Medicinal Chemistry

• Study how drugs affect the body, synthetic and organic chemistry, and about the global pharmaceutical industry.
• Practical lab courses synthesising and testing drugs, including an introduction to intellectual property (IP) for designing and patenting your own medicinal products.
• Opportunities to be involved in UC’s research in medicinal chemistry, with current research interests focused on the discovery of bioactive molecules for therapies and therapeutic agents.
• UC’s programme has a unique focus on the bioactivity of Aotearoa and Polynesian flora and fauna, traditional rongoā Māori medicines, and healthcare issues specific to our bicultural community.

There is a high demand for more medicinal chemists to create life-changing medicines. As well as practical skills in pharmaceutics and microbiology, your non-laboratory skills in project management, scientific communications, and marketing will prepare you for roles in both the science and business side of creating medicines.

Some career pathways could include:

• Biomedical laboratories
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Commercial drug marketing
• Drug regulatory authorities.

Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.