MChem (Hons) Chemistry, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry (with a year in industry) Integrated Master's degree at the University of York
MChem (Hons) Chemistry, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry (with a year in industry) at University of York. The York course sits within Biological Sciences and leads to an Integrated Master's, meaning you graduate with an MChem (Hons) rather than needing to top up a BSc later.
About this course
MChem (Hons) Chemistry, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry (with a year in industry) is an Integrated Master's degree (MChem (Hons)) at the University of York. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Chemistry graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 71% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £29,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Biological Sciences, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 60; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 7 modules
- Foundations of Chemistry 1Core
- Foundations of Chemistry 2Core
- Introductory Skills and Practical 1Core
- Foundations of Chemistry 3Core
- Foundations of Chemistry 4Core
- Introductory Skills and Practical 2Core
- Academic Integrity moduleCore
Module details
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York. This module will: define academic integrity and academic misconduct explain why and when you should reference source material and other people's work provide interactive exercises to help you to assess whether you've understood the concepts provide answers to FAQs and links to useful resources.
Year 2 6 modules
- Advanced Chemistry Concepts and Applications 1Core
- Advanced Chemistry Concepts and Applications 2Core
- Advanced Skills and Practical 1Core
- Advanced Chemistry Concepts and Applications 3Core
- Advanced Skills and Practical 2Core
- Genes to ProteinsCore
Module details
Provides a detailed overview of molecular biology – a field which over the last 50 years has transformed biological chemistry.
Year 3 6 modules
- Frontiers of Chemistry 1Core
- Chemistry and DiseaseCore
Module details
Covers some key aspects of medicinal chemistry and biomedicine to build advanced theoretical and applied knowledge for chemists and biochemists.
- Advanced Topics and PracticalCore
- Miniproject with Chemistry - Biology InterfaceCore
- Frontiers of Chemistry 2Core
- Frontiers of Chemistry 3Core
Year 4 3 modules
- Professional Research DevelopmentCore
- Advanced Research project (Industry)Core
Module details
A research project with a focus on biological or medicinal chemistry. You'll learn principles and techniques of advanced chemistry which you'll be able to draw on in your future career.
- Research CommunicationCore
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course is built around progression rather than a single fixed syllabus, moving from core theory through research & methods and applied practice before you reach specialist options and an independent project. Along the way, professional skills are developed explicitly rather than left as an afterthought, which matters given the year in industry sitting in the middle of the degree. You might expect specialisations such as biological and medicinal chemistry themes to run through the specialist options stage, building on the core theory covered earlier, though the exact modules on offer will depend on the year and any optional pathways available. The independent project gives you the chance to work more autonomously on a piece of chemistry research, drawing on the research & methods training from earlier in the course, while the year in industry lets you apply and test that learning in a real workplace setting before returning to complete the degree.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who enjoys the precision of chemistry but is drawn specifically to how it plays out in biological systems and medicine, the kind of person who wants to understand not just reactions on paper but how molecules behave in living organisms and how that knowledge translates into medicines. You should be comfortable with sustained, detailed study, since an integrated Master's asks for staying power across four years rather than a quicker route through. A genuine curiosity about research methods and a willingness to work independently will serve you well by the time you reach the independent project. The year in industry will suit someone who wants to test their subject knowledge in a professional environment before finishing their degree, and who doesn't mind pausing academic study for a year to do so. If you like the idea of graduating with both a Master's-level qualification and a year of workplace experience already behind you, this shape of course is worth considering.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Biological Sciences courses, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 60% of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study, figures drawn from the Graduate Outcomes survey rather than specific to this course or university. Reported starting salaries 15 months after graduation range from £23,000 to £29,000 nationally, with figures after three years sitting between £20,400 and £28,800, and after five years between £25,075 and £35,400. These are national labour-market figures for the wider field, not a guarantee of what any individual graduate will earn. The RSC accreditation for Chartered Chemist (CChem) academic criteria may be relevant if you're considering a longer-term route toward chartered status in the chemistry profession. Separately, 90% of students nationally continue past their first year of study, either still enrolled or having completed their course.
University & format
The University of York is a public, Russell Group university founded in 1963, with a total student population of 17,155. It was and received a Gold rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. This MChem is studied full-time over four years, in English, at the University of York campus, under UCAS course code F154. Most accepted entrants held A-levels or equivalent, in fact all accepted students in recent years came in via A-levels or an equivalent qualification, with the most common UCAS tariff band among entrants sitting between 144 and 159 points; this reflects typical entrant profiles rather than a stated minimum requirement.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code F154). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of York →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Biological Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £29,000 | £25,000 – £33,000 | 60 |
| 3 years after | £28,500 | £25,000 – £34,000 | 145 |
| 5 years after | £34,000 | £30,000 – £43,000 | 180 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 60; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in biological sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Biological Sciences nationally
National figures for Biological Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 60; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Biological Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 771 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 26% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 170; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Biological Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Biological Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- NHS & hospital labs
- Pharma & biotech
- Universities & institutes
- Public-health bodies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Biological Sciences graduates.
Head of School, Biological Sciences - Strategic Leadership & GrowthUNIVERSITY OF READINGEducation-Focused Assistant Professor, Biological SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambicBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambic Therapeutics, IncCrop Geneticist The James Hutton Institute, Department of Cell & Molecular SciencesEuropean Plant Science OrganisationRegional Lead, Life Sciences FM, UK, Ireland & NordicsJLLIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £29,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.5 out of 10: NSS 94.4% · in work or study 90% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of York
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around The University of York
739 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Biological Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of York from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £32,350 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of York’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of York and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of York
Common questions
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