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Analytical Chemistry at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Our Analytical Chemistry postgraduate course is designed to provide you with up-to-date knowledge and extensive practical experience in advanced laboratory skills and computational methods used in the chemical science and pharmaceutical sectors. Why choose this course?

  • You will gain expertise in a wide range of wet lab and data analysis skills that are highly valued by employers.
  • This course benefits from being embedded in a research-active environment in which you will be taught by experts in the field.
  • We welcome students to this course from a variety of science-based disciplines and academic or professional backgrounds, so you will join a unique student cohort learning alongside students from all age groups, who bring a range of different professional experiences to our course.
What you will learn This course prepares you to work in a wide range of jobs across the chemical science sector. You will gain in-depth knowledge and skills in a range of analytical methods, including spectroscopic techniques, mass spectrometry and separation science, and how these can be applied to a variety of samples including pharmaceutical and environmental samples. How you will learn This course offers you hands-on training. Each module includes a mixture of theory and practical classes based either in our specialist laboratories or a workstation room. If you choose to study the MSc, you will also have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and new skills to an area of current chemical research in a novel research project. We offer this course as a Master’s and a Postgraduate Diploma. For the Diploma, you study fewer modules and do not complete a dissertation. This course is available to study full-time in the daytime, or part-time in the evening. Highlights
  • We offer state-of-the-art instrumental and computing facilities.
  • Birkbeck is home to a range of excellent research across natural sciences helping to identify fundamental biological and physical structures and fight disease.
  • In the most recent 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in a joint submission with UCL, Biological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked 11th in the UK, with a research environment supporting world-leading and internationally excellent research.
  • You can register for the Postgraduate Diploma and progress to the MSc by completing the requisite modules.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this analytical chemistry course, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
  • working safely, efficiently and independently in a chemical laboratory setting, using a range of equipment and instrumentation
  • analytical skills, including a sound understanding of commonly used statistical methods
  • independent problem solving
  • oral and written scientific reporting
  • time organisation and completing projects to deadlines.
Studying this course will prepare you for PhD study in the chemical sciences, or for roles in a range of fields and professions including:
  • research chemist in a university or industry setting
  • quality control analyst
  • science writer or a role in scientific communication
  • the education sector.
Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to be employed at the following organisations:
  • Johnson Matthey
  • Affinity Water
  • Piramal Discovery Solutions
  • Haier Biomedical
  • Ludwig Cancer Research.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Taught modules are assessed by coursework and unseen written examinations.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses, foundation programmes and language support services to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in a scientific subject. Less qualified students may be accepted if they have appropriate work experience, or through registration on the Postgraduate Diploma with the possibility of upgrading to the MSc after achieving appropriate results in the first set of examinations. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

English language requirements

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £6225 Year 1
Northern Ireland £6225 Year 1
Scotland £6225 Year 1
Wales £6225 Year 1
International £10170 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Analytical Chemistry at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS