The structure of the undergraduate masters (MChem) degrees in the School of Chemistry permits international course components of various types to be undertaken in the fourth (penultimate) year.
The Industrial Experience course is a full 12 month period of employment within the research or development function of a wide range of companies or research institutes. The placements are assessed and contribute to the final degree classification. The majority of students remain in the UK, but every year a number of opportunities overseas are available, the placements in the USA being particularly popular.
Dupont is one of the major US chemical companies with a long history dating back to 1903. Since that time Dupont has provided us with a wide range of innovative materials such as Neoprene (the first synthetic rubber), Nylon (one of the first synthetic polymers), Kevlar (bullet-proof vests!), Nomex (fire-proof vests!) and Teflon (frying pans).
Over 2000 scientists and Engineers are employed at the 150-acre campus-style DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware where industrial placements are available to Edinburgh University students. Projects in diverse areas such as nanotechnology, new materials, biodegradable polymers, coatings, fuel cells and renewable resources may be undertaken.
The School has links with three of the US national laboratories:
These laboratories house world-class facilities where cutting-edge research is performed. Students can undertake their industrial placement supervised by researchers at these prestigious laboratories.
GlaxoSmithKline is a UK based international pharmaceutical company formed in 2000 through the merger of GlaxoWelcome and SmithKline Beecham. It is responsible for well known drugs such as Tagamet (H2 blocker), Zantak (anti-ulcer), Zovirax (anti-viral), Retrovir (anti-aids) and Imigran (migraine). It has US-based research centres in Philadelphia which offer industrial placements for Edinburgh University students in the field of Medicinal Chemistry.
In 2006 The School of Chemistry signed a student exchange agreement with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore permitting the reciprocal exchange of up to six students per year between the Schools of Chemistry at the two universities. You can see the related news item in our 2006 News Archive. Edinburgh students taking part in the exchange spend 6 months (July-December) at NTU undertaking a project within one of the academic research groups. This is followed by a second 6 month period (January-June) of industrial experience with a chemical/pharmaceutical company or research institute in Singapore. Students may also choose to complete a full year research project at the university instead of spending the second half of the year in industry.
Nanyang Technological University School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences moved to a newly completed building in 2007, and with a target undergraduate chemistry intake of over 250 students, NTU is aiming to be one of the largest university chemistry departments in Asia.
The industrial component of the Year in Asia Course may be undertaken with a number of companies/organisations. These may include: Syngenta, the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Glaxo-Smith-Kline and S-Bio. The opportunity to spend a year in Asia and experience research in both academic and industrial chemistry environments provides valuable additional cultural as well as scientific experience which will broaden students' outlook and significantly enhance future employability.
Edinburgh students along with other UK visiting students at NTU School of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry. Sitting (from left to right): Nancy Cowley; Gustav Boethius; Becky Choules.
The School has exchange agreements with the University of Hong Kong and Konkuk University in Seol, S. Korea. Students can spend the 4th year of their MChem/MChemPhys degree at these universities where they will undertake a year-long research project supervised by a member of the academic staff.
Students may choose to spend the 4th year of their MChem degree at another European university, over recent years these have been in France, Spain and Germany, but other countries are also possible. The year is spent undertaking a research project within one of the academic research groups at the host university. Lecture courses may also be attended, but we do not expect students to sit exams in a foreign language! The project is assessed and this, along with other coursework components contributes 20% to overall degree program assessment.
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