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Huddersfield University Campus

Analytical Chemistry MSc

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Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

1 year full-time 2 years part-time

About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • This course maximises your learning with dedicated teaching time and hands-on, practical project work.
  • Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by engaging in project work and research.
  • The broad knowledge base covered on this course will prepare you for various roles within the analytical science fields.

Our postgraduate course in Analytical Chemistry is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this high-demand field, teaching you the foundation of Analytical Science.

This discipline focuses on the identification and the analysis of materials across many sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and environment. As an Analytical Chemist, you could find yourself monitoring product quality, medication in blood samples, and pollutants in river water.

Public Analysts, working for local governments, ensure the safety of our food and air. You’ll also have the opportunity to test for toxic substances in workplaces, pollutants in the environment, and checks that food products are within specification.

We aim to prepare you for a successful career by providing:

  • Industry-Relevant Skills: Our curriculum is designed to equip you with the skills that are in high demand in the industry. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the latest technologies and methodologies used in analytical chemistry.
  • Comprehensive Understanding: The course covers a wide range of topics, including the latest techniques in chromatography and spectroscopy to regulatory affairs and quality control.
Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • A minimum of a lower second class honours degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy or a related subject.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

What will you learn?

Course Details

An introduction to key concepts of scientific research, including project planning, using scientific literature, the application of statistical methods, data processing and the process of creating a journal article from writing to submission. Part of the module will contain subject specific material appropriate to the student’s discipline.

Overview of instrumental methods of analysis including atomic spectroscopy, electrochemical techniques, surface methods and radiochemical methods.

This module introduces the theoretical basis and current and future developments in analytical separation techniques. Areas covered range from solid phase extraction; theory of chromatography; gas chromatography (GC); high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); capillary electrophoresis (CE), asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4) and sedimentation velocity in the analytical ultracentrifuge (SV-AUC). Tutorials are provided to support the lectures.

This module provides both a broad and in depth coverage of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. There is a large emphasis on developing your knowledge of the two techniques and you will be exposed to the most recent advances in instrumentation and their applications. You will explore advances in NMR design through a written assignment and you will also be able to demonstrate your ability to interpret spectral data in an exam.

This module provides an in-depth description of many current biochemical methods as applied to analysis. This will include you learning about DNA analysis, in particular PCR and sequencing, immunological analysis techniques and the fundamentals behind them, protein separation techniques and X-ray crystallography. There will be a combination of lectures and computer simulations.

This module will help you to develop your practical and analytical skills in a range of analytical techniques including chromatography and different types of spectroscopy. These techniques can be applied towards various pharmaceutical, biological and forensic problems of an analytical nature. You will perform extended experiments to develop, compare and assess methods for analytical problems, with experiments usually carried out in small groups.

​The overall aim of the project is to train you in methods of experimental design and either to develop new analytical methods (for example, to select by critical comparison and apply the most suitable method to a particular problem) or to solve a novel research problem in your subject area.

This module gives and overview of the interactions between xenobiotics (potentially harmful foreign chemicals including drugs) and living organisms at the at the whole organism with a focus on the molecular and cellular level effects of xenobiotics. Topics that are included are toxicokinetics, examples of xenobiotic agents, and the role of risk in determining the harm of xenobiotics. The physiological and pathological effects of xenobiotics are also investigated. Moreover, the module involves ecotoxicology, the study of the effect of toxic chemicals on ecological entities such as ecosystem and populations.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as Analytical chemist, Clinical research associate, Clinical scientist, Clinical scientist, Immunology, Medical science liaison, Pharmacologist, Research scientist (life sciences), Research scientist (medical), Toxicologist.*

98%
98% of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, UK domiciled

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£10,305 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Modules credits can range from 15 to 60, dependent on the content of the module. Read more about total credits required for a range of degrees, to allow you to calculate the potential total cost.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£859 per 15 credits

This information is for Home and International students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Modules credits can range from 15 to 60, dependent on the content of the module. Read more about total credits required for a range of degrees, to allow you to calculate the potential total cost.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy and/or to ensure our distance learning fees are competitive.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University. Read more about what is and is not covered by Tuition Fees including compliance for Goods and Services Tax for International Students studying an online course. 

For detailed information please visit www.hud.ac.uk/distance-learning/fees-and-finance/

£18,700 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible postgraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

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Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

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Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

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Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Physical and Life Sciences may teach you on this course.

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Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

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Further Study

Many of our graduates stay at Huddersfield to complete postgraduate research degrees at Masters or PhD level.

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