Home

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 (2024/25)
£15,100
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£37,500
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
All applicants: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

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.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

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.

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 is among the top departments in the UK for this subject area: UCL is consistently placed in the global top 20 across a wide range of university rankings - and is currently 4th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings 2023 for Chemistry.

UCL Chemistry 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.

Networking

You will have opportunities to visit the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Royal Society (both situated in central London), to attend public lectures and meetings given by eminent national and international scientists. The student run ‘Chemical Physical society’ which is the oldest student run chemical society also holds weekly social events and scientific discussions and seminars on a variety of topical chemical and physical aspects. In addition, there are many scientific events offering networking opportunities organised by several societies across UCL, ranging from Life Science to Data Science.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Accreditation of degree programmes by the Royal Society of Chemistry is a mark of assurance that teaching and learning meet the standards expected from a university. Furthermore, accredited programmes ensure the needs of employers and students are fulfilled.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face lectures, seminars and workshops.

Assessment is through unseen written examination and coursework. The literature project is assessed by written dissertation. The research project is assessed by a written report, supervisor appraisal, an interim oral presentation with viva voce and poster presentation.

On average it is expected that a student spends 150 hours studying for each 15-credit module. This includes teaching time, private study and coursework. Modules are usually taught in weekly sessions (approx. 2 hours per week) over 10 weeks each term.

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 are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

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 and Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Chemistry (morning)

—

Join one of our online sessions to learn more about our range of Master's programmes, how our programmes are taught, and what it's like to study at UCL Chemistry. In these online sessions, you'll have the opportunity to hear from academic staff teaching the course and ask any questions you might have in a live Q&A.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Chemistry (afternoon)

—

Join one of our online sessions to learn more about our range of Master's programmes, how our programmes are taught, and what it's like to study at UCL Chemistry. In these online sessions, you'll have the opportunity to hear from academic staff teaching the course and ask any questions you might have in a live Q&A.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £15,100
Tuition fees (2024/25) £37,500

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

Deadline: 20 June 2024
Value: £15,000 (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 20 June 2024
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,700 stipend ()
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

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 (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Chemistry
Chemistry

masters.chem@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.