Analytical Chemistry MSc

Start date

22 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Places available (subject to change)

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About the course

Reasons to study

There are good employment opportunities for Analytical Chemists not only in the Chemical industry but in a range of other sectors.
There is the opportunity to study a specialised module in the area of biochemical analysis or pharmaceutical analysis.
Our laboratories are equipped to a high standard and well placed to support cutting-edge study.

This course provides postgraduate education in Analytical Chemistry, a specialism which is a major source of employment for scientists. Analytical Chemistry involves the identification and measurement of chemicals, be they in industrial processes, humans or materials. This course will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the most recent technological developments and applications in Analytical Chemistry. Instrumental techniques used in the analysis of organic compounds, metals, solids, etc. are all covered. Possible sources of error in experimental and instrumental analysis are discussed, thus allowing the correct interpretation of experimentally-derived scientific data There is the opportunity to study a specialised module in the area of biochemical analysis or pharmaceutical analysis. This course is two thirds taught material and one third research project.

Course detail

The core modules are:

Research Skills

An introduction to key concepts of scientific research, including project planning, using scientific literature, the application of statistical methods, data processing and the process of creating a journal article from writing to submission. Part of the module will contain subject specific material appropriate to the student’s discipline.

Instrumental Methods and the Analysis of Solids

Overview of instrumental methods of analysis including atomic spectroscopy, electrochemical techniques, surface methods and radiochemical methods.

Forensic Taphonomy

This module will give the student a general knowledge about the death process, the taphonomic changes of the body. In addition the module will provide the student the principles and methods of post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation, potentiality and limitations of the techniques

NMR Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry for Analytical Scientists

This module provides both a broad and in depth coverage of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. There is a large emphasis on developing your knowledge of the two techniques and you will be exposed to the most recent advances in instrumentation and their applications. You will explore advances in NMR design through a written assignment and you will also be able to demonstrate your ability to interpret spectral data in an exam.

Biochemical Methods

This module provides an in-depth description of many current biochemical methods as applied to analysis. This will include you learning about DNA analysis, in particular PCR and sequencing, immunological analysis techniques and the fundamentals behind them, protein separation techniques and X-ray crystallography. There will be a combination of lectures and computer simulations.

Practical skills for Analysts

Extended experiments to develop, compare and assess methods for analytical problems carried out in small groups with lab reports.

Research Project

The overall aim of the project is to train you in methods of experimental design and either to develop new analytical methods (for example, to select by critical comparison and apply the most suitable method to a particular problem) or to solve a novel research problem in your subject area.

Molecular and Cellular toxicology

This module gives and overview of the interactions between xenobiotics (potentially harmful foreign chemicals including drugs) and living organisms at the at the whole organism with a focus on the molecular and cellular level effects of xenobiotics. Topics that are included are toxicokinetics, examples of xenobiotic agents, and the role of risk in determining the harm of xenobiotics. The physiological and pathological effects of xenobiotics are also investigated. Moreover, the module involves ecotoxicology, the study of the effect of toxic chemicals on ecological entities such as ecosystem and populations.

The course is designed to train you in the scientific methodology relating to analytical chemistry and extend your interest and knowledge in all areas of the subject. The taught part of the course consists of eight core modules in Analytical Chemistry plus the research project. The research project requires 50 days laboratory work and takes place during the summer.

Teaching and Assessment

Considerable emphasis is placed on independent learning. Face-to-face contact is through weekly lectures, workshops and practical laboratory classes. Additional leaning materials are provided on the University’s VLE. There is an Academic Skills Tutor within the School of Applied Sciences who can help with things like report writing, revision and examination technique, numeracy skills, etc. Modules are mainly assessed by assignments, problem solving exercises, assessment of laboratory skills and written examinations. The research project is assessed by written report and oral presentation.

On average 36% of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, tutorials etc.

Teaching excellence

Triple proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

A minimum of a lower second class honours degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy or a related subject.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Facilities

Where the labs are

Chemistry Facilties

Students working in a lab

Joseph Priestley Building

Career support

Currently there are good employment opportunities for Analytical Chemists not only in the chemical industry, but in a range of other sectors. In industry they monitor product quality, raw materials and effluent. In hospitals, as Clinical Chemists, they monitor the health of patients by analysing samples of blood or urine. Public Analysts working on behalf of local government check the food we eat and the air we breathe. Analytical Chemists also test for toxic substances in the work place, pollutants in the environment, and levels of drug abuse. Analytical Chemists are also employed in the pharmaceutical industry working on drug development and in tablet testing. Recent graduates from this course are employed in the pharmaceutical and food Industries as well as in research positions and in educational establishments

96.4% of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2016/17, UK domiciled graduates).

Career support

Career support

96.4% of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2016/17, UK domiciled graduates).

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £9,900 (Band 3).

Tuition fees for UK students will cover the cost of your study at the University. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see our Fees and Finance. Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £825 (Band 3) per 15 credit module and £1,650 (Band 3) per 30 credit module.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £9,900 (Band 3).

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Tuition Fees - part-time

In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £825 (Band 3) per 15 credit module and £1,650 (Band 3) per 30 credit module.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.