Chemical Biology and Drug Design MSc

Chemical biology is the application of chemical tools and ideas to biological and medical problems. In this course, you will develop your existing knowledge of chemical structure and reactivity into a thorough understanding of contemporary chemical biology and drug discovery. You’ll also be introduced to topics from the research frontier.

You will be taught by experts from across the Astbury Centre in chemical biology, biophysics and medicinal chemistry to solve problems relevant to contemporary research at the boundary between chemistry, biology and medicine. Visiting lecturers from the pharmaceutical industry will share their expertise in industrially-relevant applications of chemical biology and drug design with you.

In bridging the gap between your undergraduate degree in a core subject, and interdisciplinary research in chemical biology, you will develop the skills to solve real-life research problems, benefiting from a multi-million pound investment in our research facilities for synthetic chemistry and analysis of molecular interactions. Rather than focusing on a single discipline, you’ll learn to tackle a problem using either chemical or biological approaches.

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Accreditation

Royal Society of Chemistry

The University of Leeds launched the first taught MSc degree in Chemical Biology in the UK. The course was one of the first two MSc courses in the UK to receive accreditation from the Royal Society of Chemistry; graduates from the programme with an appropriate first degree in chemistry satisfy the academic requirements for the award of Chartered Chemist (CChem) status.

In the first half of the year, you will cover a core range of modules that provide you with a thorough grounding in the theory of chemical biology, while training you in the techniques you will later require for drug design. In the second half of the year, you will spend the majority of your time working on an interdisciplinary research project which will allow you to work with and gain advice from two supervisors with complementary expertise.

Using the knowledge you have gained from the core modules, you will be ideally positioned to choose an exciting problem to investigate. This project will contribute 50% of the mark for your degree, and the School will help you to select a topic in an area that interests and motivates you. This project will provide you with the key experience in independent research you need to advance your career.

The breadth of expertise available at Leeds means that you will be able to combine a wide range of techniques, from computational ligand design to synthesis, protein engineering and laser spectroscopy. These techniques may span one or more of the following areas:

• Synthesis of biologically active molecules
• Medicinal chemistry
• Enzymology and directed evolution
• Biophysical chemistry
• Chemical genetics

You will receive training in the generic skills that are required for the module, including scientific writing and giving oral presentations. You will select your project at the start of the second semester, undertaking a programme of directed reading before writing an initial report.

Finally, you will spend over four months 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 in chemical biology that are available at Leeds.

Want to find out more about your modules?
Take a look at the Chemical Biology and Drug Design module descriptions for more detail on what you will study.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Chemical Biology and Drug Design MSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

You will be taught by experts across the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, meaning you will learn from both chemists and biologists to gain the skills and knowledge to work in a multidisciplinary environment. You will be taught through a series of lectures, small group workshops and practical lab sessions. You will also get involved in student led activities such as literature presentations.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through 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.

Assessment

The wide range of continual assessment formats will allow you to improve your generic skills, and to hone your ability to solve problems. As part of the continual assessment of modules, you will give a wide range of oral presentations; prepare short articles, essays and research reports; perform computational exercises; and undertake group-based problem solving activities. Your research project will be assessed through your practical work and a written research report.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related subject.

We also consider how much experience you have in topics directly relevant to the Chemical Biology and Drug Design degree programme and whether you are achieving 2:1 level marks in modules such as: organic, inorganic, physical, analytical and medicinal chemistry; biochemistry; enzymology; molecular biology.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possble. The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences will only consider applications made before the dates below, subject to places being available:

31 July 2020 – International applicants

31 August 2020 – UK/ EU applicants

Apply

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
 
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2020

Fees

• UK/EU: £11,000 (total)
• International: £24,000 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's planned exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Brexit
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's planned exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Find out more about the scholarships offered by the School of Chemistry.

On graduation, you will be ideally placed to undertake interdisciplinary research in academia and the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. You will also be in a strong position to pursue a science-related career, such as patent work, scientific publishing or scientific administration.

In addition, this course will leave you well-placed to forge a career at companies working at the interface between chemistry and biology. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are increasingly seeking researchers with a strong interdisciplinary background.

Further study

Many of our graduates have secured positions on Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry PhD programmes in the UK and internationally. The Astbury Centre hosts a wide range of PhD programmes incorporating Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, offering many opportunities for students graduating from this MSc course. This MSc provides tailored training at the interface between chemistry and the biological sciences, and will enhance your prospects of securing a place on one of these highly competitive postgraduate programmes.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.