Course details

Summary

With so many options to choose from, the Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) is your opportunity to create a good foundation for your study in the Earth, Chemical, Computational, Human, Life, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

Programme overview

If you have a mind for science and you’re keen to keep your options open, then the BSc is the degree for you. With many undergraduate majors in a wide range of subject areas, the BSc will allow you to incorporate different areas of interest and expertise. As well as strongly emphasizing transferable skills to improve your employment opportunities, this programme will expose you to cutting-edge technologies and provide a gateway to independent research. Throughout your undergraduate degree you’ll be taught by knowledgeable scientists, many of whom are major contributors in their field.

Medicinal Chemistry Major

Medicinal Chemistry is one of the most rapidly developing areas within the discipline of Chemistry, both globally and locally. It is the study of the design, biochemical effects, regulatory and ethical aspects of drugs for the treatment of disease. The aim of this programme is to produce graduates with an appropriate background in biology and pharmacology, built upon a strong chemistry foundation.

Medicinal Chemistry at undergraduate level is designed to equip students with a strong grounding in biological and chemical techniques that are relevant to the pharmaceutical world.

Career opportunities

The students completing this multidisciplinary degree programme will have a unique combination of skills: they will be trained in the synthesis, reactivity and analysis of organic compounds and gain valuable insight into the pharmacological, regulatory and ethical aspects of these bioactive compounds.

Graduates tend to find employment in a wide range of institutions such as hospitals, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, private research institutions, local and national government authorities and agencies and Crown Research Institutes. A large number of emerging spin off and venture capital pharmaceutical companies also seek staff in this area.

Further study options

• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Graduate Diploma in Science (GradDipSci)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Structure

Year I

Semester 1

BIOSCI 101

BIOSCI 107

CHEM 110

15 points from COMPSCI 111, STATS 101, PHYSICS 120, or 160

Semester 2

BIOSCI 106

MEDSCI 142

CHEM 120

15 points from a General Education course

Year II

90 points: BIOSCI 201, 203, CHEM 230, 240, MEDSCI 204, 205

At least 15 points from BIOSCI 202, 204, CHEM 210, 220, MEDSCI 202, 203, PHARMACY 202

Year III

60 points: CHEM 330, 390, 392, MEDSCI 303

At least 30 points from CHEM 320, 340, 350, BIOSCI 349–356, MEDSCI 206, 305, 306

Entry criteria

Secondary school qualifications

You need to have one of the following: International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum total score of 24. General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level. You must have completed a minimum of three A-Level subjects with at least a 'C' grade or higher. General Studies or similar general papers cannot be included.

GCE ‘A’ Level requirements apply to ‘A’ Level qualifications examined by bodies such as AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC, CCEA, Pearson Education Limited and CIE taken outside of New Zealand.

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.0; TOEFL (iBT) 80; TOEFL (paper-based) 550; CAE or CPE 169; PTE 50; MELAB 80.