Chemistry Degrees and Classification

The School of Chemistry runs six undergraduate degree programmes and links to each of these programmes are listed below.

Students complete 120 credits in each year with credits usually at Level 8 in Years 1 and 2, Level 9 in Year 3, Level 10 in Year 4, and for integrated masters students taking MChem or MChemPhys, Level 11 in Year 5. These levels align with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Taught Postgraduate Courses

Degree Classifications

Years 1 and 2 are “pre-honours years” and while students must achieve 120 credits, the results from these years do not count toward degree classification. Year 3 (Junior Honours) and Years 4 and 5 (Senior Honours) are honours years, with the marks from these years counting towards degree classification.

Degree classifications are determined from the combination of marks in honours years as described below. One a numeric value has been determined, the grade classification is awarded according to the University common marking scheme. Note that students receive a transcript describing each of the course grades and an overall grade classification; the overall computed average is not officially published. The common marking scheme, more fully described elsewhere, awards:

  • a 1st (a “First Class Honours”) for a computed mark over 70%;
  • a 2.1 (a “Two-One”, or an “Upper Second Class Honours”) for a computed mark between 60 and 69%;
  • a 2.2 (a “Two-Two”, or a “Lower Second Class Honours”) for a computed mark between 50 and 59%, and;
  • a 3rd (a “Third” or a “Pass”) for a computed mark between 40 and 49%.

Calculating BSc Classification Mark

For BSc students, the mark for degree classification is based on the average Year 3 mark and average Year 4 mark, which are combined in a 1:2 ratio. Therefore 1/3 of the Year 3 average and 2/3 of the Year 4 average are combined to compute the mark for classification, with grades awarded according to the University common marking scheme.

Calculating MChem/MChemPhys Classification Mark

For integrated masters students, the mark for degree classification is based on the average Year 3 mark, average Year 4 mark and Year 5 mark (solely derived from the final year project), which are combined in a 1:2:2 ratio. Therefore 1/5 of the Year 3 average, 2/5 of the Year 4 average, and 2/5 of the Year 5 average are combined to compute the mark for classification, with grades awarded according to the University common marking scheme.

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