THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Medicinal and Biological Chemistry (MChem) (UTMDBIOMCHEM)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
Before selecting your non-compulsory courses please ensure you have reviewed the information from your Student Adviser. You must attend your Student Adviser meeting in Welcome Week.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Chemistry 1A

Must be taken during Semester 1

CHEM08016 20 credits
Chemistry 1B

Must be taken during Semester 2

CHEM08017 20 credits
Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1a

Must be taken during Semester 1

MATH08072 20 credits
Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1b

Must be taken during Semester 2

MATH08073 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W
AND

Chemistry Recommended Electives - Year 1

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Including where possible: Molecules, Genes and Cells 1 (BILG08015).
Medical Biology 1
BIME08004 20 credits
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Earth Sciences for Society
EASC08029 20 credits
Sustainability, Society and Environment
ECSC08010 20 credits
Informatics 1 - Cognitive Science
INFR08020 20 credits
Fundamentals of Algebra and Calculus
MATH07003 20 credits
Introduction to Data Science
MATH08077 20 credits
Meteorology: Atmosphere and Environment
METE08001 20 credits
Meteorology: Weather and Climate
METE08002 20 credits
Physics 1A: Foundations
PHYS08016 20 credits
Physics 1B: The Stuff of the Universe
PHYS08017 20 credits
Astrobiology
PHYS08051 20 credits
Engineering Principles 1
SCEE08012 20 credits
History of Science 1
STIS08005 20 credits
Science, Nature and Environment
STIS08007 20 credits
History of Medicine
STIS08012 20 credits
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
You must select your non-compulsory courses before August having reviewed the information from your Student Adviser. You must attend your cohort event in Welcome Week.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Chemistry 2

Must be taken during Full Year

CHEM08019 40 credits
Chemical Pharmacology 2

Must be taken during Semester 2

BIME08014 20 credits
Biological Chemistry 2

Must be taken during Semester 1

CHEM08030 20 credits
Data-driven chemistry

Must be taken during Semester 1

CHEM08031 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W
Notes:
NOTES:
It is recommended that at least 20 points of courses be taken from courses within the College of Science and Engineering.
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
Our Changing World
BIME08006 20 credits
Sustainability and Social Responsibility (UG)
EDUA08116 20 credits
Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030
EFIE08008 20 credits
Living in the Anthropocene
GESC08004 20 credits
Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World
SSPS08012 20 credits
Healthy Eating for People and Planet
VETS08016 20 credits
AND

Chemistry Recommended Electives - Year 2

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Note: Be sure to check that you meet the pre-requisites for any of the courses listed below if you would like to select them.
Molecules, Genes and Cells 1
BILG08015 20 credits
Biomedical Sciences 2
BIME08007 40 credits
Microorganisms, Infection and Immunity 2
BIME08012 20 credits
Chemical Pharmacology 2
BIME08014 20 credits
Environmental Chemistry 2
CHEM08020 20 credits
Biological Chemistry 2
CHEM08030 20 credits
Oceanography
EASC08004 20 credits
Earth Materials: From atoms to planets
EASC08031 20 credits
Principles of Ecology
ECSC08012 20 credits
Meteorology: Atmosphere and Environment
METE08001 20 credits
Meteorology: Weather and Climate
METE08002 20 credits
Engineering Principles 1
SCEE08012 20 credits
History of Science 1
STIS08005 20 credits
Science, Nature and Environment
STIS08007 20 credits
History of Medicine
STIS08012 20 credits

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Progression is not permitted into Year 3 of the programme with less than 220 credits, irrespective of satisfying other progression criteria.

You must attend your cohort event in Welcome week.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Chemistry 3A

Must be passed and taken during Full Year

CHEM09005 40 credits
Chemistry 3B

Must be passed and taken during Full Year

CHEM09006 40 credits
Chemistry 3P Practical and Transferable Skills

Must be passed and taken during Full Year

CHEM09007 40 credits

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Progression into Year 4 of the programme requires, at first sitting: (i) a mean mark for C3A and C3B of at least 40%; (ii) a pass in C3P; and (iii) a mean mark for C3A, C3B, and C3P of at least 50%.

You must attend your cohort event in Welcome week.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Advanced Organic Chemistry

Must be taken during Semester 1

CHEM10057 20 credits
Advanced Biological Chemistry

Must be taken during Semester 2

CHEM10071 20 credits
Advanced Medicinal Chemistry

Must be taken during Semester 2

CHEM10072 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Practical options

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Chemistry 4P: Group Research Project (Semester 1)
CHEM10059 20 credits
Chemistry 4P: Group Research Project (Semester 2)
CHEM10060 20 credits
AND

Group B

Select exactly credits in this group.

Course choices

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Select 40 credits from the following list of courses, excluding any selected in Group A.
Analytical Chemistry Level 10
CHEM10012 20 credits
Sustainable Chemistry Level 10
CHEM10023 20 credits
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM10055 20 credits
Advanced Physical Chemistry
CHEM10056 20 credits
Advanced Materials Chemistry
CHEM10058 20 credits

Year 5 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
You must attend your cohort event in Welcome week.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 120 credits in this group.

Project choices

Select exactly 120 credits of the following courses
Chemistry/Chemical Physics International Research Project
CHEM11054 120 credits
Chemistry/Chemical Physics Research Project
CHEM11055 120 credits
Chemistry/Chemical Physics Industrial Research Project
CHEM11056 120 credits
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