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Chemistry - Mathematical and Computational Chemistry

MChem


Full-time

Typical offer for 2020

Duration

UCAS code

students can apply

Call 0800 073 1225

Overview

Computational chemistry is the application of computer based methods to chemical problems. This ranges from designing new molecules for drug applications to explaining the mechanisms of reactions and properties by consideration of atomic and molecular structure.

The increasing role for computational chemistry in the modern chemistry and engineering sectors requires qualified candidates that have strong understanding of both chemistry and computational principles. This new programme has been designed to provide these skills, with a curriculum that integrates chemical and computational aspects, and introduces core concepts of atomic and molecular structure, reactivity and spectroscopy from theoretical, practical and computational viewpoints.

You’ll develop skills in:

  • software development and implementation
  • mathematical foundations of common computational methodologies
  • the use of industrial standard software packages to investigate chemical problems including solid-state materials, biological molecules, chemical reactions and to predict spectra
  • selecting suitable types of calculation to solve chemical problems
  • presenting reasoned arguments based on computational results to explain experimental findings
  • communicating chemical and computational ideas to different groups

You will be taught by leading research scientists in these fields, and on graduation you’ll have the skills you need to make an impact in a variety of scientific fields.

MChem Chemistry – Mathematical and Computational Chemistry is the only specialised undergraduate programme in computational chemistry in England and Wales.

Our BSc and MChem Chemistry programmes received 94% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020.

Professional accreditation

Students can apply for membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

Entry requirements

Places are available for this course via Clearing. Please contact us to see if we can make you an offer:

Apply online now Make an enquiry Call 0800 073 1225

What you will study

All module information is for 2020 entry, and is subject to change.

Learning and assessment

The programme utilises a range of learning activities - from lectures and tutorials to develop understanding of core concepts, to practical computational workshops where the ideas are applied through self-developed code or by the use of common software packages used in leading research group and chemical industries.

Assessment is varied, comprising examinations, presentations, laboratory reports, creation of electronic portfolios and a final independent research project.

Facilities

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Our multi-million pound Centre for Chemical and Structural Analysis houses excellent analytical instrumentation which you will use to gain genuine practical experience of research apparatus.

You will use NMR, IR, Raman, Mass Spectrometry, HPLC and GC, and X-ray diffraction instruments throughout your course.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2020

Home: £9,250

International: £17,800

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Career prospects

Biological chemists examine a wide range of biological processes, biomolecules and biological agents. As a biological chemist, you could end up investigating the effects of a neurotoxin on cell structure or molecular structure. Or, solving the structure of a large protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease.

You could be researching the molecular basis of disease and then synthesizing a drug to treat that disease. And, there is even room for those who like computers, where you could be using supercomputers to analyse biological systems at the molecular and atomic-level to inform drug design. There really is a wide-range of opportunity.

Medicinal chemists examine new ways to create drugs we’ve not yet seen. This can cover a whole host of molecule types: small organic drug molecules, peptide-based drugs, peptidomimetics, and even bioinorganic drugs.

As a medicinal chemist you will be working with biologists and synthesizing new drug molecules to treat disease. You will need to have a good understanding of biology to design drugs that can interact with key biomolecules in our bodies. Some medicinal chemists learn to harness biological systems, such as enzymes, to extract natural products and create semi-synthetic drugs.

Chemists are attractive to employers both for the skills that they offer directly related to their specialism, and for the professional skills that they have developed through study of the discipline. The range of careers available to chemists is vast – take a look at the Royal Society of Chemistry careers guide to get some ideas.

Find out more about our recent graduates >>

Employment statistics

92% of our 2017 graduates in Chemistry and Forensic Sciences found employment or went on to further study within six months of graduating.

Salary expectations

The average starting salary for our 2017 Chemistry and Forensic Sciences graduates was £20,242.*

*These DLHE statistics are derived from annually published data by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), based on those UK domiciled graduates who are available for employment or further study and whose destinations are known.

Study support

Our comprehensive support services will help you to achieve your full potential – both academically and personally. 

We provide all you need to make the very best of your time with us, and successfully progress through your studies and on into the world of graduate employment. 

Our support services include: 

  • Personal tutors 
  • Disability services 
  • Counselling services 
  • MyBradford student support centres 
  • The Students’ Union 
  • Chaplaincy and faith advisers 
  • An on-campus nursery 
  • Halls wardens 

We have well-stocked libraries and excellent IT facilities across campus. These facilities are open 24 hours a day during term time, meaning you’ll always find a place to get things done on campus. 

Our Academic Skills Advice Service will work with you to develop your academic, interpersonal and transferable skills. 

Research

Research in Chemistry is broadly themed into Molecular Science and Materials Chemistry, comprising the development of synthetic, analytical and computational methods.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.