Compulsory modules

Practical and Professional Chemistry Skills  
A professional, modern chemist requires a range of specialist skills, which you will begin to develop in this module. In the laboratory you will learn a range of experimental synthetic and analytical techniques and be trained in how to prepare and run your own samples on UV-vis, IR and NMR spectrometers and process and interpret spectra.  There is a focus on transferable employability skills emphasising communication (oral and written), chemical safety, professional note taking, sustainable laboratory practices and green chemistry. 

Chemical Structure and Reactivity  
Why do atoms bond? How can we predict reactivity? How can we measure and observe chemical reactions? This module answers these questions and teaches you core chemical principles, models and vocabulary essential for your understanding of atomic and molecular structure, physicochemical properties, chemical bonding, spectroscopy and reactivity. The learning activities are designed to support your knowledge, understanding, problem-solving and information literacy skills through the effective use of feedback and from ongoing reflection on your progress. 

Chemistry Connections
This module spans the breadth of the chemical sciences and complementary disciplines, exploring the chemical basis of human biology and materials science and developing transferable skills in scientific programming and statistics.  Learning activities include focused chemistry case studies and are designed to initiate progress towards Keele's Graduate Attributes with an emphasis on team working, problem-solving and independent research skills, as well as giving you the multi-disciplinary knowledge to place your chemistry studies in a wider scientific and societal context. 

Sustainable Chemistry  
Chemistry, as a central science, is critical to the transformations before us from moving from a linear economy to a circular one, combatting environmental degradation, and ensuring a sustainable future for our planet. In sustainable chemistry we will take a systems thinking approach to tackle the complexity of these challenges and focus on the role of chemistry in working towards solutions. Assessment will build your skills in evaluating information and presenting scientific knowledge in different formats for a broad audience. 

Optional modules

Science and Society  
In this module you will consider the role that the Natural Sciences can play in the resolution of the major challenges facing society. You will have opportunities to apply foundational knowledge and skills, methodological and analytical tools, perspectives to specific problems and societal challenges introduced through the Grand Challenges lecture series. You will also develop information literacy, oral presentation, and academic writing and reading skills, and problem-solving skills that are essential to longer-term success within your degree programme.

Compulsory module

Practical and Professional Chemistry
The practical and professional skills you developed at level 4 will be broadened and enhanced in this module. You will study new more advanced lab skills required for the synthesis of molecules. You will collect data and compare it with theoretical models, using advanced functions of Excel and error analysis. Through assessment, you will continue to develop your ability to professionally record, analyse and communicate your findings, and develop further employability and entrepreneurship skills through an industrial chemistry-themed group project. 

Chemical Characterisation and Transformations  
Your fundamental understanding of core chemical principles developed at level 4 will be further developed in this module, with a deeper exploration of key techniques, principles and quantitative models in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Supported by an interactive teaching style which builds links between fundamental theory and observable phenomena, you will gain an advanced competency in the essential chemical concepts which underpin the modern applications and practices in the rest of the programme. 

Environmental Analysis  
In this module you will gain experience with a wide range of modern spectroscopic and analytical techniques, focusing on their use in environmental analysis. These techniques include analytical chromatography, mass spectrometry and multinuclear NMR, which are widely used in commercial analytical laboratories and constitute essential employability skills. You will gain hands-on experience in using some of these techniques in the lab, as well as professional data analysis, interpretation and presentation in a series of structured exercises and a group project.

Structure and Function in Medicinal Chemistry 
This module introduces the fundamental basis of medicinal chemistry in a multi-faceted exploration of the chemistry of enzymes. You will develop new understanding in heterocyclic chemistry as both a key component of enzymes and a route to their chemical inhibition, explore the physical chemistry of enzyme catalysis, and discover the coordination chemistry dictating the core function of metalloenzymes. You will perform, quantify and interpret an enzymatic reaction and apply your knowledge to a structured exercise predicting and rationalising enzyme chemistry.

Principles of Drug Design 
This module explores the interaction of small molecules with biological targets and applies this to the design of drug molecules. Topics are presented with case studies and interactive workshops, building upon the taught material using on-line resources such as the Protein Data Bank and docking software to give real-world examples. The module culminates in a drug design exercise where you work as a team to take a molecule through iterative stages of optimisation in a simulated drug discovery programme.

Optional modules

Structure and Function in Materials Chemistry 
In this module you will learn about the chemistry and structure of solids and how solid-state processes can be manipulated to store, convert and deliver energy in modern batteries and fuel cells. You will gain hands-on experience processing and interpreting X-ray diffraction data in structured workshops, and apply your understanding of solid-state chemistry to research, produce and present a poster detailing the chemical principles and sustainability implications of an aspect of battery or fuel cell chemistry.

Flexible Work Placement
In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhance your employability skills, and provide valuable insights into the professional world. You will be supported via a range of activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module has built-in flexibility on when and how you complete your placement around existing demands.

Compulsory modules

Kinetics, Catalysis and Mechanism  
This module develops and brings together theories, concepts and models from physical and inorganic chemistry and spectroscopy to account for experimental observations of inorganic and organic reactions. As well as advanced chemical kinetics, this module will give you a complete, balanced understanding of transition metal catalysis both from an inorganic mechanistic standpoint and as a tool in advanced organic synthesis. A distinctive feature of the module is the analysis and interpretation of data and observations in peer-reviewed research articles.

Synthetic Strategies in Organic Chemistry  
In this module you will expand your organic chemistry knowledge to explore advanced ideas and essential topics in modern organic synthesis at the forefront of real-world processes. Pericyclic reactions, asymmetric synthesis and organoelement chemistry will be discussed in detail, using examples from across the industrial spectrum. You will gain the skills to rationalise, predict and design advanced synthetic transformations and apply these both in a written examination and in an exercise designing new synthetic routes to pharmaceutically relevant molecules.

Mechanisms of Drug Action 
In this module you will learn how to use pharmaceutical databases to explore the pathway of drug substances through the body, looking at pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. This is followed by mini-symposia where you will prepare and deliver an oral presentation on a drug molecule of your choice.  You will demonstrate your breadth of knowledge though creating a set of Top Trumps style cards in which you will be assessed on your critical judgement of factors contributing to successful pharmaceuticals.

Chemical Analysis: Instrumentation and Evaluation  
Building on your learning in Level 5, this module equips you with hands-on experience and an in-depth knowledge of a wide range of state-of-the-art instrument-based analytical techniques and the skills to apply this knowledge to solve problems and characterise the structures of unknown chemicals and materials.

Independent Research Project
In consultation with an academic member of staff, you will select and carry out an individual, practical research project chosen from a wide range of topics across the breadth of the chemical sciences which may include organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, educational and computational fields. You will plan, collect and analyse data in a contemporary project notebook and present your results in an authentically prepared scientific paper, and defend your original hypotheses and findings in an oral examination.

Scientific Literature Review  
In this module you will select a subject in an area of chemistry of your choice and undertake a comprehensive review of the primary chemical literature to plan, research and produce a written literature review, and share your findings in an oral presentation. You will use appropriate research databases and digital repositories to fully immerse yourself in your chosen subject and develop your critical analysis skills to ask and answer novel questions at the forefront of your area of interest.

Topics in Chemical Science
This module comprises advanced topics representing areas of academic, industrial and commercial significance in chemistry, materials and medicinal chemistry. You will have the opportunity to study all topics but will choose which to be assessed on. You will also research the work of an eminent chemist and its impact on contemporary chemistry, and present, advertise and answer questions on your findings. These learning activities are designed to develop your advanced problem solving, information literacy, presentation and communication skills.

Optional modules

Forensic Toxicology
In this module, you will examine the work of a forensic toxicologist. You will study the pharmacological journey of compounds through the body as a lead into the process of toxicological investigation. In addition to learning about the subject’s legal aspects, the role of the analyst will be explored, from sampling to the determination of toxins and poisons, with the use of toxicological cases and scenarios as authentic applications of the content.

Flexible Work Placement
In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhance your employability skills, and provide valuable insights into the professional world. You will be supported via a range of activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module has built-in flexibility on when and how you complete your placement around existing demands.

Professional Experience in Education 
This module gives students interested in pursuing teaching or training as a career the opportunity to gain experience in the world of teaching in schools and colleges. You will develop skills highly valued by employers such as communication, and interpersonal skills, whilst learning to address individual needs and developing engaging teaching materials. You will be supported via a range of activities to prepare for your placement and have the choice to source your own placement or apply to university sourced roles.