Chemical Science (MSc) Not available for 2027 entry

Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.

• Compulsory

  • Contemporary Research Awareness: research colloquia and seminars delivered by external speakers and covering areas within current chemical science research. 
  • Literature Review for MSc: an in-depth survey of the published literature within a specified research area which is related to the prospective research project, including peer-review-like assessment and a short oral presentation.
  • Research Skills in Chemistry: develops knowledge of specialised research techniques for the prospective research project.

• Optional

  • Advanced Main Group Chemistry: Advanced Main Group Chemistry covers main group clusters and rings, advanced bonding concepts, structure, synthesis and bonding in low coordinate and multiply bonded species, frustrated Lewis pairs, non-covalent interactions.
  • Advanced Metal Chemistry and Green Chemistry: This module covers the heavier d-block and f-block metals and also the theory behind bonding, magnetism and optoelectronic spectroscopy in d- and f-block metal complexes. At the end of the module students should be in a position to understand fully the nature of bonding in d- and f-block metal systems, to understand the optoelectronic spectra of d-block complexes and to rationalise trends in chemical properties both down and across the periodic table. This course will also give an overview of various applications of transition-metal catalysts in the development of sustainable chemical processes to impact hydrogen economy, methanol economy, and circular economy.
  • Advanced Physical Inorganic Chemistry: focuses on advanced discussion of the properties of selected main group compounds, spectroscopy and magnetism.
  • Advanced Spectroscopic Methods: Describes the importance of more advanced spectroscopic methods for the elucidation of structure and properties of increasingly complex molecules and materials. Particular attention will be paid to those techniques which exploit synchrotron radiation
  • Asymmetric Synthesis: Discusses the methods available for the synthesis of chiral compounds. Specialised terminology and analytical methods used, the main methods using chiral auxiliaries, chiral reagents and chiral catalysts will be described.
  • Blockbuster Pharmaceuticals: Provides an overview of the commercial value, disease states and modes of action and methods of synthesis associated with the leading selling pharmaceuticals on the market at the moment. We explore what motivates the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Blockbuster Solids: Focuses on how material structure influences its electrical, magnetic and thermal properties, with emphasis placed on metal-organic frameworks and how they can be used for the storage and release of gases.
  • Chemical Applications of Electronic Structure Calculations: illustrates how purely computational techniques rooted in quantum mechanics can be used to model, rationalise and predict structures, energies and interactions of molecular systems with an importance placed on simulations and machine learning
  • Chemical Biology: The chemistry/biology interface is an important area. By using examples from the literature, this module develops a detailed understanding of methods to find and use chemical tools. Skills in assessing literature are developed.
  • Electrochemistry and Computational Chemistry: Electrochemistry highlights the field's crucial role in science, technology, and sustainability. It evolves from fundamental concepts. computational component introduces modern techniques for exploring the electronic structures of atoms and molecules
  • Energy Conversion and Storage: discusses the technical details and environmental applications of electrochemical technologies for energy storage, such as batteries and fuel cells.
  • Fragrance, Food and Colour Chemistry: Considers areas where organic chemistry has applications to benefit society. An overview of the key structural features and manufacturing of perfumes and flavour chemicals are covered. Organic dyes and pigments will be discussed.
  • Functional Materials and Electrons in Solids: Covers the charge transport in semiconductors, explores their application in modern electronics including transistors and light emitting devices. It pinpoints the importance of defects in materials, how dielectric materials are applied in devices.
  • Fundamentals of the Spectroscopy of Molecules and Solids: To develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the way that electromagnetic radiation interacts with atoms, molecules and solids through various forms of spectroscopy
  • Heterocyclic and Pericyclic Chemistry: Important areas of heterocyclic and pericyclic chemistry in detail. The nomenclature and numbering of single and fused ring systems, and structure, reactivity, synthesis and applications of the main five and six-membered rings are explored.
  • Homogeneous Catalysis: demonstrates the links between catalyst structure, performance, commercial utilisation and sustainability. 
  • Integrating Chemistry: This is a general chemistry module aimed at developing and consolidating fundamental aspects of basic understanding. of elementary core material by a combination of discussion and problem solving at a more advanced level than previously required
  • Molecular Recognition: Explores principles governing intermolecular interactions, and how these can achieve molecular recognition. We develop the skills to elucidate information, about recognition processes from experimental data and examine applications.
  • Nanostructured Materials: Introduces concepts behind the design and synthesis of a range of nanostructures and applications of these structures in functional materials and devices. How chemical, optical and electronic properties of materials are affected by changes is covered
  • Natural Products, Biosynthesis and Enzyme Co-factors: Introduces metabolism and enzyme chemistry highlighting biochemical pathways exploring the structures and relationships of key metabolites. Explored the biosynthesis of important natural product classes and how co-factors and recruited by enzymes.
  • Processing of Materials: focuses on the processing of materials and fundamental materials properties such as crystallinity, composition, crystal phase, phase mixing, domain structure, grains and grain boundaries, porosity and pore structure.
  • Reactive Intermediates: Aspects of the organic chemistry of reactive intermediates such as carbocations, carbanions, radicals, carbenes, nitrenes, and arynes are covered. Means of generating reactive intermediates will be introduced and their reactivity and uses explored.
  • Surface Science and Heterogeneous Catalysis: Describes the Chemistry of solid surfaces with reference to structure. The techniques available to characterise the uppermost atomic layers of a solid are presented and the novel reactivity of a solid are presented and linked to applications
  • The Future of Sustainable Chemicals Production: This module will explore the major challenges facing the chemical industry in the transition from fossil fuel dependence to sustainable alternatives.

• Research project

  During the final three months of the course, students undertake a research project culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation. The project is supervised by a member of the academic staff, and the project topic and aims will be selected by both supervisor and student.