Chemistry Postgraduate Courses

CHEMISTRY HONOURS

160 HEQF credits at level 8
(includes a research project of 66 credits)

Course co-ordinator(s): Dr Siyabonga Ngubane

Entrance requirements:
A BSc degree (or equivalent) with a major in Chemistry at a sufficiently high standard to satisfy the Head of Department. Entrance to the Honours course is competitive and applications are considered individually, taking into consideration the entire academic record. Priority will be given to UCT graduates, who require 60% or higher in CEM3005W as the normal minimum prerequisite for admission. Applicants from other universities must satisfy the Honours steering committee that they have covered the same topics at the equivalent level.

Note: Entrance is limited to 16 students.

Course outline:
The programme starts at the beginning of February with a four-week course on modern instrumental methods and group theory, providing a strong grounding in key instrumental techniques that are extensively used in modern chemistry. It includes theory lectures and hands-on practical work in NMR spectroscopy, X-ray methods of analysis, separation methods, modern electrochemical methods, and group theory.

This is followed by the core lecture course, providing the basic conceptual tools in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. It is tested by written examination in June and comprises 40 lectures in each of inorganic chemistry (aqueous coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry and catalysis), organic chemistry (organic synthesis in action, the third dimension in organic reactions, asymmetric synthesis and advanced reagents in organic synthesis) and physical chemistry (statistical thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, solid state chemistry and liquids).

This leads to the research project, lasting from August to November, in which each student chooses a research project of personal interest. There is a two-week period to prepare and present a full research proposal, and then ten weeks of full-time research work in the laboratory of an academic member of staff, culminating in the presentation of a short dissertation and an oral presentation to the Department. Training in oral communication is also carried out in the second semester.

Lectures:
By arrangement. Lectures, tutorials and practicals start at the beginning of February. Lectures and tutorials are daily in the first three periods and at other times arranged. Practical work and other activities occupy three afternoons per week during the first semester and all day all week during the second semester.

Assessment:
Examinations count 33%, coursework 26% and the Honours research project 41%. To pass the Honours course candidates must obtain an overall average of 50%, an average of 45% for the Core Course written examinations with a subminimum of 33% on each individual paper of the Core Course examinations. In addition, candidates must attain at least 50% for the Research Project, complete the Modern Instrumental Methods and Group Theory module, all practical work, tutorial assignments, generic skills course and any other compulsory activities.

CHEMISTRY DISSERTATION (MASTER'S)

180 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

This course consists of an investigation of an approved topic chosen for intensive study by the student, culminating in the submission of a dissertation. The dissertation shall demonstrate the successful completion of a programme of training in research methods, a thorough understanding of the scientific principles underlying the research and an appropriate acquaintance with the relevant literature. It must be clearly presented and conform to the standards of the department and faculty. The dissertation will usually consist of a report detailing the conduct, and analysis of the results of research performed under the close guidance of a suitably qualified supervisor/s. The dissertation should be well-conceived and acknowledge earlier research in the field. It should demonstrate the ability to undertake a substantial and informed piece of research, and to collect, organise and analyse material. General rules for this degree may be found at the front of the handbook.

COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE DISSERTATION (MASTER'S)

180 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

The academic disciplines of chemistry, chemical biology and biophysics have a critical dependence on computer simulation and large scale data analysis to understand observed phenomena and advance the frontiers of disciplinary knowledge. This course aims to prepare students to undertake research in computational science as applied to chemistry, chemical biology, biophysics and chemical physics. The two streams of focus are computation and informatics. The course will commence with project assignment followed by a combination of in-house and online short training (non-credit) courses in: Scientific Computing, High Performance Computing, Computational Methods for Data Analysis, Data Management, R Programming, Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics. The above short training courses are designed to prepare students to successfully complete a computational science project and dissertation.

TERTIARY CHEMISTRY EDUCATION DISSERTATION (MASTER'S)

180 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

This course consists of an investigation of an approved topic chosen for intensive study by the student, culminating in the submission of a dissertation. The dissertation shall demonstrate the successful completion of a programme of training in research methods, a thorough understanding of the scientific principles underlying the research and an appropriate acquaintance with the relevant literature. It must be clearly presented and conform to the standards of the department and faculty. The dissertation will usually consist of a report detailing the conduct and analysis of the results of research performed under the close guidance of a suitably qualified supervisor/s. The dissertation should be well-conceived and acknowledge earlier research in the field. It should demonstrate the ability to undertake a substantial and informed piece of research, and to collect, organise and analyse material. General rules for this degree may be found at the front of the handbook.

CHEMISTRY THESIS (PHD)

360 NQF credits at HEQSF level 10

The PhD is a research degree on an advanced topic under supervision which can be taken in any of the departments in the Faculty. Examination is by thesis alone. A candidate shall undertake doctoral research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor/s appointed by Senate. The thesis must constitute a substantial contribution to knowledge in the chosen subject, must show evidence of original investigation and give a full statement of the literature on the subject. The PhD degree demands that the candidate is able to conduct independent research on his/her own initiative. Through the thesis the candidate must be able to demonstrate that he/she is at the academic forefront in the topic selected, that the work is original and that it advances our knowledge in the relevant field. Candidates for the PhD degree must submit a thesis on an approved research topic, and are referred to Book 3, General Rules and Policies, in which the rules for the degree are set out.

TERTIARY CHEMISTRY EDUCATION THESIS (PHD)

360 NQF credits at HEQST level 10

The PhD is a research degree on an advanced topic under supervision which can be taken in any of the departments in the Faculty. Examination is by thesis alone. A candidate shall undertake doctoral research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor/s appointed by Senate. The thesis must constitute a substantial contribution to knowledge in the chosen subject, must show evidence of original investigation and give a full statement of the literature on the subject. The PhD degree demands that the candidate is able to conduct independent research on his/her own initiative. Through the thesis the candidate must be able to demonstrate that he/she is at the academic forefront in the topic selected, that the work is original and that it advances our knowledge in the relevant field. Candidates for the PhD degree must submit a thesis on an approved research topic, and are referred to Book 3, General Rules and Policies, in which the rules for the degree are set out.

COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE THESIS (PHD)

360 NQF credits at HEQST level 10

The PhD is a research degree on an advanced topic under supervision which can be taken in any of the departments in the Faculty. Examination is by thesis alone. A candidate shall undertake doctoral research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor/s appointed by Senate. The thesis must constitute a substantial contribution to knowledge in the chosen subject, must show evidence of original investigation and give a full statement of the literature on the subject. The PhD degree demands that the candidate is able to conduct independent research on his/her own initiative. Through the thesis the candidate must be able to demonstrate that he/she is at the academic forefront in the topic selected, that the work is original and that it advances our knowledge in the relevant field. Candidates for the PhD degree must submit a thesis on an approved research topic, and are referred to Book 3, General Rules and Policies, in which the rules for the degree are set out.