Chemistry

Chemistry is the scientific discipline that enables us to understand matter and offers numerous applications that are useful in everyday life for society, industry, and laboratories. It thus contributes significantly to solving current environmental and sustainable development issues.

Studying chemistry at the University of Mons means benefiting from a highly dynamic and stimulating environment where the human aspect has not been forgotten, using modern equipment, and being supervised by a team of motivated and competent teachers and assistants. And finally, it means obtaining a degree that is internationally recognized and leads to many diverse jobs.

The courses taught in the first cycle of the Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Sciences aim to give students a solid basic training in the essential subjects of general chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and biochemistry. In parallel with this, the bachelor’s degree program is also supplemented by general courses in mathematics, physics, and biology, as well as a smaller number of hours of courses in English, science and society, introduction to computer science, and programming applied to chemistry. Particular emphasis is placed on the experimental aspect of chemical sciences through the organization of numerous practical sessions and personal projects supervised by a team of motivated teachers and assistants.

The Master’s program has two main areas of focus: chemistry and materials engineering, and instrumental and applied organic chemistry.

In addition to a core curriculum of common courses, students choose courses from one of these two specializations. In the second year, the Master’s program includes a specialized track with the possibility of internships, and an in-depth track, which prepares students for research and gives them more direct access to doctoral studies. In the second year, regardless of the specialization chosen, students devote a significant portion of their work to preparing a final thesis in one of the research laboratories of the chemistry department.

At the end of the second cycle, a significant proportion of students are able to embark on doctoral training, benefiting from numerous grant opportunities, which generally leads to the highly regarded Doctor of Science degree after four years.

Chemists at UMONS participate in numerous cutting-edge research projects, both fundamental and industrial. Internationally recognized, the work of the researchers in Mons (around 100 people) uses the most sophisticated techniques for the study, design, and characterization of new molecules (contrast agents for medical imaging, biologically active molecules), the identification of pollutants, the creation and manufacture of new, more efficient and environmentally friendly polymers (biodegradable polymers), and the modification of material surfaces to give them new properties. This work is carried out in close collaboration with the Materia Nova research center.