Bachelor of Science (Honours) major in Medicinal Chemistry

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Medicinal Chemistry is one of the most rapidly developing areas within the discipline of Chemistry. It is the study of the design, synthesis, biochemical effects, regulatory and ethical aspects of drugs for the treatment of disease.

Core courses in Chemistry, alongside Biology and Pharmacology, provide a strong foundation in the chemical techniques required to work in this exciting field.

If you want to be at the forefront of designing and discovering new compounds that are suitable for use as new drugs, and learn about how a substance operates in the body and its suitability for use as a drug - Medicinal Chemistry is for you.

Postgraduate study in Medicinal Chemistry combines advanced courses in Chemistry, Biology and Medicinal Science with laboratory work and a year-long research project supervised by an academic staff member in the School of Chemical Sciences.

You will explore various aspects of Medicinal Chemistry, including synthesis, reactivity and analysis of medicinal compounds. You will also develop the ability to provide valuable insight into the pharmacological, regulatory and ethical aspects of these bioactive molecules.

Research interests open to exploration include:

Analytical chemistry
Biomolecular chemistry
Structural and computational chemistry
Bioactive molecules
Structural biology
Molecular cell biology
Toxicology
Clinical pharmacology

Jobs related to Medicinal Chemistry include:

Academic
Chemist
Investigator
Lab chemist
Medicinal chemist
Research scientist
Researcher
Scientist
Synthetic chemist
Teacher
Technician
Patent attorney

Prerequisite: A specialisation in Medicinal Chemistry or its equivalent approved by the Academic Head or nominee

Complete 120 points comprising:

15 points for all Compulsory Course, and
45 points from Elective Courses, and
Either:
60 points for all Dissertation - 1 Semester, or
60 points for all Dissertation - 2 Semesters

Compulsory Course

Complete 15 points for ALL of the following:

CHEM 735 - Advanced Medicinal Chemistry (15 points)

Elective Courses

Complete exactly 45 points from the following:

BIOSCI 757 - Molecular Form, Function and Design (15 points)

BIOSCI 759 - Cell and Molecular Biomedicine (15 points)

CHEM 710 - Advanced Physical Chemistry (15 points)

CHEM 712 - Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology (15 points)

CHEM 720 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (15 points)

CHEM 730 - Modern Methods for the Synthesis of Bioactive Molecules (15 points)

CHEM 738 - Biomolecular Chemistry (15 points)

CHEM 740 - Current Topics in Analytical Chemistry (15 points)

CHEM 741 - Chemometrics and Quality Assurance in Chemistry (15 points)

CHEM 750 - Advanced Topics in Chemistry 1 (15 points)

CHEM 750A - Advanced Topics in Chemistry 1 (7.5 points)

CHEM 750B - Advanced Topics in Chemistry 1 (7.5 points)

CHEM 751 - Advanced Topics in Chemistry 2 (15 points)

CHEM 751A - Advanced Topics in Chemistry 2 (7.5 points)

CHEM 751B - Advanced Topics in Chemistry 2 (7.5 points)

CHEM 760 - Advanced Green Chemistry (15 points)

CHEM 780 - Advanced Materials Chemistry (15 points)

MEDSCI 700 - Drug Discovery Biology (15 points)

MEDSCI 708 - Advanced Immunology and Immunotherapy (15 points)

MEDSCI 715 - Molecular Toxicology (15 points)

MEDSCI 716 - Advanced Drug Disposition and Kinetics (15 points)

MEDSCI 722 - Clinical Pharmacology (15 points)

Dissertation - 1 Semester

Complete 60 points for ALL of the following:

CHEM 793 - Honours Dissertation in Chemistry - Level 9 (60 points)

Dissertation - 2 Semesters

Complete 60 points for ALL of the following:

CHEM 793A - Honours Dissertation in Chemistry - Level 9 (30 points)

CHEM 793B - Honours Dissertation in Chemistry - Level 9 (30 points)