BSc (Hons) Applied Chemical Sciences

Year One - 75 credits

• LABS409 Organic Chemistry
• LABS410 Physical Chemistry
• LABS411 General and Inorganic Chemistry
• LABS412 Basic Analytical Chemistry
• LABS406 Basic Laboratory/Industry Skills

Year Two - 75 credits

• LABS407 Business Improvement
• LABS413 Introduction to Polymer Chemistry
• LABS501 Advanced Laboratory/Industry Skills
• LABS507 GxP: Business Option
• LABS402 Biochemistry
• LABS403 Microbiology

Year Three 90 credits

• LABS502 Company Based Project

Year Four - 75 credits

• LABS601 Research Methods
• LABS602 Drug Discovery and Development

Year Four and a half - 45 credits

• LABS608 Company-Based Laboratory Research Project

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

• Instil in students a sense of enthusiasm for learning which may lead to continuing professional development or pathways for lifelong learning.
• Produce graduates equipped with the skills to play an enhanced role in the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Industry, nationally.
• Educate students in the theoretical (subject-specific knowledge) and practical (laboratory-based) aspects of the chemical sciences which relate to current and future employment needs.
• Provide students with the skills to adapt and respond positively to new developments in the workplace.
• Develop the critical, analytical, and problem-based learning skills required by the students in the workplace.
• Develop student’s competencies in a broad range of areas relevant to their current and future employment. Enhance and develop the student’s interpersonal skills.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain a knowledge and understanding of the following:

• Abroad-based core understanding covering the major elements (inorganic, organic and physical chemistry), together with specialised in-depth study (often career-related) of some aspects of the subject areas.
• Information and data, their setting within a theoretical framework, accompanied by critical analysis and assessment to enable understanding of the subject area.
• Familiarity with terminology, nomenclature and classification systems.
• Methods of acquiring, interpreting and critically analysing chemical information through the use of texts, original papers, reports and data sets.
• A range of communication techniques and methodologies relevant to the particular discipline and the workplace.
• How to engage with some of the current developments in the chemical sciences and their applications, including the philosophical and ethical issues involved.
• Giving a clear and accurate account of a subject, marshal arguments in a mature way and engage in debate & dialogue both with specialists and non-specialists, using appropriate scientific language.
• How to think independently, set tasks and solve problems.
• The applicability of the chemical sciences to their careers.
• How to successfully apply, in the workplace, the range of knowledge and skills learnt through the programme.
• How to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied and the application of those principles in a work context.
• Critical evaluation of the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in their field of study and application of these in a work context.

Intellectual skills

You gain the following intellectual skills:

• The ability to recognise and apply subject-specific theories, paradigms, concepts or principles.
• The ability to synthesise, analyse and summarise information critically, including published research or reports.
• The ability to obtain and integrate several lines of subject-specific evidence to formulate and test hypotheses.
• The application of subject knowledge and understanding to address both familiar and unfamiliar problems.
• The ability to recognise moral & ethical issues together with the appreciation of professional codes of conduct.
• An ability to develop and utilise effective project management skills.
• The ability to initiate & undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis in their field of study and in a work context.

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific skills:

• Sufficient practical ability to ensure competence in the appropriate basic experimental skills.
• The ability to design, plan, conduct and report on investigations, which may involve primary or secondary data, arising from individual or group projects.
• The ability to obtain, record, collate and analyse data using techniques appropriate to their work.
• The ability to undertake an extensive work-based Business project and Laboratory research projects in a responsible, safe and ethical manner, paying due attention to relevant health & safety guidelines/procedures, e.g. COSHH.
• The ability to identify and undertake training to develop existing skills and acquire new competencies that will enable them to assume responsibility within their organisation.

Laboratory Skills Summer School

These are technical skills identified by employers as core to the competence of individuals working in the chemical sciences sector. Recognising the existence of company in-house training schemes learners will be able to evidence these technical skills through accreditation of in-house training and achievement through day-to-day activities in the workplace. In this way, learners will be able to select particular technical skills they wish to enhance and/or develop to meet employer needs.

Transferable skills

You gain the following transferable skills:

• The ability to use the internet and other electronic sources critically as a means of communication and a source of information.
• A working knowledge of how to cite and reference work appropriately, including the avoidance of plagiarism.
• An ability to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis, in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Develop numeracy skills and have a working appreciation of the terms: validity, accuracy, calibration, precision & replicability.
• Extensive experience in solving problems by a variety of methods, including the use of computers.
• An ability to recognise and respect the views and opinions of other team members and develop good negotiating skills.
• The ability to evaluate one’s performance as an individual & team member as well as being able to assess the performance of others.
• Develop an adaptable, flexible and effective approach to study and work.
• Develop the qualities and skills necessary for employment and progression requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision making.

A laboratory scientist applies specialist knowledge and broad scientific understanding to carry out a range of technical and scientific activities in their specialist discipline: Chemical Science, Life Sciences, Research & Development, and Analytical. They analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant scientific information, concepts and ideas and use these to develop subsequent experiments or investigations and to propose solutions to problems. They identify areas of business improvement and propose innovative scientific ideas. They perform practical, established and novel laboratory procedures using standard and specialist laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Ensuring uniformity, consistency, reliability, reproducibility, quality, and integrity of scientific tests underpins their work and the working environment. In all contexts working safely and ethically is paramount.

Laboratory scientists work in a wide range of organisations, including chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, formulated products, consumer products, and nuclear and analytical services. They work autonomously on defined projects under the supervision of a senior scientist and as part of a wider scientific team, which may include laboratory technologists and laboratory technicians. They deliver scientific value to their organisation, whilst contributing to the development of others.

Typical job titles include: Analytical Chemist, Research & Development Scientist, Molecular Biologist, Formulation Scientist, Medicinal Chemist,a nd Process Scientist.

Contact hours

For a student studying full-time, each academic year of the program will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject-dependent and will vary according to modules.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.

Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.