Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroscience - BSc (Hons)

Tackle global health issues, learn about the design of drugs and combine skills in science and research to explore the fascinating complexity of the human brain. Our Medicinal Chemistry with Neuroscience BSc will equip you with the knowledge, skills and techniques to enter a variety of careers and contribute to the advancement of global health.

Year of entry

Course type

  • Combined Honours

UCAS code

  • BFC1

Duration of study

  • 3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

Why study Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroscience at Keele University?

Professional accreditation pathways are available
Top 20 in the UK for Neuroscience (Guardian University League Table, 2022)
Gain practical experience of human neural anatomy in Keele Medical School's Anatomy Suite
Develop core practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories (CSL)
Engage with award-winning academics who are at the forefront of innovation in teaching and research
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Accreditation and Professional Recognition

This programme is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry if you specialise in Chemistry, or the Royal Society of Biology if you specialise in Neuroscience.

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Additional opportunities

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. 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.

Additional information

A Level requirements

  • A Level requirement ABC / BBB to include Grade B in Chemistry.

GCSE requirements

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

BTEC

International Baccalaureate

  • 30 points to include Higher Level Chemistry at 6 or above

Access to HE Diploma requirements

  • Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction, to include sufficient Chemistry and Maths units, please contact us for advice.  

English Language Requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer 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.

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What is it like to be a Medicinal Chemistry student at Keele?

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Gain work experience in neuroscience

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. If you're unsure which area of neuroscience you want to focus on, work experience can also provide you with a deep insight into what the work is like. From a year working in industry and paid internships to summer secondment research placements, our programme offers many opportunities for you to gain familiarisation with the professional working environment, develop professional contacts and apply the skills and theories you have learnt.

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Ryan Stanyard

"I gained invaluable experience working in Malaysia during the summer of 2017 on a three month research project which was secured by way of application and interview with the department of Life Sciences, involved applying to train in Malaysia (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang)."

Ryan, Neuroscience and Psychology

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Learn from inspiring and award-winning academics

A dynamic group of staff with a broad range of expertise teach on the programme and bring a wealth of experience acquired through fundamental and applied research across a diverse range of areas.

Many of our chemistry teaching staff are Fellows or Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy, the professional body for teachers in Higher Education. Fellowship provides individuals with recognition of their practice, impact and leadership of teaching and learning.

A number of our academic staff have also achieved national recognition for their excellence and innovation in teaching and hold awards from a variety of institutions, including the Royal Society of Chemistry.
In testament to our teaching excellence, many of the teaching methods we use have been adopted by other chemistry departments in the UK and beyond.

Chemistry department award

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Central Science Laboratories

Develop your practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

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 undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

The information within this section 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.

Our combined honours foundation year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroscience degree. For example, the Advancing Life Sciences module looks at biological structures at different levels of organisation and how they can be influenced by internal and external sources. You will see how threats can be identified, managed or eliminated, both in theory and in hands-on practicals. Meanwhile, the Foundations of Chemistry module will provide you with a basic understanding of the key concepts and fundamental terminology of chemistry. 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-00189 Foundations of Chemistry 15 credits
FYO-00197 Foundations of Life Sciences 15 credits

Semester two modules

FYO-00191 Advancing Chemistry 30 credits
FYO-00199 Advancing Life Sciences 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 KingdomEuropean 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 BSc (Hons) Medicinal Chemistry with Foundation Year (UCAS code C723) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. Following the submission of your application, a member of our team will contact you to confirm the subject combination you wish to study. 

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.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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Discover the Keele difference

Everything’s on your doorstep at Keele, and you’ll soon feel at home and make friends wherever you go.

We help students manage their money and ensure that they receive any funding for which they may be eligible.

Make yourself more employable after graduation by taking advantage of the whole host of additional opportunities.