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Chemistry with a European Language MSci
This four-year programme offers an additional year on top of the Chemistry with a European Language BSc, which you will spend abroad at a European university (we currently have links with institutions in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden) undertaking an advanced chemical research project.
Covid-19 programme updates
Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.
Key Information
Programme starts
September 2020
- UCAS code
- Duration
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Full-time: 4 years
- Accreditation
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2020
- Location
- London, Bloomsbury
Entry requirements
A Levels
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- Chemistry, plus one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics required. Any language preferred as third subject, but not essential.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade C or 5, plus Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students a foreign language at grade B or 6 is required.
Contextual offer
- Grades
- AAB (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- A in Chemistry and A in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics required. Any language preferred as third subject, but not essential.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade C or 5, plus Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students a foreign language at grade B or 6 is required.
IB Diploma
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A score of 18 points in three higher level subjects including 6 in Chemistry and 6 in one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics, with no score lower than 5. Any language preferred as third higher level subject, but not essential.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 36 (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- A score of 17 points in three higher level subjects including 6 in Chemistry and 6 in one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics, with no score lower than 5. Any language preferred as third higher level subject, but not essential.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma, with between 23 credits awarded with Distinction in the Level 3 units, the remainder of the Level 3 units awarded with Merit. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. Any language preferred as third subject, but not essential.
AAA at Advanced Highers (or AA at Advanced Higher and AAA at Higher). A in Chemistry and A in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics required at Advanced Higher. Third Advanced Higher in any language preferred, but not essential.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades AAA, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.
International applications
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
English language requirements
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. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Standard
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
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.
You will have the opportunity to carry out an extensive research project in a university in mainland Europe, developing both your chemical and language skills.
The UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE) and the specialist language departments offer excellent modern language-learning aids such as computers, video and satellite links.
- Accreditation
-
The Royal Society of Chemistry accreditation is a peer review process founded on the judgement of professional chemists. It provides a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and enhance the quality of degree programmes and demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement.
Degree structure
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
This programme is offered either as a three-year BSc or as a four-year MSci. The first two years of study are identical, so you can defer which to opt for until the end of your second year. We advise you to select the four-year MSci programme initially as this keeps more options open.
The chemistry content directly follows that of the single-subject Chemistry programme in the first three years. You will cover the full range of chemistry core components, together with optional modules in chemistry and other options from outside the department.
Around 25% of your time will be centred around CLIE and the specialist language departments, providing a continuous progression of language and related modules. The language component is taught in small groups with common levels of fluency ranging from complete beginners to experts.
You will spend your entire final year at a university in mainland Europe, in a country whose language you are studying, carrying out an extensive research project. Close links have been developed with a number of European universities and the consortium currently encompasses Lyon, Bordeaux, Dresden, Dortmund, Parma, Santiago de Compostela, Uppsala and Bologna.
Covid-19 study abroad updates
For this academic year, if you were due to study abroad, you should have been contacted by your department with more information. Further guidance can be found on FAQs for 20/21 Study Abroad students about coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you are planning to study abroad in 2021/22, UCL and your department will be in contact with you at the start of the upcoming academic year with information on the application process.
If you plan to study abroad in future years, UCL and your department will provide relevant information and guidance nearer to the time.
Modules
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Core or compulsory module(s)
Basic Inorganic Chemistry
Basic Organic Chemistry
Basic Physical Chemistry
Introduction to Chemical Principles
Optional modules
You will select two modules in the same language through CLIE, plus a Mathematics module appropriate to your level of qualification.
Core or compulsory module(s)
Principles of Inorganic Chemistry
Principles of Organic Chemistry
Principles of Physical Chemistry
Optional modules
You will select two 0.5 credit modules in the same language through CLIE.
Core or compulsory module(s)
Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry
Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry
An Introduction to Research Methods
Literature Project
Principles and Methods of Organic Synthesis
Optional modules
You will select two modules in the same language through CLIE.
Advanced chemical research project in Europe
The fourth year encompasses an independent research project in one of our partner universities to which UCL Chemistry has links through the Erasmus Scheme sponsored by the European Union.
Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study.
These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only. The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August. From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system.
There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available
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 modules.
Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme.
Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.
Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.
There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.
Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully.
In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching.
UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.
Assessment
Modules 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.
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.
If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.
Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Chemistry with a European Language MSci.
Careers
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.
Many recent graduates have continued in research at universities including PhDs at UCL, Imperial, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Edinburgh, Harvard, Manchester and NUS Singapore.
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.
UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2020/21 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
- UK/EU students
- £9,250 (2020/21)
- Overseas students
- £28,610 (2020/21)
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
UCL Chemistry offers a number of scholarships which will be advertised on the departmental website as appropriate.
Departmental scholarships
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Application and next steps
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.
Application deadline: 15 January 2020
Selection
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, on concluding our discussion.
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.
Page last modified on 22 June 2020