Drug Chemistry MSc
This course is for those with a chemical or pharmaceutical sciences background. It will prepare you for a career in the pharmaceutical industry or academia.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Our Drug Chemistry MSc provides advanced training in modern organic and medicinal chemistry. It ranges from the conception to the production of novel drugs. You'll study and experience the way modern small molecule medicine is developing.
You'll gain hands-on experience of working within a medicinal chemistry team during your research project.
Newcastle University is a great place to study a medicinal chemistry degree. Our strengths include the following specialist topics:
- computational based drug design
- modern approaches to chemotherapy
You'll develop drug design expertise as practised in the pharmaceutical industry and academia. You'll also discover the modern and experimental therapies developing at Newcastle University’s Centre for Cancer.
Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
An MSc is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of a science-related subject. It typically includes:
- subject-specific taught modules
- a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words
You'll usually study an MSc full-time over 12 months.
A Master of Science is typically awarded for the successful completion of 100 credits of taught modules and a 80-credit dissertation or research project.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
What you'll learn
The Drug Chemistry MSc is delivered through the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. It includes:
- 100 credits of taught modules
- 80-credit practical project
You'll gain knowledge in areas including:
- drug design
- metabolism
- toxicology
- synthetic organic chemistry
- computational medicinal chemistry
- applied bioinformatics
- biopharmaceuticals
- chemical biology
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Additional compulsory module information
You also take the following compulsory modules:
- Drug Metabolism and Toxicology (10 credits)
- Theory and Practice of Chemotherapy (20 credits)
- Synthetic Methodology for Drugs (20 credits)
If you've graduated from Chemistry UG courses at Newcastle University you'll take the following modules replacing Drug Metabolism and Toxicology and Theory and Practice of Chemotherapy:
- Biopharmaceuticals as Therapeutics (10 credits)
- Recent Advances in Chemistry Research (20 credits)
If you have a very strong background in Organic Chemistry, you may be able to replace Synthetic Methodology for Drugs with the following modules (after consultation with the Degree Programme Director):
- Selectivity and Stereocontrol in Organic Synthesis (10 credits)
- Pericyclic and radical reactions (10 credits)
How you'll learn
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Computer assessment
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Professional skills assessments
- Oral presentation
- Practical lab report
- Problem-solving exercises
- Report
- Written exercise
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
Chemistry facilities
The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences has an outstanding range of facilities to support research and teaching, including:
- modern research laboratories and analytical services
- synthesis and characterisation of novel materials lab
- computational resources for performing molecular modelling
- NMR facilities include 300-700 MHz spectrometers
- glass-blowing, mechanical and electrical/electronic workshops
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You will be eligible for a scholarship worth 15% off the international fee.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.
You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
Apply Online
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Dr James Knight
Admissions
Dr Michael Carroll
Degree Programme Director
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7321
Email: snes.programme.enquiries@ncl.ac.uk
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
ncl.ac.uk/nes
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