Medicinal chemistry covers concepts in the fields of chemistry, pharmacology, chemical synthesis and protein biochemistry. You will study how small molecules are designed, extracted, modified and synthesized to generate therapeutics. You will also explore how these molecules interact with their targets within the cell.
This courses shares a common first year with BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and BSc (Hons) Biopharmaceutical Science, which allows you to easily change course at the end of the first year should ones of these science routes appeal to you.
Why us?
- Available as a 4-year sandwich course, where you can undertake a one year industrial placement
- This unique course makes extensive use of the new advanced technology within our Sciences Complex
- The University has over 100 years of expertise in teaching biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences
- 93.4% of our graduates are in employment, further study or training within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2016/17 (based on full-time, first degree, home leavers)
- Teaching staff are research-active and have close links to industry and research institutes working in molecular sciences
Course structure
Our teaching methods address different learning styles and provide a diverse learning experience. The course integrates traditional lecture and laboratory-based learning with active, experiential and enquiry-based learning.
You will be taught via laboratory practical work, tutorials, lectures, seminars, group work and e-learning. We also encourage you to develop independent study skills.
Employment
Medicinal chemists are employed in an increasingly wide range of roles in drug development and pharmaceutical companies. The typical salary for a graduate medicinal chemist is £23,000. This salary increases based upon postgraduate and industrial experience.
Companies that have employed our graduates include pharmaceutical multinationals such as GSK, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
Placements
The employability of Sunderland graduates reflects our mix of academic rigour and practical skills. To enhance this mix, we encourage you to apply to undertake a one-year placement between your second and final year.
Placements provide an invaluable opportunity to put your learning into practice and understand the context for your new knowledge. As part of the course you will also make several industry visits.
Transferable skills
This course gives you the opportunity to develop skills which you can use in a range of employment situations including:
Academic study skills: avoiding plagiarism, time management, reading, note taking, referencing, revision analysis, and scientific writing.
Practical skills: laboratory competency, experimental skills and techniques.
Transferable skills: numeracy, analytical, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, self-management and organisation, application of IT, consideration of ethical and safety requirements, critical thinking, personal development planning and reflection.
