MSc in Medicinal Chemistry
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Mar 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens and applicants holding a Danish residence permit I for non-EU/EEA citizens without a current residence permit deadline is 01.02.2026
* for full degree students from the Nordic countries or from the EU/EEA countries and Switzerland; 6,640 EUR per semester for students with a non-EU/EEA-citizenship or non-Swiss-citizenship
Key Summary
Introduction
Since its emergence as an independent scientific field within natural sciences, chemistry has always possessed a strong power to transform the molecular world. Imagine the joy to make a molecule that has never been made on Earth.
Chemistry has the ability to produce small molecules used in our daily life, to develop new medicines that cure diseases, and to design catalysts that speed up reactions that would otherwise not be possible.
At SDU, we develop novel chemical methods that enable efficient preparation of important molecules with the potential to impact our life. Our scientists working in the area of medicinal chemistry study the structure and function of the most important biomolecules, including nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, sugars, and many other biomedically important molecules that play key roles in human health and disease.
We design and synthesize new analogs of the natural nucleic acids where the overall goal is to inhibit the expression of disease-causing genes. The chemical basis of processes that control the activity of human genes via so-called epigenetic processes on histone proteins and DNA are also being investigated. Building on the knowledge gained from the basic understanding of molecular processes in humans, a new generation of inhibitors of biomedically important enzymes is being developed.
Curriculum
Program structure
The Master's degree program in Medicinal chemistry at SDU has a standard duration of two years.
The Master 's degree program in Medicinal chemistry supplements your Bachelor's degree with chemistry courses as well as a variety of courses in medical and biological chemistry, specializing in the development of new medicines.
The Master's degree program in Medicinal chemistry at SDU consists of the following elements:
- Compulsory courses (20 ECTS)
- Constituent course in biological chemistry (5 ECTS)
- Constituent course in chemistry (5 ECTS)
- Conversion classes (15 ECTS)
- Elective courses (15 ECTS)
- Thesis (60 ECTS)
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Career perspectives
Whether you dream of a job in the pharmaceutical industry, the hospital sector, or as a researcher, Medicinal chemistry is a great starting point and career opportunities are very good.
Are you passionate about chemistry?
Then you can work in the pharmaceutical industry, developing new, biologically active molecules that form the basis for new pharmaceuticals.
And with your experience in chemistry and biochemistry combined with knowledge of health and disease prevention, you can both contribute to advanced research and development and to more general project planning and management.
Is the molecular-biological field more interesting toย you?
Then focus rests on research in the pre-clinical phase.
Here, you perform tests to determine whether a newly developed medicine can be sent on through the testing process until finally reaching the clinical phase, which is clinical trials on human subjects.