted offer which is slightly lower than our standard entry requirements.
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 available
Historical entry grades data is not currently available for Heriot-Watt University - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|
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
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Course contact details
Admissions Office
Email:studywithus@hw.ac.uk
Phone:0131 451 3376
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS
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