BSc/MEnvSci Environmental Science with an Integrated Foundation Year

The Foundation Year Bursary  is available to UK students who are registered on an undergraduate foundation year here and who has had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance.

Details of country-specific funding available to international students can be found within our  International country profiles .

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability, therefore, we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships please visit our  undergraduate student finance pages  and the Department funding pages that you intend to progress to after successfully completing the Foundation Year.

This course will provide the knowledge and understanding needed to study Inorganic and Physical Chemistry topics on undergraduate degree courses within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The aim is to obtain the knowledge and understanding required to study Inorganic and Physical Chemistry topics on undergraduate degree courses within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. 

24 Lectures / 11 Tutorials / Drop-in Sessions as required 

• Develop a detailed understanding of atomic structure and how it leads to electronic configurations, group chemistry and the ultimate organisation of the Periodic Table of the Elements. 

• Appreciate the existence of isotopes and how instability leads to the phenomenon of radioactivity.  Develop an understanding of the mathematics underpinning radioactive decay. 

• Classify bonding in the solid state and understand basic solid state characterisation techniques 

• Develop a detailed understanding of the SI system.  Appreciate the fundamental importance of the correct use of units and develop dimensional analysis techniques. 

• Develop detailed understanding of the Electromagnetic spectrum including uses of radiation and inter-conversion of quantities. 

• Study the Gas Laws in detail and understand the fundamental importance of the Kinetic Theory of Gases. 

• Develop the ability to interpret phase diagrams, understand equilibrium between the phases and the behaviour of matter beyond the critical point and use this information to describe the behaviour of real-world materials. 

• Most importantly, be able to relate all the above to the real world that you live in.

• Fundamental appreciation of the use and paramount importance of units in both Chemistry and the whole of science. 

• Arithmetic and algebraic inter-conversion of quantities. 

• Assimilation and inter-conversion of varied data sets (numerical, tabulated, graphical). 

• Application of chemical principles and concepts to the solution of numerical problems. 

• Presentation of arguments and ideas logically.

• Consideration of health and safety issues for a variety of chemicals applicable to practical risk assessment. 

In-class test marks will be returned promptly

Burrows, Holman, Parsons, Pilling, Price Chemistry3: Introducing Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry; Oxford University Press, 2009. 

Stroud, Booth Engineering Mathematics 5th Edition; Palgrave McMillan, 2001. 

Housecroft, Sharpe Inorganic Chemistry 4th Edition; Pearson, 2012. 

Atkins, de Paula, Keeler Atkins’ Physical Chemistry 11th Edition; Oxford University Press, 2017. 

Bolgar, Lloyd, North, Oleinikovas, Smith, Keeler Student Solutions Manual to Accompany Atkin’s Physical Chemistry 11th Edition; Oxford University Press, 2018. 

Kumar Quantum, Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality; Icon Books, 2009. 

Examination: 
80% of unit grade 
2 hour long examination 

Coursework: 
20% of unit grade 
Two in-class, open-book, multiple-choice tests, each test counts 10% towards the course unit grade. 
Coursework will take the form of two in class, open-book, multiple-choice tests during the latter half of the course. Each test counts 10% towards your unit grade. As the tests are primarily designed to encourage familiarisation with the course material you are expected to revise thoroughly for them. The questions are mostly numerical problem solving in nature and require understanding of the material rather than simple rote learning.