Medicinal Chemistry (MSc)

Why study this course

Medicinal chemists are at the forefront of modern medicine, developing new therapies and vaccines to prevent and treat infections and disease. This programme focuses on the biological aspects of chemistry, giving you the skills to join this exciting field.

Industry connections

Our research partners range from local and national SMEs to some of the world's largest multinationals.

Exceptional research facilities

Our facilities include the state-of-the-art Cardiff Catalysis Institute, part of our multi-million-pound Translational Research Hub.

Accredited by the RSC

This accreditation demonstrates our course meets the high standards in education set by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

The search for new drugs to combat serious illnesses is an important and exciting challenge at the forefront of medical research. As a medicinal chemist, you can have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of millions of people worldwide.

On the course, you will explore the wider context of drug discovery, business and healthcare, as well as developing the knowledge and laboratory skills needed to design drugs. You will also investigate the relationship between medicinal chemists and drug discovery companies with stakeholders such as patients, investors and governments.

There are opportunities for you to gain hands-on experience within a medicinal chemistry team during your research project.

Accreditations

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Manita Kalsey, MSc Medicinal Chemistry — Manita Kalsey MSc Medicinal Chemistry

Where you'll study

School of Chemistry

We are focused on tackling the important scientific challenges of the 21st century though internationally recognised education and research.

Get in touch
+44 (0)29 2087 4023
Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT

Admissions criteria

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.

With your online application you will need to provide:

A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject area such as Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmacology or Pharmacy, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.

If you do not have a degree in a relevant area you may still apply but should provide additional evidence to support your application such as a CV and references and will be required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key chemical topics prior to an offer being made.

Application Deadline

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.

Selection process

We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.

Find out more about English language requirements.

Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

access to lab facilities including chemicals
access to computers or devices that can store images
use of internet and communication tools/devices
curfews
freedom of movement
contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

This course may be taken on a one year full-time or three year part-time basis.

There are two parts to the degree. Part one is comprised of core and optional taught modules which you will take during the autumn and spring semesters. In these modules we will provide you with a foundation in the skills required by contemporary medicinal chemists, such as the techniques and trends in modern drug discovery. We will also look in more detail at the modelling of biological macromolecules and drug targets. We will then follow the process of drug development through from laboratory to clinic.

Upon successful completion of part one, you will progress to part two, the summer research project. We will make a range of project options available to you from the field of medicinal chemistry. For this project, depending on the subject you choose, you may work with a research group in the School of Chemistry or our partner, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Studies. You may, if available, also be able to complete this project with one of our industrial partners or within another academic institution in the UK or abroad.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.

If you are on the one-year full-time degree option, you will undertake all modules and your research project in one year.

Core modules for year one

Module title	Module code	Credits
Colloquium	CHT216	10 credits
Key Skills for Postgraduate Chemists	CHT232	10 credits
Drug Discovery Chemistry	CHT351	10 credits
Techniques in Drug Discovery	CHT352	10 credits
Drug Targets	CHT353	10 credits
Drug Development from Laboratory to Clinic	CHT354	10 credits
Trends in Drug Discovery	CHT355	10 credits
Practical Medicinal Chemistry	CHT356	10 credits
Research Project	CHT008	60 credits

Optional modules for year one

Module title	Module code	Credits
Structure and Mechanism in Organic Chemistry	CHT206	10 credits
Biocatalysis I: Modern Approaches to Biocatalysts	CHT214	10 credits
Bioinorganic Chemistry	CHT226	10 credits
Analytical and Structural Techniques in Chemical Biology	CHT235	10 credits
Bio-imaging Applications of Coordination Chemistry	CHT237	10 credits
Molecular Modelling	CHT313	10 credits
Molecular Modelling for Postgraduate Chemists	CHT317	10 credits
Engineering Biosynthesis	CHT327	10 credits

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will I be taught?

The methods of teaching we employ will vary from module to module, as appropriate depending on the subject matter and the method of assessment. We teach using a mixture of lectures, workshops, case studies, computer-aided sessions, practicals and tutorials.

Your research project will be carried out in one of our laboratories under supervision of an academic member of staff with interests in a similar field. You may have the opportunity to complete your project during a placement in industry or with one of our academic partner institutions overseas, depending on availability.

Modules relating to computing frequently take place in our computer rooms, while practical work will be undertaken in our laboratories. We will also invite industry experts for seminars with our students within one of the core modules. Students will also benefit of the weekly seminars organized by the School of Chemistry, where leading experts in various scientific fields are invited to present their work.

How will I be assessed?

Taught modules are assessed in a variety of different ways depending on the module content and learning outcomes (found in the module descriptions). We use coursework, assessed workshops and presentations or a combination of these to assess your progress on the course.

Your research project at the end of the course will be assessed through a dissertation, a presentation, and an oral exam.

How will I be supported?

All of our students are allocated a personal tutor when they enrol on the course. A personal tutor is there to support you during your studies, and can advise you on academic and personal matters that may be affecting you. You should have regular meetings with your personal tutor to ensure that you are fully supported.

You will have access to the Science Library, which holds our collection of chemistry resources, as well as to the other Cardiff University Libraries.

Feedback

We will provide regular feedback on your workload, written and oral depending on the coursework or assessment you have undertaken. You will usually receive your feedback from the module leader. If you have questions regarding your feedback, module leaders are happy to give advice and guidance on your progress. We aim to provide you with feedback within two weeks of you submitting an assessment.

What skills will I practise and develop?

On completing the course you will have developed key skills, which can be applied to a variety of industrial and academic working environments. You will have gained learning skills, information handling and presentation skills. In detail you should be able to:

Understand the theory, application, preparation and analysis of drug molecules to a level that is appropriate for graduates in chemistry or pharmaceutical sciences wishing to pursue a career in academia or industry.
Apply modern laboratory methods to the preparation, purification, evolution and application of drug molecules.
Understand the mechanism of action of a variety of molecules as therapeutic agents and apply this knowledge to unseen problems.
Use molecular modelling to implement drug design.
Critically evaluate novel drug targeting strategies and industry trends.
Describe how new technologies are being employed to increase productivity in drug discovery.
Describe and explain trends in drug approvals and drugs currently in the pipeline.
Understand where medicinal chemistry fits within the context of the pharmaceutical industry.
Work within a team to research solutions to unsolved problems in medicinal chemistry.
Present research work to peers in both oral and written format.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Year	Tuition fee	Deposit
Year one	£11,700	None

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Fees for overseas status

Year	Tuition fee	Deposit
Year one	£29,950	£2,500

More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

The School covers the cost of everything that is an essential part of the programme, this will be clearly detailed in all programme information and in any verbal instructions given by tutors.

Will I need any specific equipment to study this course/programme?

You do not need any specific equipment. We will provide you with a lab coat, a pair of safety glasses, a laboratory notebook and a molecular modelling kit. Chemical drawing software, ChemDraw is available on all University computers, and you will be able to download it to your own computers for free.

Living costs

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Funding

Master's Scholarships

An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2025 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Alumni Discount

The alumni discount is available for Cardiff University graduates who are planning to start an eligible master's in 2025/26.

Careers and placements

Graduates are well suited to take up roles in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotech industries and in academia conducting research into new drugs. Our graduates pursue research-related roles within public and private research institutions, academic institutions, or hospital laboratories.

This course is also particularly suitable for those wishing to pursue further study at PhD level at Cardiff University and other top universities.

Placements

For the end of course research project we may have some placements available with one of our industrial partners or at another UK or overseas academic institution that we have an agreement with. Please enquire for further details.

Next steps

Open Day visits

Register for information about our upcoming dates.

Make an enquiry

Contact us for more information about this course.

International

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