Medicinal Chemistry
Bachelor of Science in Medicinal Chemistry - BSc(MedChem)
| Fast Facts |
| Course Level: | Undergraduate |
 |
| Course Length: | Three years full- time or equivalent part-time. Four years with Honours.
Combined Degrees:
Medicinal Chemistry / Innovation and Enterprise (Science & Technology)
- one additional year to your full-time study program; and
Medicinal Chemistry / Diploma in Language - one additional year to
your full-time study program. |
| Location: | Taught on-campus at Flinders. |
| Available To: | Australian and international students. |
| Prerequisites: | SACE Stage 2 Chemistry or equivalent applies to all applicants. |
| SATAC Code: | 214541 |
| Entry Cutoff Scores: |
Tertiary Education Rank (TER)
-
Science & Engineering Bonus Points Scheme for High School Students
 |
| Course Program Details: | A program of study is available in the University's Course Information Handbook. |
About the Course
What is Medicinal Chemistry?
Medicinal chemists are specialised and highly trained industrial chemists who prepare, develop and analyse products for the pharmaceutical and related industries. They play a vital role in creating many of the things we use every day, particularly those involved in human, animal and agricultural health.
Career Opportunities
This course prepares students for a career in the chemical industry and will provide graduates to meet the high demand for chemically trained professionals in the growing number of biotechnology companies. The students graduating from this course will be ideal for a variety of careers in large and small pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, hospital laboratories and government laboratories both within Australia and overseas.
The broad base on which the course is structured means that students' employment prospects are not limited to pharmaceutical or biotechnology options, but allows them to compete for positions in the wine, petrochemical, polymer (including tyre manufacture and plastic manufacture), and paint industries; the patent office and analytical laboratories. Graduates are also able to move on to higher degree studies leading to employment in academic, research or government institutions, or to develop their own businesses.
To find out more about the jobs this degree can lead to, go to the Your Career section of the Flinders' graduate careers website.
Combining Degrees
Medicinal Chemistry / Bachelor of Innovation and Enterprise (Science &
Technology)
Adds an extra year to your full-time study plan.
If you want to boost your business, management, enterprise and communication skills, and undertake a concentrated period of practical work experience, consider combining
Medicinal Chemistry with the Bachelor of Innovation and Enterprise (Science and Technology) (BIE). The BIE will add just one year to your full-time study program and you’ll graduate with two degrees. More importantly, you’ll increase your immediate attractiveness to employers and your potential to become a business leader. You will need to apply for both the Bachelor of Science in Medicinal Chemistry and the BIE via SATAC.
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What Will I Study?
The course combines the background knowledge that underpins chemistry with specific content that links chemistry with pharmacology, environmental health and the chemical industry.
In First year you will take core topics in chemistry, biology, mathematics, professional English and professional skills, then select elective topics in other fields of study such as computing, statistics or introduction to management.
Second year includes higher level chemistry and laboratory skills as well as studies of physiology and molecular biology, which will pave the way for a detailed study of pharmaceutical synthesis and drug metabolism in Third year.
Third year also includes modern instrumental methods, including data handling, and introduces aspects of environmental chemistry which are important for understanding the environmental controls placed on chemical industries.
As part of the course you’ll work in teams to solve scientific problems and produce a business plan for a product from conception through manufacturing to release and marketing. Site visits to leading companies will provide an opportunity both to establish industry links and to evaluate current practices and their implications.
The full program of study, including topic descriptions, is set out in the Course rule and topic information for this degree.
Why Study Medicinal Chemistry at Flinders?
If you like Chemistry and are keen to solve problems that will improve our
quality of life the Bachelor of Science in Medicinal Chemistry:
- trains you in key areas of Science;
- adds industry experience and knowledge, and business skills; and
- prepares you as a chemist who can work in the medical, pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and related industries.
This course was created to prepare students for a career in the chemical industry and will provide graduates to meet the high demand for chemically trained professionals in the growing number of biotechnology companies. It retains the key elements of traditional science training while providing students with an unparalleled understanding of the industry and the way it operates and is unique in South Australia for its business orientation.
As such, the course appeals to students who are interested in the application of chemistry to solving problems with the aim of improving the quality of life.
The formal course aims are set out in the Course rule and topic information for this degree.
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Entry requirements
Australian Students
SATAC Code: 214541
SACE Stage 2 Chemistry or equivalent is a prerequisite for this course.
Year 12 applicants must have qualified for SACE and obtained Recorded Achievement in at least five two-unit SACE Stage 2 subjects. Included among the five must be four HESS General subjects.
Applicants who have completed one of the following are eligible to apply:
- SACE (Year 12) or interstate equivalent;
- International Baccalaureate (IB);
- TAFE/VET;
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT);
- Foundation Course/Bridging Program;
- Overseas qualifications;
- Tertiary Transfer (Grade Point Average - GPA); and
- Other access schemes are eligible to apply.
International Students
CRICOS Provider Code: 00114A
See the Why choose Flinders section for the following information about this and other Flinders courses:
- Tuition fees
- Course entry requirements
- English language requirements
- Australian visa and health cover requirements
- Scholarships Information for AusAID applicants
See the When and how to apply section for information about the application process and access to application forms.
Note: Australian qualifications are recognised in most countries, but students are advised to discuss their proposed programs with the professional registration authority and relevant professional associations in their home country before commencing studies.
Transferring Credit
Credit will be considered for any previous tertiary study in chemistry. These cases will be considered on an individual basis, and application can be made through the normal channels of applying for status.
An Application for Credit form and relevant policies are available on the web.
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More on Medicinal Chemistry
Professional Recognition
Our graduates meet the requirements for membership of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Web Resources
Disclaimer: The following links lead to a variety of Internet sites that are not affiliated with Flinders University. The presence of a link in the table below does NOT indicate an endorsement of the ownership, content or condition of the corresponding web site.
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Further Information
Flinders Web Resources
The following are additional links within the University of Flinders website where you will find information on costs, financial assistance, and other courses offered by the University.
Contact Us
If you would like to find out more about this course, or any of our other courses, please contact us:
Admissions Office
Science & Engineering
Course Co-ordinator
Apply Now!
If you've read enough and want to apply for entry into this course then contact:
Last reviewed August 2006.
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