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    Environmental Science and Medicinal Chemistry - BSc (Hons)

    Year of entry
    2022 - for 2023 entry see here
    Course type
    Combined Honours
    Duration of study
    3 years / 4 years with international or placement year
    Location
    Keele University campus
    Subject area / School
    School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
    School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
    UCAS code
    FF7C
    • Entry requirements

      • Keele Undergraduate Enquiries Form

      Please submit your question in the form below and a member our enquiries team will be in touch with you shortly.











      Upon submitting this form, your enquiry will be forwarded on to our enquiries team who will contact you  to answer your question and provide further details about the course that you are interested in.

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    Course overview

    This programme will be made up of a combination of modules from both Environmental Science and Medicinal Chemistry. You will develop the scientific understanding and practical skills needed to tackle many of the world’s major environmental and societal problems which includes climate change, food security, water resources, pollution and conservation. You will also develop a deep understanding of the complex chemical and biological processes involved in the design and manufacture of drugs and other therapies for treating disease.

      Keele Undergraduate Enquiries Form

      Please submit your question in the form below and a member our enquiries team will be in touch with you shortly.











      Upon submitting this form, your enquiry will be forwarded on to our enquiries team who will contact you  to answer your question and provide further details about the course that you are interested in.

      Your Preferences




      What we’re going to do with your data and why?

      We will securely store your data and send you essential information (examples include updates on an application or booking confirmations for events such as Open Days).

      We would also like to send you useful information about studying at University (particularly Keele) and/or the courses that you have shown an interest in. To do this we need your consent and information on which communication channels you would like to hear from us on (please see opt-in boxes above).

      We will never sell your data to a third party. We only ever share data with companies involved in helping us communicate with you or helping us to manage your data (examples include; Online forms, Printers, Postal services, other University partners etc).

      How long are we keeping it?

      We will keep your data for the year that you first enquire with us plus 6 subsequent years. This is to ensure that you are legally protected should you have any issues with the use of your data.

      Unsubscribe

      By selecting no to the preferences above you will have unsubscribed, however, this does not mean that your data has been deleted. If you would like to invoke your right to be forgotten please refer to the section below.

      What to do if I change my mind?

      To change your preferences after you have closed this form, simply reopen the link to this page. For further information about how your data is held, including your right to be forgotten, please contact dpa@keele.ac.uk

    Top 10

    in England for Overall Student Satisfaction, (broad-based public universities) National Student Survey, 2021

    Accredited

    by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)

    Winner

    Global Sustainability Institution of the Year Green Gown Awards, 2020

    Student testimonials

    Colin Nye, Applied Environmental Science with Biology

    Colin Nye, Applied Environmental Science with Biology

    "Keele is more than a place to study, it's an environment focused on helping you to achieve your potential, and you'll enjoy yourself whilst doing so!" - read more about Colin Nye, Applied Environmental Science with Biology

    Amy Collier, Applied Environmental Science with Physical Geography

    Amy Collier, Applied Environmental Science with Physical Geography

    "At Keele you are treated as an individual – not a student number or a face in a lecture theatre – and that quality is lost on some competitor institutions. There is a reason for the sentimentality and fondness shown by all former students: Keele really is one of a kind." - read more about Amy Collier, Applied Environmental Science with Physical Geography

    Ilona Serafin, MChem Chemistry (2016-2020)

    Ilona Serafin, MChem Chemistry

    "The MChem project really strengthened my personal and laboratory skills, and made me a more independent chemist. The academic staff are very enthusiastic and inspiring. They go out of their way to ensure we understand the Chemistry and they are always happy to help"

    Nathan Wood, MChem Chemistry (2017-2020)

    Nathan Wood, MChem Chemistry

    "Feedback from my Chemistry supervisors has developed both my personal and academic skills. The staff are always up for helping us out and you can have conversations with them...very enthusiastic which is inspiring. Staff actively push you to understand and think - which has helped me a lot"

    Laura Harvey, Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroscience (2017-2020)

    Laura Harvey, Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroscience

    "The laboratory facilities available to me as a student studying Medicinal Chemistry were truly incredible. They improved my understanding and impacted greatly on my future career prospects"

    Course content

    Our Environmental Science combined honours course at Keele draws on the expertise of scientists within the disciplines of life sciences, chemical sciences and geosciences to emphasise the role and importance of scientific understanding and practical skills in the analysis and management of environmental problems. Alongside studying topical global environmental issues, you will have the opportunity to develop a broad range of practical, laboratory and field-based skills to take into future employment. You’ll also have the opportunity to do fieldwork and gain valuable work experience or study abroad at one of our partner institutions.

    In addition, this course prepares you to help solve problems at the intersection of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology. The goal of Medicinal Chemistry is to support the search for new drugs to treat conditions such as heart disease and cancer. You’ll work in well-equipped laboratories, and learn to conduct effective independent research. This will enable you to develop essential skills for employment, such as problem solving, presentation and communication.

    This programme is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), meaning you can gain free membership of the IES to support your personal and professional development in the environmental sector. The programme is also accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and therefore you may apply for free Student Membership of the IEMA which provides a range of benefits.

    IEMA accreditation logo

    ‌IES logo 150 px

    Environmental Science can also be studied in the following combinations:

    Medicinal Chemistry can also be studied as a Combined Honours degree in the following combinations:

    You may also be interested in:

     

    Two of our staff will tell you about some of the distinctive modules that we offer at Keele. Medicinal Chemistry will allow you to specialise if you are thinking about a career in the pharmaceutical industry, whereas the Environmental & Sustainable Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry modules allow you to apply the core knowledge that you have learned to real world problems. Dr Katherine Haxton recently won a green gown award for her work on sustainability.

    • Dr Katherine Haxton will introduce you to one of our distinctive first year modules, that is becoming increasingly relevant to society: Environmental & Sustainable Chemistry
    • Dr Katherine Haxton will introduce you to one of our distinctive second year modules, that allows you to apply the core knowledge that you have learned to real world problems: Industrial Chemistry
    • Dr Tess Phillips will introduce you to Medicinal Chemistry at Keele, which you may be interested in if you are considering a career in the pharmaceutical industry

    Our Course Information Documents (CIDs) are designed to give you all of the details you need to make an informed decision about what and where to study.

    Download Environmental Science Combined Honours 2022-23 CID

    Download Medicinal Chemistry Combined Honours 2022-23 CID

    Variations to 2020/21 courses

    Facilities

    The William Smith building is situated towards the centre of campus, and is occupied solely by the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment. All of the laboratories in the William Smith building have been refurbished over the past few years to provide up-to-date teaching facilities. 

    The majority of our undergraduate and postgraduate classes, and research facilities are located within or nearby to the William Smith Building, including a state of the art dedicated teaching floor in the new Central Science Laboratories (CSL), and the Keele University Ice Laboratory (IceLab) - a laboratory that provides dedicated high-precision water isotope and fluorescence spectrometry.

    Student's at Keele and the wider community can benefit from the services we offer such as the Keele University Thin-section Services laboratory, one of very few that still remain in the UK, and the Keele University Weather Station, providing weather data for Keele University since 1951.

    Chemistry is a practical subject and much of your training will be undertaken in our superb laboratories. The Central Science Laboratories is a world class facility in which to learn how to become a professional chemist. You will gain hands-on experience with modern state-of the art equipment and instrumentation which gives you the opportunity to undertake novel Chemical and Medicinal Chemistry research.

    The new state of the art Chemistry laboratories in the Central Science Laboratories are an integral part of the Lennard-Jones laboratories where Chemistry academics and researchers are located. The two new teaching laboratories, a 35 fume hood teaching lab and a large open lab, have been designed to complement the exisiting excellent teaching facilities which include our large teaching laboratory, the spectroscopy suit, the analytical labaratory and the NMR suite. These now create an interconnected collection of Chemistry laboratories all on one floor with a large faculty computor teaching facility two floors above. 

    Entry requirements

    Keele is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. On that basis we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria.

    The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom and International students.

    A Level requirements

    • BBC
    • A level Chemistry at grade B or above.
    If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

    GCSE requirements

    • Mathematics at C (or 4) 
    • English Language/Literature at C (or 4)

    BTEC

    • DMM
    • You must have taken sufficient Chemistry units, please contact the Admissions Team for advice

    International Baccalaureate

    • 29 points to include Higher Level Chemistry at 6 or above.

    Access to HE Diploma requirements

    • Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction in Chemistry related units. Please contact the Admissions Team for advice.

    PREPARATION PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

    International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

    These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

    Foundation year

    You may choose to study this course via foundation year.

    If you’re returning to education following a break, wish to study a new subject or don’t have the grades or sufficient equivalent experience for direct entry to this course, a foundation year may be a good option for you.

    Following successful completion (including any additional progression requirements) of the foundation year you can progress on to this course.

    The foundation year offers September starts across all subjects, and January starts across all science, humanities, social sciences and business routes.

    The January intake excludes the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree with Foundation Year and other health-related foundation Year degree

    For more details visit our foundation year webpages.

    Foundation year

    Foundation Year Overview

    If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Medicinal Chemistry course, our Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree. 

    Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years’ experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you’ll study on campus, joining our community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.

    Read on to find information about:

    • Foundation Year indicative modules for the September intake
    • Foundation Year entry requirements
    • How to apply
    • UCAS code for this course

    The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

    Course Content

    Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

    The Keele University Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Medicinal Chemistry degree. For example, the Advancing Geography, Geology and the Environment module takes the knowledge built in 'Foundations of Geography, Geology and the Environment' module and applies it to a variety of human interactions, such as exploitation of the Earth’s resources, rural and urban development, monitoring and management of natural hazards, and environmental change. In addition, the Advancing Chemistry module aims to increase your knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of chemistry in a theoretical context, while also demonstrating the application of concepts in a practical environment. All of the modules you take will prove useful in your degree and professional career. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do. 

    Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage. 

    Course Structure

    The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

    Semester One Modules

    FYO-00185 Practical and Academic Skills in Science 15 credits
    FYO-00211 Foundations in Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Scientists 15 credits
    FYO-00193 Foundations of Geography, Geology and the Environment 15 credits
    FYO-00189 Foundations of Chemistry 15 credits

    Semester Two Modules

    FYO-00195 Advancing Geography, Geology and the Environment 30 credits
    FYO-00191 Advancing Chemistry 30 credits

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

    The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

    • Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
    • Relevant work experience

      AND

    • GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
    • IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

    AND

    • GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above 

    How to Apply 

    Students will need to apply for Environmental Science with Foundation Year (UCAS code F913) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team. 

    Direct Entry Students

    If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

    Information for International Students 

    International students who do not meet the entry requirements for this integrated Foundation Year course may be eligible to study an International Foundation Year stand alone programme.

    Please visit the International Foundation Year pages for information on how to apply, entry requirements and course details.

    Information for students returning to education

    We are interested in a broad range of qualities, not just your points on entry. We would like to learn more about you, your interests, experiences and motivation to study.

    We would be delighted to talk to you about your work experience (paid or voluntary) and qualifications, and help you to explore your options for study with us.

    Contact us via admissions@keele.ac.uk

    Fees and funding

    Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

    We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

    For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

    Career prospects

    96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)

    All organisations, from private business to local government, increasingly need to engage with environmental issues. Alongside Environmental Science, the Medicinal Chemistry element provides excellent employment prospects, whether at the cutting edge of drug discovery or in a wide range of related fields, with options such as working for a pharmaceutical company, either as a research scientist or in a more business related role. Alternatively, you might work in an organisation as a development chemist, a research assistant, or a site chemist.

    Previous employers

    • ESF Consultants
    • Mott MacDonald Bentley
    • LGSS

    Regardless of which career you pursue after Keele, employers will want evidence of the range of skills and personal qualities you possess and which are required for the job. Your degree is clearly important in this respect but don’t forget the extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility, jobs and voluntary work you may have been engaged in while studying at Keele. These activities allow you to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities required by employers and will be vital in your attempts to secure graduate employment.

    Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

    Teaching

    On Medincinal Chemistry you will experience a wide range of teaching styles and methods from traditional lectures and tutorials to team-based learning and screencasts, online, offline individually and in groups we aim to give you the opportunity to learn in many ways. Our assessment feedback loops combining feedback on how you can improve, with opportunities on how you present your work, are aimed at helping you improve your chemical knowledge as well as your marks. Our undergraduate students receive free online access to our core text books which, with our own bespoke online materials and lecture capture, give you the opportunity to learn in the best ways to suit you.

    Three further members of staff will tell you about some of the distinctive methods of teaching that we use on our courses, to give you the best possible chance of success in your time with us.

    • Dr Matt O'Brien showcases some of the interactive digital teaching methods that we use, such as interactive screencasts on key concepts
    • Dr David McGarvey highlights why we are proud of the teaching that we deliver on our Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry programmes
    • Dr Laura Hancock talks about Team Based Learning (TBL) - a collaborative form of teaching that allows students to achieve as much as possible in workshops

    Additional opportunities

    Foundation year Placement year International year Explore more

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