Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To inspire students to have interest and enthusiasm for medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry (MPC), an appreciation of its application in industrial, economic, environmental and social contexts and to involve them in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying.
• To provide students with, and be able to apply, a broad and balanced foundation of chemical knowledge and practical skills, to the solution of theoretical and practical chemical problems.
• To provide students with selected specialised areas of study so that they can experience the frontiers of MPC development and research.
• To provide training, through a range of educational activities in MPC, to develop a range of transferable skills applicable in both chemical and non-chemical employment.
• To provide students with a knowledge and practical skills base from which they can proceed to further studies in specialised areas of chemistry or multi-disciplinary areas involving chemistry.
• (MChem only) To provide students with a systematic understanding of knowledge, techniques, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights at the forefront of MPC research and be able to apply them to their own original research or advanced scholarship.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Benchmark Statement for Chemistry.
• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
• University Learning and Teaching Strategy.
• Departmental teaching and learning policies.
• The research interests and specialisms of the teaching staff and their professional involvement in the discipline.
• Recognition and Accreditation documentation from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of…

K1        The principles chemical terminology, nomenclature, conventions units, and major issues within contemporary research.

K2        Key concepts in synthetic chemistry, including the major types of organic and inorganic chemical reactions, reaction kinetics, and mechanistic interpretation.

K3        The principles of theoretical and computational chemistry and their application to the description of the structure and properties of atoms and molecules.

K4         The principal techniques used in chemical analysis and structural characterisation.

K5         The systematic chemistry of the elements and their compounds, including group relationships, stereochemistry, and trends within the Periodic Table.

K6         Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs and other xenobiotics, e.g. toxins. The kinetics of these processes and the application of this information to drug development, drug therapy and toxicology.

Additional knowledge and understanding for MChem students:

K7         Methodology and practices carry out an independent research project and prepare and present a detailed report on the work, supported by a study of the primary literature.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

C1         Identify, analyse and solve novel problems from the core principles of synthetic, physical, biological or analytical chemistry and plan strategies for their solution.

C2         Evaluate, interpret and collate chemical information and data to solve quantitative and qualitative problems.

C3         Critically evaluate and present scientific data and arguments in a coherent and organised way appropriately adapted to the audience.

Additional skills for MChem students:

C4         Devise appropriate strategies to research one or more complex problems, or problems with incomplete data.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

P1         Handle chemical materials safely by taking into account their physical and chemical properties, including any specific hazards associated with their use (as assessed via COSHH protocols) and any risks from laboratory procedures.

P2         Conduct standard laboratory procedures for the synthesis and analysis of organic and inorganic systems.

P3         Monitor record and document in a reliable manner, chemical properties, events and changes by observation and measurement.

P4         Plan, implement and evaluate data from practical investigations, including the selection of appropriate techniques and procedures, from the problem recognition stage through to the evaluation and appraisal and dissemination of results and findings.

P5         Apply computational modelling software to understand key chemical ideas.

P6         Safely handle materials with different biological properties, hazards and risks.

Additional skills for MChem students:

P7         Generate new research data to develop new technologies and/or new insights to investigate and solve real problems.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

T1         Communicate, negotiate, and co-operate with peers, academic and technical staff both orally and in writing.

T2         Apply numeracy and computational skills including error analysis, order of magnitude estimations, correct use of units and modes of data presentation to present results and ideas to a professional standard.

T3         Manage time and effort in the organisation of work and studies.

Additional skills for MChem students:

T4         Develop independent learning ability required for continuing professional development.

4. Programme structure

Part A

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules (30 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules (40 credits) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules (50 credits) 

DEGREE MODULES

Part B

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules (30 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules (40 credits) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules (50 credits) 

Part I

Candidates may undertake a programme of industrial training leading to the award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies, a programme of professional training leading to the Diploma of Professional Studies, or an approved period of study abroad leading to a Diploma in International Studies, which occurs between Part B and Part C or between Part C and Part D.

Part C

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules (30 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules (50 credits) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules (40 credits) 

Part D - For students entering Part D in 2020/21

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules (60 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules (20 credits) 

Optional modules (must take 20 credits from the following optional modules)) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules (20 credits) 

Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Programme: An MChem in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry indicates a focus on organic, inorganic and medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry and students must therefore take CMD213, CMD214, CMD401 and CMD402 across Parts C and D of their programme. Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry MChem students must also take a CMD001 project in the Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry area. In addition, they need to choose ONE option in Semester 1.

Part D - For students entering Part D from 2021/22

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules (60 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules (20 credits) 

Optional modules (must take 20 credits from the following optional modules)) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules (20 credits) 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

BSc candidates must accumulate the minimum credit requirements set out in the Regulations XX http://lboro.ac.uk/governance/regulations/20/current/ in order to progress through the programme and quality for the award of the degree.

M.Chem candidates entering prior to 2019 must satisfy the following criteria in addition to accumulating 100 credits from the Part:

• In order to progress from Part B to Part C, M.Chem candidates must achieve an overall average mark of at least 50% across all modules taken in Part B (i.e over all 120 credits). 

• M.Chem. students in Parts B and C must accumulate 100 credits at 40% to be re-assessed on the M.Chem. programme, otherwise they will be transferred to the B.Sc. programme and may undergo reassessment according to B.Sc. regulation. 

• In order to progress from Part C to Part D, M.Chem candidates must achieve an overall average mark of at least 50% across all modules taken in Part C (i.e. over all 120 credits). 

• Students failing to progress on the M.Chem programme after re-assessment will be transferred to the B.Sc. programme. 

• M.Chem resit marks obtained for progression will be capped at 50% according to Regulation XX. 

• If candidates transfer from M.Chem to B.Sc. for any reason, resit marks will be capped at the B.Sc. level unless the original mark was higher than 40%, when it will be reset to the original mark 

M.Chem. candidates commencing Part A or joining a cohort commencing Part A (from 2019/20 onwards) must: 

• Accumulate a minimum of 120 credits from the Part and
• Achieve a minimum overall average for the Part of 55%.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

(i) B.Sc. candidates’ final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in the degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX http://www.lboro.ac.uk/governance/regulations/20/current/. The scored for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40:Part C 60 to determine the final score.

(ii) M.Chem. candidates’ final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B, C and D in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX. The scored for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B: 20 Part C: 40 Part D: 40 to determine the final score.