Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry

Chemistry with medicinal chemistry brings together the broad intellectual foundations of chemistry, the science of matter, its structure, properties and transformations, with a focused engagement with the molecules that interact with biological systems to produce therapeutic effects. It is a degree shaped by the recognition that the pharmaceutical sciences rest on chemistry, and that understanding how drugs are designed, synthesised and made to interact with molecular targets requires a deep chemical education.

At Newcastle University you will study this four-year full-time programme, building from core physical, organic and inorganic chemistry to more specialist topics in medicinal chemistry, including drug design, synthesis methodology, structure-activity relationships, pharmacokinetics and the biological context in which small molecules act. You will develop extensive practical skills in the laboratory, learning the techniques of organic synthesis and analysis that underpin both academic research and pharmaceutical development. The programme integrates biological and medical context throughout, so you understand not just how to make molecules but how and why they interact with living systems in the ways they do.

Newcastle's research in chemical biology and drug discovery enriches the academic environment.

Chemistry develops a particular discipline of careful, precise thinking. You will learn to design experiments thoughtfully, to interpret data critically and to communicate scientific results clearly. The medicinal focus adds a layer of biological and pharmacological reasoning that broadens the intellectual range of the degree.

Graduates from chemistry with medicinal chemistry programmes are well placed for careers in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, in academic and industrial research, in regulatory affairs, quality control, patent work and science communication. The degree provides an excellent foundation for postgraduate research, including doctoral work in medicinal or synthetic chemistry, and for entry into the pharmaceutical industry at a professional level.