Chimie études

The Master's degree in Chemistry at the University of Namur is specialized in fields oriented on the one hand towards the chemistry of living organisms, more particularly biological chemistry and medicinal chemistry, and on the other hand towards the chemistry of materials with a strong application in the fields of surfaces and nanomaterials.

Your objectives

  • Acquire expertise in the two important orientations of contemporary chemistry:
    • the chemistry of living organisms, i.e. the chemical aspects of biology and pharmacology;
    • the chemistry of new materials with strong implications in the fields of surfaces, materials and nanomaterials.
  • Give your degree a strong experimental dimension - essential for your integration into the job market - while pursuing training in theoretical chemistry and rigorous numerical modeling.
  • Open up to other disciplines - physics and biology in particular - with a view to multidisciplinary research and applications.

The benefits of training

  • The Master's degree opens doors to the world of chemistry, whether in business, research or teaching.
  • You are versatile chemists equipped with excellent training in both theory and experimentation.
  • You benefit from privileged contacts with professors and rapid, in-depth integration into research laboratories.
  • You study in a department that develops research activities in chemistry didactics and offers numerous continuing education courses for teachers.

The program

The Master's degree at the University of Namur develops your expertise in two orientations of contemporary chemistry:

  • Life chemistry: consists of the study of the chemical aspects of biology and pharmacology (protein engineering, drug design strategy, sugar biochemistry...).
  • Materials chemistry: is concerned with novel materials and with strong implications in the fields of surfaces and nanomaterials (electrochemistry, surface chemistry, materials and nanomaterials...).

By selecting the specialized finalization, you direct your professional career towards the business world and perfect your knowledge with introductory courses in economics, management and patents, and improve your command of English or Dutch.

To prepare your dissertation, you choose electives related to your subject.

You complete your training with a 3-month internship in Belgium or abroad at the university, in a research center or in industry. This will greatly facilitate your professional integration.

Other master's degrees in chemistry

The University of Namur organizes

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Description

The training in this Master’s degree in Chemical Sciences builds on in-depth courses in the department’s two areas of research

  • Chemistry of living beings (engineering of proteins, strategies for the designing of medication…)
  • Chemistry of materials (chemistry of surfaces, micro- and nanoscopy of materials...)

The programme’s emphasis on research is ensured through practicals in the department’s various laboratories,  as an introduction, followed by the project and dissertation which are to be carried out more specifically in one of the department’s laboratories.

The focus on specialisation is aimed at students who wish to enter the world of Industry  (three-month work placements), by broadening their knowledge through courses constituting an introduction to Economics and Management, Patents issues, and by perfecting their skills in English or Dutch.

The training is completed through a three-month training period with an Industrial Firm.

Teaching methods

In the Master’s degree programme, the main first year courses are lectures to which practicals are associated (« Travaux Pratiques, TPs »). The optional courses are also lectures that are associated with analyses of research articles.

Regardlesss of the chosen focus, initiation to research already begins in the first year of the Master’s programme, (second  term)  within the Chemistry department research laboratories.

The teaching methods have been established with the aim of allowing students to acquire increasing independence throughout their studies. The Master’s training is completed through an internship / work placement in a research centre or firm, in Belgium or abroad.

Aims and objectives

Aims and objectives are established as follows :

  • acquiring expertise in the two main orientations of contemporary Chemistry :
    • Biochemistry, in other words, the chemical aspects of Biology and Pharamacology ;
    • Chemistry of advanced materials, with particular focus on surfaces and nanomaterials
  • approaching other disciplines – mainly Physics and Biology – with a view towards research and multi-disciplinary applications
  • tackling the experimental scope (crucial in terms of labour market), while receiving rigourous training in theoretical Chemistry

Assessment

There are several assessment systems for the common core of the Master’s degree in Chemistry. Depending on the subject, either oral or written examinations will be proposed by the lecturers. The practicals may be assessed separately. Some more advanced courses may be assessed through oral presentations of personal or joint projects.

Scientific research within laboratory frameworks are at the core of this programme. The Initiation to Research course takes place throughout the first year of the Master’s degree and is assessed through a succint report and a defense before a jury that is assigned by the Research Unit which is hosting the student.

The research project and dissertation are assessed through a complete scientific report and defense before a jury that is assigned by the department.  Scientific results of the research project are presented by Students at a poster display session.

Courses that are specific to the chosen focus are assessed either by means of a traditional exam or by participative evaluations of individual or team projects, depending on the choice of the lecturer.

The work placement at the end of the Master’s degree, which can take place within the University or at laboratories in industry, is assessed through a succinct scientific report and an oral presentation before a jury established by the department.

The assessment of teaching units of the Master’s degree in Chemistry with a focus on teaching, granting 120 credits, aims at evaluating the Student’s ability to develop the necessary skills to become a competent Chemistry (and Science) teacher in the Secondary School system.

In order to obtain the AESS degree granting Qualified Teacher Status within the Belgian Secondary System (Agrégation de l’Enseignment Secondaire Supérieur), not only do students need to pass written and oral examinations, but the quality of their written projects on Education and Methodology have to receive approval after thorough assessment.

The evaluation methods for each teaching unit can be found in the description of the corresponding courses. 

Teaching profile

The Chemistry Department offers a general approach to Chemistry, whether it be in the first or the second cycle of University studies. It is characterised by a close collaboration between staff and students, with the aim of giving students the tools to become increasingly independent.

The scientific training is complemented and balanced by courses in Humanities, English, Information Technology as well as lectures and seminars focused on matters such as psychology, reflecting on the scientific method and its limits, and scientists’ responsibility in environmental issues.

The Chemistry Department seeks to guide students towards an experimental approach and towards the ability to convey scientific information accurately and effectively.

Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences

The UNamur Chemistry Department has specialised in fields that either focus on Biological Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, or on Chemistry of Materials with particular applications in the sphere of surfaces and nanomaterials.

The Master’s degree in Chemical Sciences at UNamur ensures that students obtain in-depth knowledge in these two focus areas of contemporary Chemistry in order to acquire an expertise either in Biological Chemistry, or in Chemistry of surfaces and materials, with theoretical modelling for both facets.

The UNamur Master’s Degree in Chemistry offers three different focuses :

  • the in-depth studies, for students aiming for a career in research
  • the specialisation in Chemistry and Industry, for students aiming to work in industrial firms and companies,
  • the focus on teaching, for students aiming for a career in teaching.

In the common core of all Master’s degrees, all students follow both general and in-depth courses for 48 credits, as well as specialised courses that they choose from a series of options, granting 6 additional credits for each focus. This programme is completed through a research project which is finalised with an oral presentation of the dissertation.  Students are also expected to participate in the seminars organised by the department.  They also have the opportunity to develop a humane approach by following courses in Science, Ethics and Sustainable Development, as well as an optional course in Philosophy of Sciences of Matter or Life Sciences.

In the Master’s degree with a focus on specialisation in Chemistry and Industry, students are trained more specifically towards tackling the reality of Industry through a three-month internship / work placement and through courses introducing them to Economics and Management and addressing issues such as Intellectual Property and Patents. They also have the possibility of  improving their skills in English and Dutch.

Chemistry professions

At the University of Namur, masters in chemistry receive training that predisposes them to fundamental and applied research. The scientific culture acquired during their studies also opens other doors for them in business, the world of training, public services...

It's hard to find a product or object in our daily lives in which chemists have not been involved at some stage of design, manufacture and evaluation: packaging, medicines, colorants, perfumes, computer constituents... In short, "Chemistry is life", as Essenscia, the Belgian Federation of the Chemical and Life Sciences Industries, proclaims.

In Belgium, the chemical industry directly employs nearly 95,500 people (a little under a quarter of them in the Walloon Region) and a few hundred thousand indirectly. Jobs in the chemical industry are often exciting and versatile. Chemists with bachelor's, master's or doctorate degrees contribute to the research and development of new products and processes, to their production in line with current quality standards, and finally to their marketing.

The majority of our chemistry graduates join the industrial world at national or international level (38% of UNamur graduates), within which four sectors of activity can be distinguished:

  • Basic chemistry: exploitation and/or production of raw materials;
  • parachemistry: consumer products, e.g. cosmetics, household products;
  • pharmaceutical industry: medicines for human and animal use;
  • processing chemistry: rubbers, bio-based plastics.

In addition to research and development laboratories, other chemical industry departments are open to masters and PhDs in chemistry: quality control, sales and marketing (e.g. as medical representatives, market managers), regulatory affairs (drawing up registration dossiers for new products), patents, etc.

Pushing back the frontiers of knowledge

Almost a quarter of our former graduates go on to pursue research activities at university or in public research organizations such as the FRS-FNRS in Belgium, the CNRS in France or the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. For most of them, personal research has led to original results and the presentation of a doctoral thesis.

Transmitting a passion for matter and life

Nearly one-fifth of chemistry graduates hold the title of agrégé de l'enseignement secondaire supérieur. A good proportion of them teach science in secondary schools, higher education or social promotion. Doctorate holders can consider an academic or scientific career at university.

Protecting our living environment

Chemists help to protect our environment. They analyze and help control the quality of our natural resources (water, gas), measure atmospheric pollution, work to implement new waste and wastewater treatment processes, or air and gas purification and control.

Protecting our health

Chemists participate alongside biologists, pharmacists and physicians in the development and improvement of new drugs and vaccines.

Other sectors of activity

Alongside academic, industrial or public laboratories, chemists can also work in private or hospital laboratories, leading a team of technicians. Chemists are also found within companies that manufacture and market analytical equipment for use in these laboratories.

The scientific culture of chemists enables them to advise political decision-makers, particularly in matters relating to environmental policy.

At federal and regional level, many public services are accessible to academics subject to passing an entrance test and appropriate training.

Finally, a significant proportion of chemists go into the IT sector.