Chemistry Degrees and Classification

The School of Chemistry runs six undergraduate degree programmes and three taught postgraduate programmes. Links to each of these programmes are listed below.

Undergraduate degrees

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).

Students’ progression from one year of study to another is contingent on meeting the required thresholds and criteria. These thresholds and criteria are set out in the University’s Taught Assessment Regulations (Regulations 51 and 52) and in the University’s Degree Programme Regulations (under the “Progression and Permissible Credit Loads” section).

In addition to these criteria, the School of Chemistry sets programme-specific criteria that must be met, which are set out below and in the Degree Programme Table for their programme of study. 

Year 1 to Year 2

Chemistry, and Medicinal and Biological Chemistry

Students must pass Chemistry 1A and Chemistry 1B. Students must also pass at least one of Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1a and Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1b.

If a student does not pass both Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1a and 1b in Year 1, they must resit the failed course on an “exam only” basis in Year 2. Students cannot progress to Year 3 without having passed both Mathematics for the Natural Sciences 1a and 1b.

Chemical Physics

Students must pass Chemistry 1A and Chemistry 1B. Students must also pass Mathematics for Physics 2 and Physics 1A. 

If a student moves into Year 2 without passing Mathematics for Physics 1 or Physics 1B, then they must be enrolled on the failed course ‘exam only’ in the following year.

Year 2 to Year 3

Chemistry

Students must pass Chemistry 2 and Data-driven Chemistry.

Students must also have passed at least 220 credits over Years 1 and 2 in order to progress to Year 3, irrespective of satisfying other progression criteria.

Medicinal and Biological Chemistry

Students must pass Chemistry 2 and Data-driven Chemistry. They must pass Chemical Pharmacology 2, unless there is some assessment missing that would allow an exam-only resit attempt in the following year. 

Students must pass the Lab component of Biological Chemistry 2. If they have not passed the exam for Biological Chemistry 2, they may be permitted to progress to Year 3, but on the condition that they pass an exam-only resit in the following year. 

Students must also have passed at least 220 credits over Years 1 and 2 in order to progress to Year 3, irrespective of satisfying other progression criteria.

Chemical Physics

Students must pass Chemistry 2 and all Year 2 Physics compulsory courses.

Students must also have passed at least 220 credits over Years 1 and 2 in order to progress to Year 3, irrespective of satisfying other progression criteria.

Year 3 to Year 4

Chemistry, and Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 

Students on the MChem programmes require: (i) a mean mark for Chemistry 3A and Chemistry 3B of at least 40%; (ii) a pass in Chemistry 3P; and (iii) a mean mark for Chemistry 3A, Chemistry 3B, and Chemistry 3P of at least 50%. 

Students on the BSc programmes require: (i) a mean mark for Chemistry 3A and Chemistry 3B of at least 40%; and (ii) a pass in Chemistry 3P. 

Chemical Physics

Students on the MChemPhys programme require, at first sitting: (i) a pass in both CP3 Physical Chemistry Laboratory, and Computer Modelling, (ii) a mean mark of at least 50% across all Chemical Physics 3 courses. 

Students on the BSc programme require, at first sitting: (i) a pass in both CP3 Physical Chemistry Laboratory and Computer Modelling, and (ii) an average of at least 40% in all the other examined courses. 

In addition to the above, both MChemPhys and BSc students must pass a minimum of 80 credits, including the three core Physics courses (Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics). Students must achieve an average of at least 40% across these three courses. 

Borderline progression from Year 3 to Year 4

Students should be aware that progression from Year 3 to Year 4 is contingent on meeting all elements of the published progression criteria for their programme of study. Borderline marks (such as a mean mark in Chemistry 3A and Chemistry 3B of between 38.00 and 39.99) will not be considered to meet the relevant criteria.

Year 4 to Year 5 (MChem and MChemPhys students)

Chemistry, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, and Chemical Physics 

MChem and MChemPhys students are required to pass 120 credits in Year 4 in order to progress to Year 5. Failed courses can be awarded credits on aggregate if the necessary thresholds are met (see Regulation 52 of the Taught Assessment Regulations for these thresholds).


Degree Classifications

Years 1 and 2 are “pre-honours years” and while students must achieve 120 credits in each year, 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.

Degree Classification Borderlines

Where a student’s final classification mark is within 2% of a borderline (e.g. between 68.00 and 69.99% at the 1st/2:1 borderline), the overall proportion of credits in the higher class will be calculated using the same weighting that is used to calculate the overall average mark in the degree. The higher degree will be awarded if the greater proportion of marks falls into the higher class (i.e. 50% or above).


Taught postgraduate degrees

Students complete 180 credits in the course of the one-year programme, with credits usually at Level 11. These levels align with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Degree Classifications

Students who do not meet the threshold for a Merit or Distinction (set out below) will have their MSc award classified as a Pass.  

Students who achieve a mark of 60% or more on the Research Project course, and achieve an average of at least 60% in the taught component of the degree (their 120 taught course credits) will have their degree awarded with Merit. 

Students who achieve a mark of 70% or more on the Research Project course, and achieve an average of at least 70% in the taught component of the degree will have their degree awarded with Distinction. 

Degree Classification Borderlines

PGT students will receive the higher classification than their results would indicate if their marks fit one of the two sets of criteria below.  

  • When the average of a student’s taught components (the 120 credits of taught courses) is within 2% of a borderline (e.g. between 58.00 and 59.99 at the Pass/Merit borderline), AND at least 50% of the student’s taught course credits are in the higher class, AND the student’s MSc Research Project and Dissertation course mark is in the higher class, the higher degree classification will be awarded.
  • When the average of a student’s taught components is in the higher class, AND the student’s MSc Research Project and Dissertation course mark is borderline, AND at least 50% of the student’s Research Project assessment components are in the higher class, the higher degree classification will be awarded.

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