Chemistry with molecular physics Msc

Does anyone know anything about the course chemistry with molecular physics at imperial. As it is a new course it is quite difficult to find out any information about it. I heard that all courses in chemistry are transferable to each other for the first 2 years, but I think this one might be an exception. Obviously you have to take "math and physics for chemists" as an ancillary subject in the first year ( does this require an ALevel in physics or will I gain entrance onto this course with a lot of persuasion and an A in Alevel Maths?).
However according to the UCAS website you also take the same ancillary course in the second year (not normal to take an additional subject in the 2nd year of chemistry degree), which is allowed for by less time in the organic synthesis labarotory. Can anyone help?

Reply 1

WhatTheDeuce

I want to do the Molecular Physics option too because I have an interest in nanotechnology, and I think it would be useful (not to mention less organic/lab work later on lol). I couldn't find anything about what was actually in the course either, so I e-mailed a chemistry professor who then sent me a document (see attached) that contained everything I needed to know.

And you do need an A in A-Level Maths to take the option, but you don't need A-Level Physics.

Hope this helps :smile:

Reply 2

tommasino

OP

wow! thats great. thankyou so much.

Reply 3

tommasino

OP

Yes just read it. Thank heavens it doesn't require A-level physics. I think that's fairer in many ways as it is a skill set that it is required (i.e Math) and not a body of knowledge ( although physics alevel does impart, I am sure, some skill, it will be similar in nature to that learned on an alevel chemistry course). Its sounds as if the ancillary subject previously known as "math and physics for chemists" has now been renamed "molecular physics 1" for the content is the same. The only question I still have is: that if you take "molecular physics 2" in your second year, thus reducing the organic synthesis quota, are you still allowed to make the decision at the end of year 2 to graduate with a Bsc in chemistry (3 year course) or are you commited to seeing out the full 4 year Msc in chemistry with molecular physics. Seeing as all other chemistry courses allow you full flexibility in choice of course until the end of second year, if you were commited in this case it would be an exception.

Reply 4

WhatTheDeuce

No problem. I also got the feeling that 'Molecular Physics' ancillaries were just a renaming - from what I read on Imperial's website, the course content is exactly the same as 'Maths and Physics for Chemists'! I hope they teach the material in the context of molecular physics otherwise I don't see the point. On the other, the range of molecular physics options in later years - including the two specialist ones - look quite good. The document also mentions a 3rd year theoretical methods lab course, but I haven't been able to find out anything it - only the 2nd year one.

I think that the bachelors degree is gained irrespective of what ancillary courses were selected in the first and second years. Only the specialised masters courses (e.g. Chemistry with Molecular Physics, Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry) specify that certain options must be taken. I thought about this too, since even though I'm really inclined to go for the Molecular Physics option my offer is for Chemistry with Research Abroad. I might just take the molecular physics options and change to research abroad later (Imperial's apparently got a really good setup for studying languages privately).

By the way, do you think you'll end up doing a 3 or 4 year (or 5 year lol) course?

Reply 5

tommasino

OP

Yes you can take language courses in the evening for 140£ for the year. I would recommend not doing a language as part of your main course, interesting though it sounds. The point is that you will be tested on it, therefore it may lose any aspect of fun, additionally you may as well do a subject which makes you a better chemist and ultimately makes your chemistry course easier. I'm still not convinced 100% that it is possible to change at the end of the second year from Msc CMP to Bsc Chem. Remember that the second year does NOT have an ancillary subject, therefore CMP is unique in the fact that you have to give up some standard classes in year 2. Things really seem to get exciting by the 4th year however, when we will be doing bang up to date science. However, it is my understanding that you can do a phd in chemistry with just a Bsc in chemistry ( not an Msc ), if you are going to a different uni for the phd that is....

Reply 6

WhatTheDeuce

tommasino

Yes you can take language courses in the evening for 140£ for the year. I would recommend not doing a language as part of your main course, interesting though it sounds. The point is that you will be tested on it, therefore it may lose any aspect of fun, additionally you may as well do a subject which makes you a better chemist and ultimately makes your chemistry course easier. I'm still not convinced 100% that it is possible to change at the end of the second year from Msc CMP to Bsc Chem. Remember that the second year does NOT have an ancillary subject, therefore CMP is unique in the fact that you have to give up some standard classes in year 2. Things really seem to get exciting by the 4th year however, when we will be doing bang up to date science. However, it is my understanding that you can do a phd in chemistry with just a Bsc in chemistry ( not an Msc ), if you are going to a different uni for the phd that is....

Yeah, what I'll do is either take the evening classes and/or use the language labs. If I do take a humanities ancillary, it probably won't be a language. As for transferring from MSci CMP to the BSc, I'm sure if you e-mailed the chemistry tutors they'd clarify things.

When it comes to doing a PhD nowadays, most universities expect that people who want to do research have an undergraduate masters degree (MSci, MChem, MPhys etc.) because of the research component of the final year(s) that is not usually available with a bachelors degree. If you graduated with a BSc and then decided you wanted to do a research degree, you'd probably have to take an MSc or MRes course (as a postgraduate) to get the necessary experience.

Chemistry with molecular physics Msc

Related discussions

Articles for you