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Materials and Molecular Modelling MSc

London, Bloomsbury

There is a growing need by industry for staff trained in computational molecular and materials sciences. This new multidisciplinary MSc will teach simulation tools used in a wide range of applications, including catalysis and energy materials, nanotechnology and drug design, and will provide transferable skills to other fields, thereby broadening employment prospects.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2022/23)
£16,500
Overseas tuition fees (2022/23)
£32,100
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2022
Applications accepted
All applicants: 18 Oct 2021 – 30 Jun 2022

Applications closed

Notification

Application closes at 17:00 GMT.

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Students will gain detailed knowledge and skills in materials and molecular modelling, focusing on the state-of-the art simulation techniques employed to research the molecular level properties that determine the macroscopic behaviour of matter. They will also gain key research skills and will learn the basic concepts in business and entrepreneurship as applied to high-tech industries.

Who this course is for

This programme will appeal to a wide range of students with a science or engineering background who wish to develop the skills necessary to work in molecular modelling both nationally and internationally.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL Chemistry has a world-leading position in materials and molecular modelling research; is part of the Thomas Young Centre for the theory and simulation of Materials; has access to the Materials and Molecular Modelling Hub that hosts national compute resources (the architecture of which was specifically chosen for materials and molecular modelling simulations); and is where the meetings of the High Performance Computing (HPC) Materials Chemistry Consortium (with members in over 80 research teams based in 30 UK institutions) are held.

Molecular modelling techniques are having increasing impact in the industrial sector, as evidenced by the partnership between UCL's Industrial Doctorate Centre in Molecular Modelling and Materials Science and a range of national and international industrial sponsors.

This multidisciplinary programme offers a wide range of options, thereby enabling each student to tailor the programme to their own needs and interests.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The training provided by this program will enable entry into a wide range of fields. Students may continue in academia to complete a PhD or pursue teaching as a profession. Students with the skills obtained during this study are highly sought after by the industrial sector, including IT, sustainable energy, catalysis, nanotechnology, biomedical materials and pharmaceuticals.

Employability

There are increasing career opportunities in the field of materials and molecular modelling in sectors including sustainable energy, catalysis, nanotechnology, biomedical materials and pharmaceuticals. This MSc will train students in the skills necessary for future employment in the industrial and public sector communities, together with specific training in career development and transferable skills. The majority of students on the programme have moved on to PhD study.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and laboratory classes. Assessment is through unseen examination, coursework, individual and group projects, poster creation, presentation and the research project.

Modules

In terms 1 and 2 you will be working on The Scientific Literature. The Computational Research Project will be conducted across the full academic year. In terms 1 and 2 you will study compulsory taught modules: Simulation Methods in Materials Chemistry, which provides the theory required to understand simulations using materials and molecular modelling software, Frontiers in Materials Modelling, which provides hand-on experience of running simulations of materials and molecules, Transferable Skills for Chemists, which prepare you for the research project and equip you with transferable skills for the whole Master’s, and Topics in Modern Chemistry, which offers a range of topics taught in the chemistry department of which you select and complete three topics that best match the requirements of your research project and your interests.

Compulsory modules








Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Materials and Molecular Modelling. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Materials and Molecular Modelling. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Materials and Molecular Modelling.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

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All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Chemistry Sessions

Our open days are a great chance to find out more about your chosen course, the department and studying at UCL. You'll have the opportunity to find out more about the field of study you’re interested in, followed by a Q&A where you'll have the opportunity to hear from academic staff and ask any questions you might have about life at UCL.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Applying for Graduate Study at UCL

The Applying to UCL for graduate study session took place in December 2021. The session, covered by our Graduate Admissions and Student Recruitment teams, provides helpful information about the process of applying for graduate study, as well as offering an insight into what we consider to be a competitive application.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2022/23) £16,500
Tuition fees (2022/23) £32,100

Additional costs

There are no programme-specific costs.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Students can be self-funded or find sponsorship from funding agencies such as research councils, the European Union, industry or charities.

There are also a number of Graduate School Scholarships and departmental bursaries and prizes available.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Brown Family Bursary

Now Closed for 2022/23
Value: £15,000 (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)

Applications for this scholarship are now closed for 2021/22
Value: Full fees, flights, stipend, and other allowances (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Molecular Modelling at graduate level. Please elaborate on the motivational factors that have drawn you to our subject. We anticipate that applicants from many different first-degree backgrounds will participate in the programme and we would like you to explain how your own background leads you to this MSc
  • why you want to study Molecular Modelling at UCL. Tell us how UCL can help to improve your career path and give an indication of your willingness to participate in the wider UCL activities in the subject during your time here
  • how your academic background meets the demands of a challenging programme. The MSc is a broadening degree which will lead you into areas that lie outside your first-degree subject. How comfortable are you with that?
  • what would you like to be able to do following your Master's?

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Chemistry Department
Chemistry Department

pgcourses.chem@ucl.ac.uk

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