Medicinal Chemistry (BSc)
- Subject area: Chemistry
- UCAS code: F150
- Next intake: September 2025
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
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.
Join the forefront of modern medicine
Medicinal chemists develop new therapies and vaccines to prevent and treat infections and disease, supporting people's health worldwide.
Life beyond the lab
As well as the chemistry relevant to drug discovery, you'll study data science, project planning, leadership skills and more to prepare you for your future career.
Flexible courses
Transfer to the BSc Chemistry or MChem Chemistry (with Year in Industry or Placement Year Abroad options) during your first year (subject to academic achievement).
Acclaimed researchers involved in course design and teaching
99% of our research is world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021) and we're 12th in the UK for research impact.
Excellent career prospects
This course is ideal grounding for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
If you're interested in the drug discovery process and want to work in the pharmaceutical industry, this course is ideal for you.
You’ll gain a solid grounding in core chemistry topics as well as specialising in biochemistry and drug design. In the lab, you'll focus on drug synthesis and testing in our dedicated lab space fitted with industry-standard equipment.
Along with developing your research and computational abilities, you’ll learn to design your own experiments. In your final year, you can specialise in an area you're interested in through a research project, supervised by one of our leading academics.

Subject area: Chemistry
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAB-BBB. Must include Chemistry. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
- Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Chemistry.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
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.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
Qualifications from outside the UK
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
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
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
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 undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
Learn more about our tuition fees
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. You may be required to cover additional costs that are either not essential or are basic costs that a student should be expected to cover themselves. This includes, but is not limited to laptop computers, calculators, general stationery, textbooks (assumed to be available in the library), and basic copying/ printing.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
This programme will equip you with the theoretical and laboratory skills in synthetic and analytical chemistry for careers and postgraduate study in drug development and biomedical research. During the programme you will encounter the same techniques and equipment that are used in the pharmaceutical industry. You will learn to work safely with chemicals, and to consider the ethical implications of pharmaceutical research.
You will be prepared for problem solving and making decisions based on critical analysis of evidence supported by the methods of statistics and data science. Drug discovery is a collaborative endeavour that takes place in teams over several years, and this programme will support you to operate in this environment through training in leadership, people, and project management. You will have the opportunity to develop your communication skills through preparation of reports, technical documents, and oral presentations.
Possible career destinations include medicinal chemist, formulation chemist, analytical chemist, regulatory affairs, intellectual property, as well as postgraduate study leading to academic research or graduate-entry medicine.
Placements
All students on this course will undertake a one-semester research project within a Cardiff Chemistry research laboratory.
In addition, there are a variety of opportunities to undertake summer research projects at Cardiff University under the supervision of our academic staff.
Next steps
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How to apply
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Data from Discover Uni is not yet available for this course.
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.