Programme Requirements for 2025/26 Session

M.Sci. Chemistry with Study Abroad Full-time

Year: 3
2025/26 Session

Students take either 03 23235 or 03 26000 and 03 25871.

Module Title	Code	Credits	Semester
LH Intensive Practical Chemistry (zero credit)	03 38665	0	Semester 2
LH Chemistry Year Abroad	03 23235	120	Full Term

Year 3 of the MSci Study Abroad programme is spent in a partner overseas university. The study abroad coordinator liaises with the university and student before and during the year abroad to ensure that appropriate modules are chosen to satisfy the learning objectives of the programme and to provide a suitable foundation for the student to return to Year 4 at Birmingham. In conjunction with the study abroad coordinator, students will select the equivalent of 120 Birmingham credits at their host organisation. Students must also complete the 0-credit Intensive Practical Chemistry module, which is an accreditation requirement.

Year 3 contributes 20% to the Overall Degree Classification mark.

Assessment of a year abroad follows the procedure laid down by the host institutions and will result in a transcript for the student’s records from that University. The marks on this transcript will be transformed into an overall mark for the student’s performance which will be recorded on their Birmingham transcript for the year abroad. This overall mark is then used to determine progression and when calculating the overall degree classification. Percentage scores are generated according to conversion charts that map that country/specific University grade scales onto the grading scales used in Birmingham. The student must take and complete a full credit-loading of courses on their year out. However, to compensate for the challenges associated with acclimatising to a new academic and cultural environment, only the marks from the top 75% of the modules are used to generate an overall year mark. An average score which takes account of module weighting is calculated and used as the overall mark for the Study Abroad module.

Students who fail modules at their host institution but who achieve a weighted average of ≥40% for the Study Abroad module will receive the full credits for that module.
Any student failing to achieve a weighted average of ≥40% for the Study Abroad module will receive zero credits for that module and will therefore fail the year. In this situation a student will be allowed to transfer and commence Year 3 of the BSc Chemistry with Study Abroad at the start of the next new academic year.

Subject to applying for and being granted a temporary withdrawal/leave of absence following established University procedures at the host institution and in Birmingham, a student choosing to withdraw from the study abroad placement after it has commenced will normally only be allowed to continue his/her studies by transferring on to the BSc/MSci Chemistry (or Chemistry with a Modern Language if appropriate) programme at the start of the next new academic year.
DipHE and BSc: these interim qualifications are possible, subject to satisfying the criteria set out in the Undergraduate Regulations.