Chemistry (International Year One) 2026 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.

• Semester 1

  • Mathematics A: introduces you to key concepts and methods which will be required for further study in mathematics and other sciences. It will reinforce your skills in common techniques and will explore a range of fundamental topics. You will be introduced to complex numbers, hyperbolic functions and differential equations and should become competent at evaluating common integrals, plotting various functions and solving a range of complex equations.
  • Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: you will study the origin of the elements, atoms and the Periodic Table, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics.
  • Communicating in Academic Contexts 1: helps you develop and practise productive and receptive academic spoken communication skills to use within the International Foundation programme and in your undergraduate programme. 
  • Research and Writing for Science A: explores a range of academic functions, including features of academic style and organisation, academic grammar and vocabulary.  You will learn how to evaluate the reliability of a variety of published texts and develop your own academic voice. The aim is to improve your overall academic literacy but with a focus on the texts you need to write for science.

• Semester 2

  • Mathematics B: following on from Mathematics A in the first semester, this module will cover matrices, limits, vectors, and sequences and series. The module will also introduce the important concept of mathematical proof.
  • Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: learn about the structure, stereochemistry and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.
  • Communicating in Academic Contexts 2: helps you further develop and practise productive and receptive academic oral communication skills that you will need in your degree programme.
  • Research and Writing for Science B: further develops the skills introduced in Research and Writing Skills for Science A in Semester 1. You will be working on more extended research skills using references and using them to support arguments in science.

• Teaching and assessment

  Your classes take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. In a typical week you will spend around 16 hours a week on your focused learning activities like live lectures, seminars and tutorials. To ensure our students are getting tailored support, we schedule seminar classes with groups of no more than 16 students.  

  You will also be expected to complete around 25 hours of independent study each week to achieve your academic goals.  

  Assessment 

  Each module will have a range of assessments with regular feedback from our teaching team. These assessments may include: 

  • academic essays 
  • exams (in-person or online) 
  • tests 
  • speaking and listening exam 
  • integrated skills exams 
  • leading and participating in seminars 
  • presentations  
  • lab and practical or field trip reports 
  • research projects 

  The grade from each module contributes to the final programme grade. Each module handbook will include information on assessments.