Analytical Chemistry MSc
Subject and course type
- Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Postgraduate
Boost your employability with the Analytical Chemistry MSc from Kingston University. Using our modern laboratories, you will gain the knowledge and key skills required for a career in analytical chemistry. Our links with industry provide a practical base for this course and helps us to ensure your studies are up to date and relevant to the working environment.
You are reading:
Deepen your knowledge of chemistry by diving into the study of all matter
Immerse yourself in good measurement and scientific practice, and the evaluation and interpretation of data.
You'll gain extensive practical experience in new laboratories that reflect industry standards.
Through an independent research project, you will be able to study an area of interest in greater depth. You will also benefit from the latest views from visiting speakers and industry visits from global researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
At our Penrhyn Road campus, you will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including:
- The £9.8 million Eadweard Muybridge building with state-of the art laboratories, including labs dedicated to analytical chemistry
- New work areas and dedicated laboratories for research
- Specialist equipment, such as:
- gas and liquid chromatography
- electron microscopy
- a range of spectrometers, including mass spectrometers, infrared spectrometers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers
- nuclear science equipment
- thermal analysis
- x-ray diffractometers
- electrochemical analysis
- Computing laboratories and a team of IT technicians to offer assistance
The teaching on this course is great, and the lecturers are very approachable. The practicals on the course are really helpful too. I've used loads of the analytical instruments, such as GC-MS, Infrared and UV-Vis.
Why choose this course
Throughout this course, you will build on your previous chemistry knowledge and continue to develop skills to prepare you for your career. These include problem solving, organisation, data collation, review and synopsis.
You will study good measurement and scientific practice, and the evaluation and interpretation of data. You will also undertake an independent research project, which can act as an excellent selling point when looking for employment after graduation.
Past projects have looked at dust sources at Hampton Court Palace, determination of Hexavalent Chromium, thermo-responsive polymers for water purification and radiochemical investigation of Uranium 232. You can undertake this as collaborative research with other laboratories.
Alternatively, you could do a placement year in industry to put your research skills into practice in the real world. Past students have undertaken project placements in the pharmaceutical industry, forensic labs, analytical consultancies, hospital labs and research labs.
In addition, many of our staff are research active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.
- immunology and cancer biology
- biomedical, pharmaceutical and instrumental analyses
- medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry
- clinical pharmacy and advanced drug delivery
- nutrition/exercise and sports science
Course content
You will gain the key skills required in this specialised area of analytical chemistry, including good measurement and scientific practice, evaluation interpretation of data, and other professional and organisational skills. You will also study core analytical techniques and their applications. You may also be offered a placement within industry (depending on your results and project availability), where you will carry out your independent research project.
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Please note, optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Modules
Core modules
30 credits
This module introduces the main spectroscopic techniques used in industry such as UV/Vis, FTIR, Mass Spectrometry, NMR, AES, AAS and X -Ray methods. The module later progresses to the more advanced designs and applications such as MS/MS, FTMS, TOF, sector and quadrupole mass analysers, 2D NMR, LCMS, MALDI, Atomic Fluorescence and ICPMS/AES.
60 credits
This module involves a research- or industry-based, in-depth research project. You will develop your ability to critically evaluate your own work as well as the work of others, using analytical and laboratory skills.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
- Prepare a realistic and coherent project proposal, formulate aims and objectives and plan your own time to achieve stated objectives
- Critically evaluate the current literature
- Carry out appropriate experiments in a safe manner (applying COSHH) and generate reliable data, suitably analysed, and apply appropriate statistical tests
- Communicate the results of the project in a coherent report and in oral and visual manner
30 credits
This module introduces students to the principles and theory of separation science and its application in the laboratory including solvent extraction, high performance liquid chromatography, gas/liquid chromatography, centrifugation, gel and capillary electrophoresis and hyphenated techniques.
30 credits
This module will:
- introduce various specialised situations and techniques (e.g. clinical, environmental and materials science) in which the analyst will have to provide analytical solutions
- illustrate the solution of complex analytical problems using an integrated approach
30 credits
The module introduces students to the role of statistics and quality systems in modern analytical science. It demonstrates how a thorough understanding of statistical concepts, the analytical process and the quality systems and quality management paradigms collectively enable the consistent and reliable interpretation of analytical chemical data to support the economic requirements of a business organisation.
Optional modules
120 credits
The Professional Placement module is a core module if you're following a masters programme that incorporates an extended professional placement. It provides you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment, and develops and enhances key employability and subject specific skills in your chosen discipline. You may wish to use the placement experience as a platform for a major project or your future career.
It is your responsibility to find and secure a suitable placement opportunity; this should not normally involve more than two placements which must be completed over a minimum period of 10 months and within a maximum of 12 months. The placement must be approved by your Course Leader prior to commencement to ensure its suitability. You will have access to the standard placement preparation activities offered by the Student Engagement and Enhancement (SEE) group.
Read more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
Career opportunities
There is an increasing demand for qualified analytical chemists in a variety of industrial and public sector settings. Other relevant roles are in chemical/pharmaceutical companies, teaching, sales, marketing, management and PhD research.
Recent graduates have gone on to a range of roles, including:
- chemists in large and SME chemical/pharmaceutical companies
- teaching
- PhD research
- sales and marketing
- managerial positions
Teaching and assessment
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 57.4% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Type of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 62%; Exams 32%; Practical 6%
Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation).
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
You will be part of an intimate cohort of 20-40 students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice as well as the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes; you may therefore be taught alongside postgraduates from other courses.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £11,900 |
| Part Time | £6,545 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £20,000 |
| Part Time | £11,000 |
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £11,400 |
| Part Time | £6,270 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £19,300 |
| Part Time | £10,615 |
| Fee category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £10,900 |
| Part Time | £5,995 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £18,500 |
| Part Time | £10,175 |
Fees for future course years
Part time
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.
If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Analytical Chemistry MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
The Gangolli Scholarship is a fully-funded (100% of fees) scholarship for Kingston University graduates progressing to a taught MSc course in the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Gangolli Scholarship page.
The Inspire the Future Scholarship offers a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. 20 scholarships are available for progressing Kingston University graduates.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Inspire the Future Scholarship page.
International postgraduate students could receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in their first year of study.
For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, visit the International Scholarship page.
If you are a Kingston University 2024/25 undergraduate progressing to a 2025/26 postgraduate degree (taught or research), you could get a 15% reduction in tuition fees.
For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Postgraduate Progression Scholarship page.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni.
For more information on how to apply for this discount, visit our alumni discount page.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Specific courses may require uniforms, specialty clothing, or specific equipment like lab coats and safety shoes. Kingston University will supply you with a lab coat and safety goggles at the start of the year.
Some courses may require professional memberships.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
If the postgraduate admissions tutor requires further information or wishes to invite you to further assessment by interview they will contact you directly. You will then hear whether your application has been successful.
If you do not clearly meet the standard entry requirements and the admission tutor wishes to see a portfolio from you, you will be sent an email asking you to upload your portfolio to your Kingston University OSIS account. Further details on how to do this will be provided at the time.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
I chose to do the Analytical Chemistry MSc because I did a bioanalysis module during my undergraduate degree. This led me to develop an interest in analytical chemistry.
During the course, I spent three months at GSK on a placement, working as a development scientist for the New Product Development Aquafresh team. This allowed me to gain invaluable experience for a global organisation, which automatically makes me more employable.
