Chemistry MSc

At its most fundamental, chemistry is the ‘art’ of transforming one molecule into another. Our highly versatile Chemistry MSc course has been designed to allow you to direct your studies to specialised areas of chemistry. The course places a strong emphasis on practical chemistry, complemented by a focus on current topics in chemistry research. This enables the principles and theories of chemistry to be applied within a laboratory setting to solve real-world challenges.

Engagement with a wide range of chemistry-related subjects is promoted, ensuring that the course is highly interdisciplinary and contains expertise from a range of specialisms, including chemistry, food science and nutrition, physics, chemical biology and material science. You'll have the opportunity to be taught by experts across faculties, to gain the skills and knowledge to work in a multidisciplinary environment.

You'll gain extensive hands-on practical experience within the laboratory by undertaking a practical skills module, and by carrying out an independent original research project. Optional modules may provide the chance to build up specialist knowledge in areas that align with your interests and career aspirations.

During the Chemistry MSc course, you'll develop the knowledge and skills you need for a career within the chemical sciences industries. As well as learning crucial research techniques, you'll develop a range of key skills in problem-solving, information technology, scientific presentation, and scientific communication.

Learning and teaching

You'll be taught by experts across the faculty, to gain the skills and knowledge to work in a multidisciplinary environment, through a series of lectures, small group workshops and practical lab sessions. You'll also get involved in student-led activities such as literature presentations.

Specialist facilities

You'll have access to excellent teaching and laboratory facilities, supplemented by extensive computing equipment. Our specialist facilities include the latest equipment for synthetic, physical and analytical chemistry, 500 MHz NMR machines, a cutting-edge CCD-based X-ray diffractometer, and instruments to enable mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, thermal analysis, particle size analysis, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, and rheometry, amongst other forms of analysis. Depending on the modules and projects that you choose to work on, you'll also have access to teaching facilities from across the different schools and faculties.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it is the principal place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme, and modules.

You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.

Programme team

The Programme is led by Dr Paul Thornton. He provides Polymer Chemistry lectures to students at all undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels. Recently he was awarded the Inspirational Teaching Award at the Faculty Partnership Awards on the basis of student nominations. He has a strong enthusiasm for the advancement of Chemistry research and tuition and takes great delight in sharing this passion with the students.

Dr Thornton’s research is concerned with employing controlled polymerisation techniques to produce functional polymeric materials with applicability within both a biomedical context and in the enhancement of commercially-important processes. In addition, he also has an interest in controlled ring-opening polymerisation to yield biodegradable polymers (homopolypeptides and polyesters) that are highly promising candidates as biomaterials. He is also a member of the Crystallisation and Directed Assembly and the Colour and Polymer Science research groups.

In this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Why study at Leeds:

• Learn the latest innovations in areas such as atmospheric and planetary chemistry, chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, colour and polymer science, computational chemistry and chemical physics, crystallisation and directed self-assembly, and process chemistry from our world-leading research conducted right here on campus that feeds directly into the course.
• Broaden your knowledge and skills in a range of core areas of advanced chemistry, both theoretically and practically.
• Graduate with an RSC-accredited degree from a university ranked in the Top 100 in the world, QS World University Rankings 2023.
• Tailor the degree to suit your specific interests with a selection of optional modules to choose from including metal and alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites and food analysis.
• Put theory into practice by conducting your own individual project which focuses on a real-world topic relevant to your MSc, giving you the chance to gain valuable and extensive hands-on experience working within a research group or, in some cases, collaborating with external industrial companies.
• Access a wide range of industry-standard specialist facilities including state-of-the-art NMR instruments, a cutting-edge CCD-based X-ray diffractometer, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy.
• Experience expert theoretical and practical teaching delivered by a programme team made up of academics who specialise in a wide range of chemistry topics.
• Enhance your career prospects and join our successful alumni who have secured jobs in many excellent organisations worldwide.

You'll study compulsory modules on Advanced Topics in Chemistry, and Laboratory Skills for Chemists, and undertake an extended laboratory project. Within Advanced Topics in Chemistry, you'll be able to select particular topics to focus on. Optional modules in, for example, Polymer Chemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Soft Matter Physics, Materials Science, and Colour Chemistry will give you the chance to build up specialist knowledge in areas that align with your interests and career aspirations.

The focal point of the degree course is your extended research project. Your supervisor will help you to select a project that is right for you, in an area that interests and motivates you. This is your chance to make your own contribution to science. The project will equip you with independent research and critical thinking skills that you'll draw on throughout your future career.

Some research projects may be linked with our partners in the industry, helping you to make new connections and develop an industrial experience that will benefit your employment prospects on graduation.

Project work

You'll typically spend around 12 weeks in your supervisors' research laboratories working alongside PhD students and experienced postdoctoral researchers. Throughout the research project, you'll have access to the outstanding research facilities that are available at Leeds.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Extended Research Project for Chemistry-based MSc courses 80 credits
• Advanced Topics in Chemistry (Coursework) 20 credits
• Advanced Topics in Chemistry (Examined) 30 credits
• Practical Skills and Instrumental Analysis 20 credits

Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

• Metals and Alloys 15 credits
• Ceramics, Polymers and Composites 15 credits
• Nanomaterials 15 credits
• Foundations of Chemistry Coursework (10 credits) 10 credits
• Foundations of Chemistry Coursework (15 credits) 15 credits
• Synthesis and Characterisation of Organic Molecules 15 credits
• Advanced Colour Science 15 credits
• Synthesis and Application of Polymers 15 credits
• Physical Aspects of Food 10 credits
• Colloid and Dairy Science 10 credits
• Food Analysis 10 credits
• Food Quality Assurance and Control 10 credits
• Soft Matter Physics: Liquid Crystals 15 credits
• Soft Matter Physics: Polymers, Colloids and Glasses 15 credits
• Physics of Biological Systems 15 credits

This Master's degree offers a wide range of optional modules, giving you the flexibility to design your course and gain specialist knowledge in a topic that suits your career plans. The scope of skills you’ll learn in advanced chemistry will be widely transferable across a range of industries and job roles. From pharmacology to materials science, geochemistry to academia – you'll have the in-depth understanding to pursue a career in many different fields.

The extended research project and introduction to the practical skills module will further enhance your employability as you’ll gain the hands-on experience expected of every chemist in the professional working world.

Plus, the University of Leeds is in the top five most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2022 report.

Here’s an insight into some of the job positions and organisations previous chemistry graduates have secured:

• Chemistry PhD student, University of Leeds
• Clinical Research Assistant, St James Hospital
• Research Scientist, The Cyprus Institute
• Laboratory Analyst, Environmental Essentials
• Innovation Consultant, PNO Consultants
• Research Chemist, Tracerco
• Technical Service Assistant, Scott Bader Co.
• Teacher of Chemistry, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
• PhD Student, University of Leeds
• Fuels Scientist, Shell Global Solutions
• Drug Stability Analyst, Sanofi
• Environmental Sampler, Severn Trent
• Ice Core Analytical Scientist, British Antarctic Survey
• Formulation Technologist, Boots UK Ltd
• Research Fellow, University of Leeds