MSc Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence

Key facts

  • Start date: September
  • Study mode and duration: 12 months, full-time

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The MSc Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence will provide you with the skills necessary to develop, run and evaluate artificial intelligence algorithms that can solve data-intensive chemistry problems and research challenges.

  • bespoke artificial intelligence modules designed and delivered by expert chemistry researchers
  • digital technologies will enable chemical sciences researchers to see further and go faster, working seamlessly across disciplinary and international boundaries
  • graduates with this degree will possess a unique and valuable skill set that combines the principles of digital chemistry with the hot area of AI. This interdisciplinary background opens up a wide range of employment opportunities across various sectors

You may also be interested in: MSc Chemistry with Data Science

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Why this course?

The future of chemistry is resilient, digitally enhanced, multidisciplinary and globally connected. Digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, will enable chemical sciences researchers to see further and go faster, working seamlessly across disciplinary and international boundaries. Having tools such as these at our disposal will herald in a new era of discovery, and one which promises to deliver bigger and more significant improvements to the world we live in.

You’ll benefit from high-quality teaching from across two Departments in the Faculty of Science:

  • the Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry
  • the Department of Computer & Information Sciences

Graduates of this course will have excellent employment opportunities for multi-disciplinary artificial intelligence jobs.

THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner

What you'll study

You’ll study specialist courses designed by chemists with expertise in data science from the Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry:

  • Coding (Python)
  • AI and machine learning
  • Software engineering and high-performance computing
  • Time series analysis for chemistry
  • Scientific research methods
  • Computational Chemistry

You'll also study courses designed by data scientists from the Department of Computing and Information Sciences:

  • Quantitative Methods for AI
  • Big Data Technologies
  • Deep Learning and Neural Nets

In addition, you'll have the opportunity to apply all this new theoretical knowledge as part of a major research project, in partnership with our expert researchers.

Learning & teaching

This degree is taught using a wide range of delivery methods, including online and face-to-face lectures, workshops, computer labs, tutorials, and case studies.

Assessment

A wide range of assessment methods are used, including written coursework, compute laboratory reports, quizzes, data analysis exercises, scientific writing exercises, oral presentations and formal written examinations.

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Course content

Python 101 for Chemists (20 credits)

This module will provide you with the essential programming skills, within a chemistry context, to enable you to tackle a broad range of data-intensive chemistry problems and research challenges.

Computational Chemistry (10 Credits)

This module is designed in a way to empower you with skills to plan, design and formulate a simulation that realises a truly predictive capability.

Quantitative Methods for AI (10 Credits)

The aim of this module is to provide you with the foundations of mathematics that are required to understand modern Artificial Intelligence techniques. The module will focus on three topics: probability, statistics and linear algebra.

On completion of the module you'll be able to:

  • understand and apply probability theory as used in modern AI:
    • randomness
    • probability distributions
    • variance and expectation
    • expected value
  • understand and apply statistical techniques as used in modern AI:
    • basic data analysis
    • significance tests
    • Bayesian inference
  • understand and use linear algebra techniques as used in modern AI:
    • scalars
    • vectors
    • matrices
    • tensors

Big Data Technologies (20 Credits)

This module aims to give you an understanding of the challenges posed by big data, an understanding of the key algorithms and techniques which are embodied in data analytics, and exposure to a number of different big data technologies and techniques.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • understand the fundamentals of Python to enable the use of various big data technologies
  • understand how classical statistical techniques are applied in modern data analysis
  • understand the potential application of data analysis tools for various problems and appreciate their limitations
  • be familiar with a number of different cloud NoSQL systems and their design and implementation, showing how they can achieve efficiency and scalability while also addressing design trade-offs and their impact

AI & Machine Learning (10 credits)

This module will provide you with the skills necessary to develop, run and evaluate artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms that can solve a range of problems within a chemistry context. The specific focus will be on data-intensive chemistry problems and research challenges.

Software Engineering & High Performance Computing (10 credits)

This module will provide you with the essential professional software management skills, within a chemistry context, to enable you to create software that is parallelizable and applicable to data-intensive chemistry problems and research challenges.

Time Series Analysis for Chemistry (10 credits)

This module will provide you with a gateway to deploying your advanced Python programming skills to a host of chemistry applications in which monitoring over time is crucial. For chemistry problems on scales from seconds to centuries, you will leave this module with the skill and awareness of how to acquire, transform, and apply time series data in a way that is relevant to advanced, real-world projects in the realms of chemical reaction monitoring.

Scientific Research Methods (10 credits)

The aim of this module is to give you an understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research processes and associated techniques, including the effective presentation of findings in accordance with the best principles of scholarship.

Deep Learning & Neural Nets (20 Credits)

The most impactful area of AI has been machine learning using neural networks. When combined with reinforcement learning, these neural networks can also become autonomous agents that can, for example, learn to play games to an extraordinarily high standard. This module will cover these two areas of AI.

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • define and understand the problem of agents that learn
  • understand how Deep Reinforcement Learning uses Deep Neural Networks together with Reinforcement Learning in, for example, the Atari Games work of Google Deepmind

Research Project (60 credits)

You will conduct an extended piece of research in data science applied to chemistry. This will be carried out in partnership with our expert researchers, and you will be embedded into their research group.

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International students

We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.

Visit our international students' section

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Entry requirements

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Academic requirements

Minimum second-class (2:2) Honours degree, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as Chemistry, Computing Science, Chemical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or closely related subject.

English language requirements

You must have an English language minimum score of IELTS 6.0 (with no component below 5.5).

We offer comprehensive English language courses for students whose IELTS scores are below 6.0. Please see ELTD for full details.

As a university, we now accept many more English language tests other than IELTS for overseas applicants, for example, TOEFL and PTE Cambridge. View the full list of accepted English language tests here.

Pre-Masters preparation course

The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde.

Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.

Please note: Previous Maths & English qualifications and your undergraduate degree must meet GTCS minimum entry requirements as well as the pre-Masters course and an interview will be conducted before an offer can be made.

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Fees & funding

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.

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Scotland

£11,900

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

£11,900

Republic of Ireland

If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process.

International

£28,700

Additional costs

If you are an international student, you may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information.

Available scholarships

Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities.

How can I fund my course?

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Scottish postgraduate students

Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from England

Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from Wales

Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from Northern Ireland

Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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International students

We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Careers

The MSc Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence is specifically designed to produce graduates who are equipped in the traditional fields of chemistry with expertise in the increasingly data-driven world of science and industry.

This innovative degree program will equip you with a unique skill set that is in high demand across various STEM sectors, including:

  • the pharmaceutic industry
  • materials science
  • environmental science
  • manufacturing
  • regulatory roles
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Apply

Start date: Sep 2025

Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence

MSc
full-time
Start date: Sep 2025

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Life in Glasgow
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Contact us

PGT Admissions Team

Telephone: +44 (0)141 553 6023

Email: science-masters@strath.ac.uk

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