Applied Chemical Sciences - FdSc

Course structure

Duration: 3 years part-time

The 3 year part-time study awards 240 credits upon successful completion of the course.

Year One - 75 credits

You take the following compulsory modules:

• LABS409 Organic Chemistry (15 credits at Level 4)
• LABS410 Physical Chemistry (15 credits at Level 4)
• LABS411 General and Inorganic Chemistry (15 credits at Level 4)
• LABS412 Basic Analytical Chemistry (15 credits at Level 4)
• LABS406 Basic Laboratory/Industry Skills (15 credits at Level 4)

Year Two - 75 credits

You take the following compulsory modules:

• LABS407 Business Improvement (15 credits at Level 4)
• LABS413 Introduction to Polymer Chemistry (15 credits at Level 4)
• LABS501 Advanced Laboratory/Industry Skills (15 credits at Level 5)
• LABS507 GxP: Business Option (15 credits at Level 5)

You choose 1 of 2 from the following options: 

• LABS402 Biochemistry (15 credits at Level 4)
• LABS403 Microbiology (15 credits at Level 4)

Year Three - 90 credits

You take the following compulsory modules:

• LABS502 Company Based Project (45 credits at Level 5)

Plus 45 credit from 3 the following modules:

• LABS505 Pharmacology (15 credits at Level 5)
• LABS509 Separation Science (15 credits at Level 5)
• LABS510 Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry (15 credits at Level 5)
• LABS513 Introduction to Drug Synthesis (15 credits at Level 5)

Teaching and assessment

Acquisition of outcomes will be achieved primarily through extensive use of e-learning materials via the University's e-learning platform Moodle. Theoretical content in the form of storyboards; video; links to related reading; and activities with feedback provided. The emphasis of the programme is to link the knowledge and learning to work-based learning and employment wherever possible.

This includes "hands-on" practical skills but also broader skills including: numeracy; IT and communication. Practical experience in the work place will be essential to develop and enhance these skills. A summer school in both the first and second year of the programme will be used to provide more "hands-on" techniques/skills that are not available at work or locally.

A number of methods will be used for both formative and summative assessment of these more practical skills including: practical tests or assessment at the university or in the work place; reports or other documents such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's); oral plus written presentations; project plans; and the Company Based Project Report.

Formative assessment will include: progress tests; reports; portfolio entries; short essays; analysis of case studies; and presentations.  Progress and attainment of learning outcomes will be determined by a variety of summative assessments including: unseen written examinations (three times a year in the workplace), some as Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ’s); reports including the Company Based Project; essays; portfolio entries; case studies; and presentations.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims  to:

• Instil in students a sense of enthusiasm for learning which may lead to continuing professional development or pathways for lifelong learning.
• Produce graduates equipped with the skills to play an enhanced role in the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Industry, nationally.
• Educate students in the theoretical (subject specific knowledge) and practical (laboratory based) aspects of the chemical sciences which relate to current and future employment needs.
• Provide students with the skills to adapt and respond positively to new developments in the workplace.
• Develop the critical, analytical, problem based learning skills required by the students in the workplace.
• Develop student’s competences in a broad range of areas relevant to their current and future employment. Enhance and develop the student’s interpersonal skills.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain a knowledge and understanding of:

• A broad based core understanding covering the major elements (inorganic, organic and physical chemistry), together with specialised in-depth study (often career related) of some aspects of the subject areas. 
• Information and data, their setting within a theoretical framework, accompanied by critical analysis and assessment to enable understanding of the subject area. 
• A familiarity with terminology, nomenclature and classification systems.
• Methods of acquiring, interpreting and critically analysing chemical information through the use of texts, original papers, reports and data sets. 
• A range of communication techniques and methodologies relevant to the particular discipline and the workplace. 
• How to engage with some of the current developments in the chemical sciences and their applications, including the philosophical and ethical issues involved. 
• Giving a clear and accurate account of a subject, marshal arguments in a mature way and engage in debate & dialogue both with specialists and non-specialists, using appropriate scientific language. 
• How to think independently, set tasks and solve problems. 
• The applicability of the chemical sciences to their careers. 
• How to successfully apply, in the workplace, the range of knowledge and skills learnt through the programme. 
• How to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied and the application of those principles in a work context. 
• Critical evaluation of the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in their field of study and application of these in a work context.

Intellectual skills

You gain the following intellectual skills:

• The ability to recognise and apply subject-specific theories, paradigms, concepts or principles. 
• The ability to synthesise, analyse and summarise information critically, including published research or reports. 
• The ability to obtain and integrate several lines of subject-specific evidence to formulate and test hypotheses. 
• The application of subject knowledge and understanding to address both familiar and unfamiliar problems. 
• The ability to recognise moral & ethical issues together with the appreciation of professional codes of conduct. 
• An ability to develop and utilise effective project management skills. 
• The ability to initiate & undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis in their field of study and in a work context.

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific skills

• Sufficient practical ability to ensure competence in the appropriate basic experimental skills. 
• The ability to design, plan, conduct and report on investigations, which may involve primary or secondary data, arising from individual or group projects. 
• The ability to obtain, record, collate and analyse data using techniques appropriate to their work.
• The ability to undertake an extensive work-based Business project and Laboratory research projects in a responsible, safe and ethical manner, paying due attention to relevant health & safety guidelines/procedures, e.g. COSHH. 
• The ability to identify and undertake training to develop existing skills and acquire new competences that will enable them to assume responsibility within their organisation. 

Laboratory Skills Summer School

These are technical skills identified by employers as core to the competence of individuals working in the chemical science sector. Recognising the existence of company in-house training schemes learners will be able to evidence these technical skills through accreditation of in-house training and achievement through day-to-day activities in the workplace. In this way learners will be able to select particular technical skills they wish to enhance and/or develop to meet employer need.

Transferable skills

You gain the following transferrable skills:

• The ability to use the internet and other electronic sources critically as a means of communication and a source of information. 
• A working knowledge of how to cite and reference work in an appropriate manner, including the avoidance of plagiarism. 
• An ability to effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis, in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Develop numeracy skills and have a working appreciation of the terms: validity, accuracy, calibration, precision & replicability. 
• Extensive experience of solving problems by a variety of methods, including the use of computers. 
• An ability to recognise and respect the views and opinions of other team members and develop good negotiating skills. 
• The ability to evaluate one’s performance as an individual & team member as well as being able to assess the performance of others. 
• Develop an adaptable, flexible and effective approach to study and work. 
• Develop the qualities and skills necessary for employment and progression requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision making.

Careers

A technician scientist carries out established laboratory based investigations and basic scientific experimentation using bench and instrumentation techniques. They use a range of routine skills and some advanced and specialised skills following well established principles associated with their organisation’s science and technology, which may typically be within chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, formulated products or analytical services.

They carry out routine lines of enquiry, development or investigation taking responsibility for the quality of the work they undertake. They work safely and ethically often under highly regulated conditions because of the need to control quality and safety of scientific products.  They critically evaluate appropriateness of commonly used approaches to solving routine problems, using a range of approaches to formulate evidence based responses to defined and routine problems and issues within their area of work. They also contribute to solutions to problems within the wider scientific team, using appropriate project management procedures.They perform record keeping and checks and use data capture systems relevant to the technical and scientific procedures that they use. They analyse relevant scientific information, interpret and evaluate data, prepare results and provide progress updates of their work. They manage resources within a clearly defined area.

They use their awareness of any research interests and the technical context and processes of the laboratory alongside senior team members to contribute to the proposal of new scientific ideas. They have an up to date knowledge of technical, scientific and regulatory developments related to the conduct of the laboratory. They communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms to specialist and non-specialist audiences

They work as part of a wider scientific team, which may include laboratory scientists and laboratory technicians, in settings where there is certainty and with limited ambiguity taking personal responsibility for decision making in routine predictable contexts.

Typical job titles include; Analytical Support Chemist, Technical Support Scientist, Microbiology Support Scientist, Process Development Technologist, Laboratory Assistant, Senior Laboratory Technician, Assistant Scientist, Technical Specialist  (Scientist), Quality Control Laboratory Assistant, Laboratory Co-ordinator, Technical Laboratory Assistant, Laboratory Analyst, Laboratory Research Assistant

Professional recognition

This apprenticeship standard is recognised by the Science Council at registered Scientist (RSci) level.