Course Description Document

Course Title	Electrochemistry and Battery Technologies (2025-26)
Course Code	8202
Award Title	Master of Science (MSc)
Awarding Body	University of Southampton
Teaching Institution	University of Southampton
Regulated by	Office for Students
Accreditation	None
Regulations	The Regulations of the University can be found on the University's Governance Webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/governance/regulations-policies
Location of study	Southampton
Length of the course	1 Year
Tuition Fees	Fees for students can be located by the student fees page. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-fees/index.page

Course Overview

The Southampton Electrochemistry Group has a leading international reputation for both research and education. The group is spread across Chemistry and Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Research spans the breadth of modern electrochemistry from fundamental studies of electrode surfaces and reactions through to applications in sensors, batteries, and fuel cells. The group has been active in education in Electrochemistry for over 50 years. Since 1969 the group has been hosting its annual Summer School on Electrochemical Methods. Each year this event is attended by 20 to 40 delegates from across the world.
This taught MSc builds upon our international reputation for excellence in research and education in Electrochemistry by offering an advanced, postgraduate education in Electrochemistry and Battery Technologies from fundamental principles through to applications in Energy Storage, Energy Conversion and Electrochemical Engineering. The programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding in these areas and acquire generic and specialised skills and other attributes.
The programme has been developed with reference to the benchmark statements for chemistry developed by the Quality Assurance Agency (2007):
• to instil an enthusiasm for electrochemistry and battery science, an appreciation of their applications in different contexts and to involve you in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying;
• to establish an appreciation of the importance and sustainability of the chemical sciences in an industrial, academic, economic, environmental and social context;
• to develop, through an education in chemistry, a range of appropriate generic skills, of value in chemical and non-chemical employment;
• to extend your comprehension of key chemical concepts as applied to Electrochemistry and battery processes and so provide you with an in-depth understanding of this specialised area of chemistry;
• to provide you with the ability to plan and carry out experiments independently and assess the significance of outcomes;
• to develop your ability to adapt and apply methodology to the solution of unfamiliar types of problems;
• to instil a critical awareness of advances at the forefront of Electrochemistry and Battery Technologies;
• to prepare you effectively for professional employment or doctoral studies.

Aims of the Course

The specific aims of the MSc in Electrochemistry and Battery Technologies, developed with reference to the QA descriptor for higher education qualification at level 7 / Master’s degree (2011) are to:
•provide students with the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge in the arena of Electrochemistry and to critically apply this knowledge to an area of research, which is at the forefront of the discipline;
•provide students with the opportunity to work with modern electrochemical instrumentation in state-of-the-art laboratories, so that they are able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of modern electrochemical techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship;
•enable students to demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge within the discipline of Electrochemistry and in particular to Battery Technologies;
•foster a deep conceptual understanding of Electrochemistry so that the students can critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship, evaluate new methodologies, develop critiques, and propose new hypotheses;
•enable students to pursue a career in Electrochemistry, Energy Storage and/or Electrochemical Engineering in either an academic or industrial setting.

Course Structure

The tables below provide a list of the modules that make up your course.

Each module is worth a specified number of credits: you can take a combination of core and compulsory modules enabling you to cover key subject knowledge. Some courses have option modules which enable you to develop your own interests.

Your programme requires a certain number of credits. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of core and compulsory modules and this is also influenced by the requirements of the regulatory requirements for professionally accredited courses. Some courses also have pre and co-requisites, and these are included in individual module information.

Your learning will be led by the latest research, and modules can change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. You can always find the most up-to-date information about your modules and who is teaching them via the information on our webpages and, post enrolment, via the Faculty hub.

If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, it may not be offered. If an option module will not be run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

The core and compulsory modules available on your course are as follows:

Part I Typical course content The MSc in Electrochemistry and Battery Technologies is of 12 months duration. The taught part of the programme is confined within two teaching semesters (Oct to Jan followed by Feb to June). Each semester includes twelve weeks of study followed by two or three weeks of examinations in which any end of module assessments will take place. The research component takes place in semester 3, which runs from June to September (see scheme below). The programme is delivered in a series of modules. Each taught module ranges from 3.75, 7.5 to 30 ECTS points (European Credit and Transfer System). As a rough guide a 7.5 ECTS point module requires 150 hours of work. This would include all work i.e. formal lectures, assignments, revision, examination tutorials etc. plus independent study. The core and compulsory modules are taught according to the prescribed order presented in the scheme but you will have a free choice for one optional module worth 7.5 ECTS from a list of relevant modules. The practical phase of your research project will be completed from June until mid-August. It is anticipated that the final weeks of August will involve a concentrated period of dissertation preparation with a very limited amount of laboratory work being completed. The general safety induction lectures will be given during the graduate induction days, together with distribution of the Safety Booklet. Follow up lectures targeting key areas of Health and Safety will be available and you will be required to attend the ones relevant to your research. You can anticipate that there will be 3-4 more sessions after the safety induction.
Part I Optional Select a further 7.5 ECTS worth of modules from Chemistry Detailed module descriptions including the breakdown of coursework and examination elements for each module are available online at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/chemistry/undergraduate/modules page (where an indicative list of options can be found. We cannot guarantee to offer every option each year); Note that all students must also attend mandatory Safety Course sessions as part of CHEM6142 and attend the general safety induction, given during the graduate induction days, together with distribution of the Safety Booklet. Follow up lectures targeting key areas of Health and Safety will be available and you will be required to attend the ones relevant to your research. You can anticipate that there will be 3-4 more sessions after the safety induction.
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
CHEM3051	Chemistry through the Computational Microscope 2025-26	7.5	Optional
CHEM6096	Advanced Physical Chemistry 2025-26	7.5	Optional
CHEM6153	X-Ray Diffraction as a Characterisation Method 2025-26	7.5	Optional
CHEM3044	Sustainable Chemistry 2025-26	7.5	Optional
CHEM6146	X-Ray Crystallographic Techniques, Advanced Main Group Chemistry and Applications 2025-26	7.5	Optional
CHEM6147	Advanced Spectroscopy and Applications 2025-26	7.5	Optional
CHEM6149	Principles, Techniques and Energy Applications of Electrochemistry 2025-26	7.5	Optional
Part I Core
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
CHEM6142	Chemistry MSc Advanced Research Project 2025-26	30	Core
Part I Compulsory
Code	Module Title	ECTS	Type
CHEM6133	Scientific writing and presentation skills for Chemistry MSc 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
CHEM6022	Introduction to Electrochemistry I 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
CHEM6134	Introduction to Electrochemistry II 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
CHEM6135	Practical Techniques in Electrochemistry 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
CHEM6136	Modelling in Electrochemistry 2025-26	3.75	Compulsory
CHEM6150	Battery Technologies and their Applications 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
CHEM6151	Practical Techniques in Battery Research 2025-26	7.5	Compulsory
CHEM6152	Battery Materials and Characterisation 2025-26	3.75	Compulsory

Learning and Teaching

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning, and assessment activity, with each ECTS credit taken equivalent to 20 hours of student effort. While your actual contact hours may depend on the option modules you select, the information available on our webpages give an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities.

When not attending lectures, seminars and other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and for other types of assessments and examinations.

Full information about contact hours is provided in individual module information.

How we'll assess you

Your course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your module mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or formative assessment for which you receive feedback.

Formative assessments are developmental, and any results do not count towards your module mark, but they are an important part of your learning.

Summative assessments usually take place at the end of each module, although some may have interim assessments throughout. Assessment methods might include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and projects for example. The marks from summative assessments count towards your module mark.

The information available on our website gives an indication of the assessment methods used on your course.

Staff involved in delivering the different elements of the course

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on your course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers.

Postgraduate research students who have undertaken appropriate training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars if their research specialism is directly related to the topic of the module and may also be involved in practical classes, project work and field trips. All contributions will be carried out under the supervision of the module leader.

Fees

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Extra costs you may experience

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Depending on the nature of your course, you may be able to choose modules which may have additional costs, such as field studies, travel overseas or industrial placements which will change the overall cost of your course. Details of these costs can be found in module information.

Please also ensure you read the section on additional costs in the Fees, Charges and Expenses Regulations.

The following course-related costs are not included in your fees:

Type	Details
Calculators	Where a calculator is required, all Casio Calculators are allowed but they must be Non-Programmable, Scientific models. More information is available in the Examination Regulations https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/assessment/assess-overview/exam-regulations.page
Stationery	You will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. Any specialist stationery items that you may need will be specified in the relevant module profile.
Textbooks	Where a module specifies essential texts, the Library will identify the optimal option(s) to support the module via the course Reading List. This may include e-books (ideally with unlimited concurrent usage) or a digitised chapter extract, supported by a limited number of print books (where available). You may request that the Library purchases additional print copies via 'suggest a book', borrow an additional copy via our inter-library-loans service or you may prefer to buy your own copies for high demand titles.
Printing	In most cases, written coursework such as essays and projects are submitted online. However it may be necessary to submit a hard copy of some projects, business projects and dissertations. The costs of printing a hard copy for submission of such work will be your responsibility. You will also have to cover the cost of photocopying. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/isolutions/students/printing.
Clothing	One laboratory coat and a pair of safety spectacles are provided at the start of the programme to each student. If these are lost the student must replace them at their own expense.
Computer discs or USB drives	Students are expected to provide their own portable data storage device.
Hardware	It is advisable that students provide their own laptop or personal computer, although shared facilities are available across the University campus.
Laboratory Equipment and Materials	All laboratory equipment and materials are provided
Software Licenses	All software is provided

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

You may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs.

If you are a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

Financial Support

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice regarding student finances. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course. You can find more information about financial support via our webpages: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/money-matters/student-support-fund/index.page

Academic support

The Student Support Hub is your first point of contact when it comes to seeking support. The team will answer your questions or concerns about your wellbeing, fees and funding, accommodation and visas. The team will help make sure you receive the support you need, guiding you to further support services where required. You can find more information about student support via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentservices/index.page

One of the most important people you will meet while you are a student at Southampton is your Personal Academic Tutor, who will be allocated to you for your arrival at the University and who is normally a member of academic staff in your own or a closely related subject area. Your Personal Academic Tutor will offer one-to-one support and advice throughout your time at Southampton and will support you in your studies or with other issues you may have. You can find out more via our webpages:

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/academic-support-guidance/personal-tutor.page

Disclaimer

As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. As a result, this course may be revised during a student's period of registration; however, any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Please read our Disclaimer to see why, when and how changes may be made to a student's course.