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Fees and Funding

UK & EU Fee

£9,000 (2013/14)

Overseas Fee

£19,500 (2013/14)

General Funding Notes

Details about financial support are available at: www.ucl.ac.uk/study/ug-finance

Specific Funding Notes

The Chemistry Department offers a number of scholarships, including the Bader Bursaries, GSK Bursary, UCL Chemistry Entrance Scholarships and the Kathleen Lonsdale Bursary.

Contacts

Admissions Tutor

Dr Dewi Lewis

Email: admissions.chem@ucl.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 4650

Key Facts

Research Assessment Exercise

65% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
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Departmental website

Chemistry

More Information

Prospectus subject entry

Chemistry

Prospectus faculty entry

Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Chemical Physics MSci

UCAS Code: F323

This four-year programme offers an additional year on top of the Chemical Physics BSc, providing scope for greater in-depth study in advanced topics such as quantum mechanics and computational chemistry. It is ideal if you intend to pursue a science-based career.

Entry Requirements

A Levels

Grades AAA
Subjects Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics required.
AS Levels A pass in a further subject at AS level or equivalent is required.
GCSEs English Language at grade C plus Mathematics at grade B. For UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

IB Diploma

Points 38
Subjects A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects including Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, with no score below 5.

Other Qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Selected entry requirements will appear here

International Qualifications

International Qualifications

In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.

Selected country's equivalent grades will appear here

University Preparatory Certificates

UCL offers intensive one-year foundation courses to prepare international students for a variety of degree programmes at UCL.

The University Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are for international students of high academic potential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.

For more information see our website: www.ucl.ac.uk/upc

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you will also need to satisfy UCL's English Language Requirements. A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Degree Summary

Degree Benefits

  • Consistently regarded as one of the best chemistry departments in the UK, we offer you an excellent education with high standards of teaching.
  • You will benefit from our outstanding research profile as you are taught by lecturers who are experts in a wide range of chemistry-related fields.
  • The department has a rich history at the crossing point between chemistry and physics, and is home to UCL's centre for Computational Chemistry and the Centre for Cosmic Chemistry and Physics.
  • We offer access to state-of-the-art facilities, enhanced by our strong affiliation to other centres of excellence such as the London Centre for Nanotechnology.

Chemical Physics is offered either as a three-year BSc programme or as a four-year MSci. Courses are identical for the first two years of study, so you can defer which to opt for until the end of your second year. We advise you, however, to select the four-year MSci programme initially as this gives you the most control over you plans.

Although the Chemical Physics MSci is based on core chemistry courses, there is more scope to develop skills in physics and theoretical aspects of chemistry, and either inorganic chemistry or organic chemistry is omitted after the first year in favour of mathematics, physics and specialist chemical physics courses.

In years one and two, you will take a combination of compulsory courses together with a number of optional chemistry courses and further optional courses from outside the department. In the third year you take further compulsory and optional courses including a core literature project and extended laboratory classes.

In the final year of the MSci, you will undertake a chemical research project and optional courses, allowing you to specialise in the field of chemistry of your choice.

Your Learning

Your learning will combine lectures, practical classes and group workshops. In addition you will attend tutorials in groups of four to six students which provide specialised support for the core courses.

Assessment

Courses usually involve at least two methods of assessment; coursework (problem sheets, essays or poster presentations), an examination, or lab classes. Feedback, such as face-to-face marking in laboratories, is always provided. Your final year project will be assessed through a written report, a presentation and an oral examination.

Degree Structure

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual courses, normally valued at 0.5 or 1.0 credits, adding up to a total of 4.0 credits for the year. Courses are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional courses varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 1.0 credit is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Year One

Compulsory courses

Basic Inorganic Chemistry
Basic Organic Chemistry
Basic Physical Chemistry
Introduction to Chemical Principles
Mathematics for Science 1
Mathematics for Science 2
Physics of the Universe

Optional courses

All first year courses are compulsory.

Year Two

Compulsory courses

Chemical Dynamics
Introductory Classical Mechanics
Mathematical Methods In Chemistry
Principles of Physical Chemistry

Optional courses

You will select 1.0 credits of either Inorganic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry options, plus 0.5 credits from further Physics or Mathematics options.

Year Three

Compulsory courses

Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry
An Introduction to Research Methods
Literature Project

Optional courses

Either:
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Or:
Advanced Organic Chemistry

Plus either:
Concepts in Computational and Experimental Chemistry
or:
Numerical And Analytical Methods

You will also select 1.0 credits of advanced Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics options, or from other approved undergraduate courses. Chemistry options may include:

Biological Chemistry/Biological Macromolecules
Concepts in Computational and Experimental Chemistry
Inorganic Rings, Chains and Clusters
Organometallic Chemistry
Principles of Drug Design
Structural Methods in Modern Chemistry

Final Year

Compulsory courses

Advanced Chemical Research Project

Optional courses

Either:
Numerical And Analytical Methods
Or:
Topics in Quantum Mechanics

Plus 1.5 credits from a wide range of advanced Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics options, or from other approved undergraduate courses. Chemistry options may include:

Biological Chemistry/Biological Macromolecules
Concepts in Computational and Experimental Chemistry
Inorganic Rings, Chains and Clusters
Numerical and Analytical Methods
Pathways, Intermediates and Function in Organic Chemistry
Principles of Drug Design
Organometallic Chemistry
Structural Methods in Modern Chemistry

Further details available on degree page of subject website:

Your Career

As a UCL Chemistry graduate you will have developed both discipline-based and highly sought after analytical skills, for example in logical thought and numeracy.

On completion of your degree you will have the obvious option of pursuing a career within the chemical industry. This is recognised as one of the most exciting and successful contributors to the UK economy, for example in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and nanotechnology sectors.

After further study, some graduates continue as researchers at universities or government laboratories around the world, often becoming leading figures in their fields of interest.

Our graduates are in great demand in many other fields such as management, the financial sector, information technology, scientific journalism, patent law, the scientific Civil Service, and in education.

Destinations

First career destinations of recent graduates (2009-2011) of UCL Chemistry programmes include:

  • Patent Analyst, Work Patent Seekers (2011)
  • Deployment Chemist, Shell Infineum (2011)
  • Tax Associate, Deloitte (2010)
  • Full-time student, PhD in Drug Discovery at UCL (2010)
  • Consultant, Simon Kucher and Partners (2009)

Find out more about London graduates' careers by visiting the Careers Group (University of London) website:

Application

Your Application

Together with essential academic requirements, we are looking for strong evidence in your personal statement of your interest in the subject and your understanding of it. These requirements may be evidenced by examples of project work, relevant work experience or, perhaps, through your knowledge of current events involving chemistry. We also look for your ability to communicate clearly in English.

How to Apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

UK-based applicants who demonstrate their potential to meet our academic requirements will be invited to visit UCL for a day. The day will include talks, the opportunity to meet current students and a tour of the department and UCL. You will also attend a university-level lecture.

You will also have a 20-minute discussion with one of our academic staff in order to explore what studying at UCL will be like. This discussion will form part of our decision making process.

If you are based overseas, attendance at a visit day is impractical. Instead, you will be sent a presentation of the material that is covered with UK-based students. You will also be sent a series of chemistry questions for discussion by email or telephone.

We aim to contact you about the outcome of your application within 48 hours of your interview or, if overseas, of concluding our discussion.