Chemistry
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject is acceptable for entry. You will need 60 credits overall with 45 at level 3 and 15 credits at Level 2 with passes in level 2 Maths and Communication units. QAA accredited course required.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
English Language and Mathematics GCSEs at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above (or equivalent).
UCAS Tariff
A minimum of 112 points from A levels including a C in Chemistry, or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification eg BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Progression Diploma or Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Why study this course?**
More than an introduction to the fundamentals of chemistry, this degree provides intensive basic training that is designed to give you the core laboratory, IT and performance skills to succeed in your chosen career.
You'll be taught in our £30 million Science Centre, which has more than 280 cutting-edge work stations, and gain hands-on practical experience alongside analytical techniques such as UV and infrared spectroscopy. Our lecturers are often industry experts or active researchers and there are opportunities for on-the-job experience through our work placement scheme.
The course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry and provides partial exemption from the academic requirements for Chartered Chemist status.
**More about this course**
With access to 280 workstations and specialist labs, you’ll get the chance to explore electrochemical analysis, gas and liquid chromatography, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry and many other modern techniques used in the industry today.
Your first year will cover the fundamentals of physical, inorganic and organic chemistry to prepare you for the study of forensic, pharmaceutical, medical and analytical science. As the course progresses, you’ll have the chance to explore the practical and technical aspects of chemistry at a more in-depth level as well as having the opportunity to specialise in areas that interest you such as forensic chemistry or bioanalytical science.
In your final year, you’ll undertake a year-long research project on a topic of your choosing within the chemistry sector. You’ll also have the option to undertake an on-the-job placement as part of your degree, giving you valuable hands-on experience and exposure to the industry.
Modules
The modules listed are subject to change. Please visit the university website for full, up-to-date module details.
Example Year 1 modules include:
General Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Foundations of Physics (core, 15 credits);
Introduction to Laboratory Skills (core, 15 credits);
Fundamental Chemical Concepts (core, 15 credits);
Introduction to Organic Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (for Life Sciences) (core, 15 credits);
Laboratory Techniques with Data Handling (core, 15 credits);
Key Principles in Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
Example Year 2 modules include:
Quantitative Analysis (core, 15 credits);
Organic Unsaturated Molecules (core, 15 credits);
Coordination and Solution Chemistry of d and f block Complexes (core, 15 credits);
Kinetics and Surface Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Spectroscopic Methods (core, 15 credits);
Organic Ring Systems (core, 15 credits);
Solid State and Organometallic Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry (core, 15 credits)
Example Year 3 modules include:
Advanced Organic Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Advanced Physical Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Advanced Inorganic Techniques (core, 15 credits);
Research Project (core, 30 credits);
Sandwich Placement (year-long) (option, 30 credits);
Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Medicinal Chemistry (core, 15 credits);
Advanced Bioanalytical Science (option, 15 credits);
Work Placement (for Life Sciences) (option, 15 credits);
Atomic and Molecular Spectra (option, 15 credits)
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through mini-tests, practical reports, posters, presentations, essays, short-answer tests and examinations.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Chemistry
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Chemistry
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Chemistry graduates are in demand from a wide range of industries, from the food, oil, chemicals and pharmaceuticals to consultancy, technical analysis and teaching. They're also prized by business and finance employers for their research and data handling skills — anywhere there is research and data to be explained, you can find chemistry grads. If you want a career in research, you need a doctorate, so start planning now if you fancy one of these exciting and challenging jobs - but good students can usually get grants to take a doctorate, so don't worry about the financing if you think you have what it takes. The recession wasn’t too kind to chemists, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry (one of the key employers for chemists), but things are getting back to normal for this flexible group and it's one of the few degrees that is bucking the current trend and increasing graduate numbers.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Chemistry
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...
This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here