Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Astrophysics and Medicinal Chemistry with International Year

at Keele University United Kingdom

On this course, you will be trained from first principles in Computer Science and Mathematics. The two disciplines are blended seamlessly throughout your degree.

You will study fundamental mathematical and statistical techniques alongside modern software development methods. You will have the opportunity to apply your learning immediately using real-world datasets in our cutting-edge computing laboratories.

You will undertake significant development projects, including a final year data science dissertation led by academics with research specialities in artificial intelligence, big data and statistical modelling. You'll explore a range of topics that cover advanced technical topics which may include cloud computing, as well as academic research, industry-focused professional skills and practical problem-solving ensure you are fully equipped for an exciting and intellectually stimulating journey as a Data Scientist.

The course will help you to understand the basic principles of business management, with the behaviour of households and businesses together with organisational behaviour and strategy being key themes of this course. Additionally, you will examine the behaviour of financial institutions, such as banks, hedge funds and portfolio managers, their instruments and how they interact in markets. You will learn analytical and statistical methods and techniques for addressing real world problems, data and policy-related issues.

With access to professional software tools such as Bloomberg and Stata to analyse and interpret financial and business data, you will learn how to communicate complex information to a range of audiences. 

You’ll learn to use technology to create new opportunities and to solve a wide range of problems, benefiting every aspect of society from the home to business, government and beyond.

Our teaching is informed by our cutting-edge research, and we also reflect what’s happening now in industry. There’s a strong emphasis on programming – but don’t worry if you don’t have A Level Mathematics because the course covers what you need to know. You’ll have access to our computing labs, based on Microsoft Windows and Linux, plus a wide range of software. Our excellent central location is ideal for industrial placements, with over 40 companies situated on the Keele Science Park alone.

The MA/MRes in Politics and International Relations is distinctive as it is one of the most diverse collections of Masters pathways in the UK. The programme offers the possibility of developing an individual specialism as well as learning about broader issues in the pathway, and in wider fields of Politics and International Relations. You will gain a thorough grounding in the philosophical and practical issues underpinning study and research in Politics and International Relations. You will study 3 compulsory core taught modules, 4 optional modules and a dissertation over 12 months. 

Key benefits of studying for the MA/MRes in Politics and International Relations include; small class sizes, expert dissertation supervision on cutting-edge issues and debates, a dynamic academic community, strong student-staff relations and stimulating extra-curricular seminars and workshops. Staff and students regularly organise research events, which provide important opportunities for learning, networking and collegial debate on contemporary political and philosophical issues. For example, we host an annual Royal Institute of Philosophy lecture series, a bi-annual European Consortium on Political Research environmental politics PhD summer school, and in recent years have organised several ESRC-funded (Economic and Social Research Council) seminar series. 

In this programme, you will be taught in our modern laboratory facilities and have access to equipment and our dedicated Crime Scene House. By studying this course you will develop a detailed understanding of the physiology and anatomy of the major systems of the human body. These concepts will build your understanding of Forensic Science, especially in areas such as forensic identification. The analysis of the unique biological molecules produced by the bodies of both the victim and perpetrator is often the key to solving a crime.

You will learn to use biological and forensic concepts to link a suspect to a scene. You will develop not only experience in forensic investigation, but also knowledge and skills in biological and analytical science. You will be working alongside academic and technical staff, supported by contributions from forensic professionals, in our modern laboratory facilities. 

The Sociology course involves a mix of compulsory and research-led modules to enable you to think independently, critically, and imaginatively about the issues that shape our everyday lives and our futures. Through a mix of lectures, seminars, and workshops you will study societies, social problems, and how they impact upon the lives of individuals.

We will consider how our lives are shaped by relationships with other people, institutions, habits, and ways of thinking that make up the complex societies in which we live. You will be encouraged to develop sociological explanations for the wide-ranging changes taking place in the contemporary world and think about potential solutions to social problems. In the final year of your studies, you will receive individual supervision to carry out your own piece of social research.

Physics is a fundamental, curiosity-driven discipline, with applications in many other areas of science and technology. You will gain an understanding of the subject fundamentals such as quantum mechanics, relativity and electromagnetism, and will apply this knowledge to solve problems, plan investigations and report your work.

By combining Physics with Education, you will learn how social, political and economic factors may impact on the application of physics knowledge in schools. You will explore the present and future developments in education and professional practice, which will prepare you for a career in teaching.

Studying Physics for three years as part of a combined programme will lead to a degree accredited by the Institute of Physics.

On this course you will look at rocks, minerals and fossils, how they were formed, how they can be exploited as a resource, and what they can tell us about the history of the Earth. You will also cover geological processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics.

Geology is a practical subject with applied problem-solving laboratory classes and field courses where you will learn how to interpret and map geological features, and explore for future geological resources. We focus particularly on applied research skills: you will learn to collect, analyse and interpret different types of geological data, and to carry out your own research using specialist software and equipment. Furthermore, you will complete a comprehensive fieldwork programme.

Physics will involve regular laboratory sessions, enabling you to investigate unfamiliar phenomena and develop valuable transferable skills such as scientific writing, programming and presentation. Your course will be informed by the research interests of staff.

At Keele we pride ourselves on the applicability of our degrees to the work environment graduates are entering. The course structure and ethos have been designed to ensure that you will hit the ground running, giving you the subject and industry knowledge and transferable skills so that you can make an immediate contribution to your employer or indeed your own company.

This course covers the main aspects of pharmaceutical discovery and development, including product formulation, manufacture and quality assurance, and explains how such pure and applied sciences fit into the global pharmaceutical business, legal and regulatory frameworks. This includes elements of clinical development and the role of the pharmaceutical scientist within the industry team that take a drug from research to the clinic. 

Keele’s Biochemistry programmes offer broad and stimulating coverage of modern biochemistry. You’ll be studying life at the molecular level, investigating the most exciting areas of contemporary life science and medical research. You might explore the secrets of the human genome, or the individually tailored molecular therapies of the future. You will explore a range of areas of biochemistry which may include human and mammalian biochemistry relating to health and disease.

This combined honours degree includes Neuroscience, where you will explore the mystery of the human brain: the central nervous system, the impact of drugs upon it, and the molecular biology of diseases and disorders of the brain.

Studying Neuroscience, you’ll explore topics which may include how we learn and remember, how the brain controls the body, and how the brain can be targeted by disease but in some instances can repair itself. Within the course are interesting related disciplines such as neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology and neuropathology.