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Chemistry (International Programme) MSci
This four-year programme provides a complete education in chemistry together with the option of taking modules in other areas, and the opportunity to spend a year abroad studying at a selected university in Australia, Canada or the USA.
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
-
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 and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics required.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade C or 5, plus Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 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
Contextual offer
- Grades
- AAB (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- Grades AA in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics required.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade C or 5, plus Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 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 score of 18 points in three higher level subjects including 6 in Chemistry and 6 in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics, with no score lower than 5.
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, Physics or Mathematics, with no score lower than 5.
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 a minimum of 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.
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.
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 an opportunity to study at a selected North American or Australian University during the third year of your programme.
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.
- 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).
In the first year, all students take the module 'Introduction to Chemical Principles'. This serves to consolidate A level (or equivalent) Chemistry and generate an awareness of modern chemistry as an integrated whole. In the second term the fundamentals of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry are introduced separately. Along with your optional modules, you'll also take a module in mathematics that's appropriate to your ability.
In the second year, the three main themes of chemistry are again developed in individual modules, leaving you free to choose two optional modules, which can be either chemical or non-chemical.
You will spend the third year at an overseas university in an English-speaking country, for example the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) or the University of Toronto. The third-year modules are primarily lecture-based, and are taught in English.
In the final year of the MSci, you will undertake a chemical research project and optional modules, allowing you to specialise in the field of chemistry of your choice.
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
Chemical Skills
Optional modules
You will select a Mathematics module appropriate to your level of qualification, and will select other modules from a wide range of options. Options typically taken by Chemistry students include:
Mathematics (further calculus)
Biology
Human Physiology
Physics of the Universe
Introduction to Earth Sciences
Introduction to Management
Languages
Core or compulsory module(s)
Principles of Inorganic Chemistry
Principles of Organic Chemistry
Principles of Physical Chemistry
Optional modules
You will select either one or two of the following modules:
Chemical Dynamics
Chemistry of Materials
Reaction Mechanisms in Chemical and Biological Systems
Plus further modules from a wide range. Options typically taken by Chemistry students include:
Biology
Human Physiology
Introduction to Management
Introduction to Earth Sciences
Languages
Mathematics (further calculus)
Physics of the Universe
Year abroad
You will spend your third year abroad at an approved university.
Core or compulsory module(s)
Advanced Chemical Research Project
Optional modules
You will select 4 modules from a wide range of advanced chemistry options and other approved undergraduate options. Chemistry options may include:
Frontiers in Experimental Physical Chemistry
Intense Radiation Sources for Chemistry
Advanced Topics in Energy Science and Materials
Numerical and Analytical Methods
Stereochemical Control in Asymmetric Total Synthesis
Structural Methods in Modern Chemistry
Synthesis and Biosynthesis of Natural Products
Topics in Quantum Mechanics
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 face-to-face teaching updates
Due to social distancing requirements, all your core teaching will take place online. However, programmes will be able to offer some face-to-face educational activities, subject to government guidance. These are summarised for this programme below:
Lectures will be online. Tutorials will be online in term 1 with the view to having some in person tutorials where possible in term 2 and 3. Lab sessions will be primarily in terms 2 and 3 due to restrictions but there may be some limited lab sessions for later years.
Your department will keep you updated on face-to-face activities and any changes will be communicated to you as soon as they are available.
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 (International Programme) 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
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.
Application deadline: 15 January 2020
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.
Page last modified on 22 June 2020