Chemistry for today and tomorrow: from bench to market

Overview

Chemistry is an ever-evolving field, but this is something which is sometimes hard to capture in an undergraduate chemistry course. This course will take advantage of small class sizes and the excellent resources of Queen Mary and the greater London area to expand on your fundamental studies and give students a wide-ranging view on what working in the field of chemistry really looks like today.

Students will achieve a broad understanding of modern chemistry techniques, such as nanomaterials and polymeric semiconductors, and their applications through hands-on experience in the laboratory, discussions with experts and group activities. Students will also learn of the increasing challenges which face research and industrial chemists and how these challenges are being addressed as we move forward to the future.

Teaching in lectures and tutorials will be supplemented with guest lectures from industry experts, hands-on experience in Queen Mary’s cutting-edge research laboratories and a field trip in London to explore the history and future of chemistry as a science.

Download course syllabus: SUM501Q_Chemistry_2022 [PDF 129KB]

Course content is subject to approval.

Course aims

This course aims to broaden students’ understanding of modern chemistry and prepare them for what the future of chemistry will look like. It will be of interested to undergraduate students of chemistry who would appreciate more context for their studies, as well as students intending to pursue a career in chemistry.

The course will be assessed by a combination of in-class / laboratory assessment and team work allowing students to develop skills which will help them progress their careers in chemistry.

Teaching and learning

The course consists of a combination of lectures, workshops, a field trip and laboratory experience in Queen Mary’s cutting edge laboratories.

During this course you will:

• Develop and synthesise polymeric nanomaterials.
• Use state of the art equipment such as dynamic light scattering to characterise polymeric nanomaterials and interpret the data collected.
• Learn the applications of polymeric nanomaterials in material science/pharmaceuticals.
• Gain an understanding of polymer properties and types of microstructures commonly formed in polymers.
• Investigate the increasing pressures on modern chemistry to be “green” and how this is shaping both research and chemical production.
• Gain experience with modern characterisation techniques such as transmission electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Further content includes:

• Talks delivered by experienced academics and invited experts from industry.
• Practical experience in our recently completed state of the art laboratory.
• Experience working collaboratively on team-based tasks.
• A field trip to explore the wealth of science resources London offers.

Fees

The Queen Mary Summer School costs: £1,900 per session, which includes tution and social programme. 

We offer a 10% discount to:

• Students and staff from partner institutions
• Alumni
• Current Queen Mary students 

Accommodation

The cost of accommodation is £877 per session. For further information, please visit our accommodation page.

Additional costs and course excursions

There may be additional costs for field trips, such as entry to exhibitions, which will be in the region of £10-20.
All reading material will be provided online, so it is not necessary to purchase any books.

Please note there is no deposit payment required for the Queen Mary Summer School.

Entry requirements

To join our Summer School, you should have completed a minimum of two semesters’ chemistry study at your home institution.

We welcome Summer School students from around the world. We accept a range of qualifications:

• if your home institution uses the four-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale, we usually require a 3.0 GPA
• if your home institution uses the letter scale, you will need to have a B+

We welcome international qualifications and we consider every application individually on its academic merit.

English language requirements 

All of our courses are taught and assessed in English. If English isn’t your first language, you must meet one of the following English Language requirements in order to join the Queen Mary Summer School:

• If you hold a degree from a majority English speaking country plus Canada you may use this degree to satisfy the English language requirements for entry, provided the degree was completed no more than 5 years before the start date of the course to which you are applying.
• IELTS, 6.5 overall or higher
• TOEFL Internet Based Test we require a minimum of 100 (L22; S25; R24; W27)
• China UEE (University Entrance Exam) -  110
• CET 4 – 550 or CET 6 – 490
• PTE Academic 68
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English 185 70- grade C (old marking system)
• Applicants with an alternative qualification should check it is equivalent to the above or contact us at summerschool@qmul.ac.uk

How to apply

Have a question? Get in touch - one of the team will be happy to help!