University of Strathclyde: Faculty of Science

With one of the UK’s leading faculties of science, the University of Strathclyde provides a vibrant, dynamic, supportive and friendly place to study.

The Faculty of Science investigates the challenges and possibilities of the natural and technological world, from drug discovery and public health to environmental concerns, tackling cybercrime and understanding space. Delivered by world-class researchers, our master’s degrees provide the opportunity to gain an invaluable postgraduate qualification that will enhance your career prospects. Students are offered high-quality teaching, informed by innovative research, and strong links with industry, the NHS and international partners. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, the Department of Physics was rated 1st in the UK for research quality.

For research power, Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences was 4th in the UK and 1st in Scotland, and Chemistry was 4th in the UK. In choosing to study Science at Strathclyde you will become part of an international community of staff and students from more than 40 countries. More than one-quarter of the Faculty’s postgraduate students are from outwith the UK and the staff population is similarly cosmopolitan. Facilities are excellent, with well equipped, modern laboratories and teaching rooms, plus 24-hour access to an advanced computer information network and a sophisticated virtual e-learning environment.

The Faculty is organised into the following departments:

Pure and Applied Chemistry (including the Centre for Forensic Science)

The Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry has national and international industry links in all areas of chemistry, including the award-winning Strathclyde/GlaxoSmithKline MPhil and PhD programme. The Department works with all sizes of companies from multi-nationals to SMEs. Collaborations include contracts with US and Korean drug discovery companies, diagnostics research with Renishaw Diagnostics Ltd, and nanochemistry research with British Biocell International. The student-led ‘Chemistry Clinic’ service provides access to chemistry facilities and consultancy services, for large or small projects, by large or small companies.

Computer and Information Sciences

The Computer and Information Sciences Department has a strong track record of industrial and professional engagement including a unique and nationally leading research and teaching partnership with Glasgow Life, one of the largest cultural consortiums in Europe and encompassing Glasgow City Libraries, which allows us to provide students with supervised professional placements to gain practical librarianship experience. Professional engagement also allows us to embed practical projects into our classes and ensures that we have regular guest speakers from industry to illustrate our taught subjects in practice.

Mathematics and Statistics

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics has a strong international reputation in the use of applied mathematics, mathematical analysis and statistics to solve problems in different industries. We work with researchers in other universities and industry across the UK, Europe and the USA and collaborative links have been developed with researchers in many institutions throughout the world. These include: the joint venture with the University of Glasgow to create a centre which looks at mathematical modelling applied to all aspects of medicine and biology; the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology Scotland (MASTS) to develop the growth of marine environmental research and teaching activity envisioned in the areas of aquaculture, fisheries and the environment.

Physics (including the Institute of Photonics)

The UK’s leading research quality department has national and international links with industry, working with SMEs, such as TMD, and including many spin-out companies such as M2 and Cascade, through to multinational companies like Coherent and e2v. Our links with industry cover the development of novel new radiation sources through to the development of complete measurement systems with companies such as Horiba. The Department was the first to form a UK partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute.

Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

The Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences in a major research centre in the heart of Glasgow that has nationally and internationally renowned research and industry links. The department houses the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation, the Cancer Research UK Formulation Unit, the Scottish Funding Council/Scottish Enterprise funded Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre and the Centre for Biophotonics. The Institute has a long history of successful collaboration with industry and provides the opportunity for collaborations and consultancies with large and small companies.