Chemistry with Medicinal Sciences

Chemistry with medicinal sciences is a degree that focuses on one of the most important and socially significant applications of chemistry: the discovery and development of medicines. Almost every drug prescribed in hospitals and GP surgeries is the product of years of chemical research, and the scientists who design and develop those compounds need a thorough grounding in organic chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology and the analytical methods used to characterise and test new molecules. This degree develops exactly that.

At the University of Southampton, the three-year full-time BSc develops your core chemistry knowledge, with particular emphasis on organic chemistry and its application to medicinal chemistry and drug design. You will explore the complete drug development process, from the initial identification of a biological target and the design of molecules that might interact with it, through the synthesis and testing of candidate compounds, to an understanding of how drugs behave in the body. The programme develops your practical laboratory skills alongside your theoretical understanding, and you will work with the analytical and synthetic techniques that medicinal chemists use in research and industry.

Southampton has a strong research environment in chemistry, with active groups working in areas including synthetic chemistry, chemical biology and computational chemistry, and this research culture enriches the undergraduate experience.

Graduates of chemistry with medicinal sciences degrees work in pharmaceutical research and development, biotechnology, chemical synthesis, analytical laboratories, regulatory affairs and clinical research. Academic research, including postgraduate study at masters or doctoral level, is a natural progression for those who want to develop their expertise in medicinal chemistry or a related area. Many graduates also pursue careers in science writing, patent law or the management of pharmaceutical research programmes.