BSc in Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence
Whitehall, Ireland
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 16,900 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* non-EU students | €6,679 - EU students
Do you want to have a real impact in an area such as drug design, climate change, fighting pollution, or smart materials development? Chemists who can unlock the power of artificial intelligence (AI) are in huge demand globally when it comes to finding new medicines and sustainable materials. It’s fair to say they’re creating a new tomorrow for everyone as AI revolutionises how drugs and materials are discovered, developed and produced.
Applying the power of AI
During the course, you’ll explore AI applications in chemistry using data analytics, machine learning and full artificial intelligence.
During the first two years, you’ll study the fundamental basis of chemistry, and then go on to learn programming, machine learning and the skills and theory you need to apply AI to chemistry. In the third year, you’ll do an INTRA work placement, while in your final year, you’ll carry out independent research in an area of applied chemistry.
Future-proof your career
Given the scale of the chemical pharmaceutical industry and the dearth of chemists with specialist AI know-how, graduates will be in particularly high demand. You may go on to work for large multinational companies in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical or materials sectors, but could also choose to join a start-up or small business that needs your expertise.
Why DCU?
- 96% of FSH's recent graduates are in employment or further education 6 months after graduation.
- HSE is the biggest employer of DCU FSH's graduates, followed by Pfizer and Beaumont Hospital.
- DCU's student body consists of 128 different nationalities.
- DCU is ranked 19th globally for Graduate Employment Rate | QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022.
Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to demonstrate:
- an understanding of the theory, concepts and methods pertaining to chemical and pharmaceutical sciences as applied by modern practitioners in the field; broad multi-disciplinary based knowledge, understanding and appreciation of chemical methodologies, as applied by modern practitioners in the field; knowledge of the basic theory underpinning modern practices in the chemical and pharmaceutical laboratory; a working knowledge of basic research methodologies, data analysis and interpretation; appreciation of the proper procedures for safe handling and use of chemicals;
- an understanding of mathematics, programming, machine learning, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies;
- capability of identifying the various aspects of theory which underlie common chemical phenomena and instrumentation, and be capable of describing these aspects of theory in both a qualitative and quantitative fashion;
- an ability to critically evaluate problems in chemistry with artificial intelligence; solving numerical and qualitative problems in selected areas of chemistry, as well as for global societal problems; they will be able to summarise the key elements of the problem, develop an appropriate strategy, choose and apply this strategy to the problem in an iterative way and finally be able to judge the reliability and range of validity of their solution;
- an ability to use software for machine learning for a range of chemical applications, including critical evaluation of datasets, training parameters, and validation of outputs;
research skills which will enable them to pursue research degrees; - an ability to competently apply the mathematical and computing/ICT tools acquired during their study to various aspects of their studies and future work, including situations different to the context within which they first encountered such tools;
- a range of modern standard experimental skills, in physical measurement, analysis, drug formulation, forensics analysis, synthetic and preparative chemistry; ability to critically appraise the recent scientific literature, and achieve competency in the use of computational simulations of natural phenomena, and an understanding of how to use the same and apply to other fields such as physics, biology and computer science;
- an ability to communicate the motivation, topics, approaches and solutions in their work efficiently and competently to peers and the broader community via both oral and written media, based on their experience of written and oral presentations of project and/or laboratory work during their studies;
- an ability to use their experience in group assignments and project work to foster teamwork and management/leadership skills, both in technical and non-technical situations;
- an ability to evaluate and apply their knowledge and training to technical problems in the core areas covered in the programme;
- an ability to select appropriate mathematical and computing/ICT tools acquired during their study to various aspects of their studies and future work, including situations different to the context within which they first encountered such tools;
- critical thinking and hypothesis-driven methods of scientific inquiry to solve problems in an efficient and accurate manner; critical evaluation and selection of appropriate techniques and approaches based on chemical, mathematical and computing knowledge;
- an ability to critically evaluate chemical, pharmaceutical and environmental problems and alternative solutions in a wide variety of work/professional environments;
- an ability to draw upon their technical abilities in conjunction with their experience in project work during their degree (in particular their 4th year project work), to conduct research, method development, professional applications of chemistry and computing or other advanced technical activity upon completion of their studies;
- an ability to use advanced skills to conduct research in a variety of chemistry and artificial intelligence-related environments;
- an ability to function independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team in both technical and non-technical contexts;
- an ability to take ownership of their own work and generate data;
- an understanding of the problem-solving role of chemical and data scientists, based on the ability to plan, perform and evaluate experiments;
- an ability to communicate complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to different audiences;
- an appreciation of the need and ability to independently acquire further expertise and to ensure that the use of this expertise complies with the ethical standards of the chemistry profession;
- an ability to assess their needs for ongoing professional development and training through appraisal of their working environment and other indicators, and should be able to identify appropriate routes to meet these demands, whether through research, academic or professional training;
- an ability to productively use online resources and learning platforms to independently further their education;
- an understanding of the importance of artificial intelligence in the chemist’s role in society, and the need to communicate effectively within this environment;
- an awareness of the need for the highest ethical standards in their work environment, specifically on evaluating the significance of results, uncertainties of computational models and results, but also data privacy and other societal needs.
Given the scale of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Ireland and globally, chemistry graduates are always highly sought after. Those who choose to study chemistry with AI will find themselves in particularly high demand, given industry needs and a dearth of chemists with specialist AI know-how.
Graduates could opt to work for large multinational companies in the pharmaceutical or materials sectors, but could also choose to join a start-up that needs an AI specialist to help direct its activities or a small-to-medium-sized company that needs desk chemists with an AI specialism.
- Analyst
- Consultant
- Drug discovery, design, and delivery
- Environmental monitoring
- Formulation chemist
- Marketing and sales
- Process chemist
- Quality Control
- Research and Development
- Synthesis
- Teaching
Year 1
- Introductory Chemistry
- Interdisciplinary Science
- Mathematics (Calculus and its application)
- Introductory Biology
- Physics for Scientists
- Chemistry, Physics and Biology Laboratories
Year 2
- Organic Chemistry
- Bio-organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry
- Kinetics and Thermodynamics
- Visualisation and Validation of Laboratory Data
- Organic/Physical/Inorganic Chemistry Laboratories
- Spectroscopic Workshop
- Biomolecules and Metabolism
- Programming
- Linear Algebra
- Probability and Statistics
Year 3
- Separation Techniques
- Organic and Polymer Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Computational and Inorganic Chemistry
- Practical Chemistry with Artificial Intelligence (Laboratory)
- Data Analysis and Regulation
- Advanced Programming
- Machine Learning
- INTRA/INTRA Alternative
Year 4
- Advanced Spectroscopy
- Sustainable Processes
- AI and the (Bio)pharmaceutical Industry
- Data Mining and Data Analytics
- Chemical Interrogation of the NanoBio World
- Literature Survey
- Research Project