Chemistry

Countless consumer and industrial products, medicines and pharmaceuticals are produced on processes developed from the fundamental principles of chemistry.

Subject guide

We cater for the needs of ‘pure’ chemists whilst providing the opportunity to explore the industrial, pharmaceutical, technological and commercial dimensions of chemistry. Business and other specialist topics are built into our courses enabling you to develop valuable management skills. You share your first year with chemical engineers, to gain a deeper insight into industrial processes.

You will study subjects such as process design, health and safety, biological chemistry, biomaterials, inorganic materials and polymer synthesis. The innovative and relevant nature of our courses will also help you to discover new and exciting areas of chemistry, including bio-compatibility, medicinal drug delivery systems, the Buckminster-Fullerenes and cluster compounds, liquid crystals, non-metallic conductors and superconductors.

Learning, teaching & assessment

Our courses incorporate lectures, tutorials, plant visits and lab work. You will also be involved in project work; developing essential problem solving skills with specialist supervision from staff and industrial consultants. This hands-on experience will involve learning a wide range of techniques. Assessment is by a combination of exams, project, lab and coursework. Your final degree classification is determined by your performance in all years after the first year.

Placement year

The optional sandwich year is available with all our chemistry courses. It will give you invaluable practical experience and enhance your career prospects through a paid professional placement in the UK or abroad. We have excellent links with industry and will help to arrange this placement for you. All our undergraduates benefit from these links, whether through their placement, projects or vacation work, an excellent opportunity to receive training in industry or in a research establishment, providing invaluable practical experience and enhancing your career prospects.

Professional accreditation

Reflecting our established reputation, our courses are recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Career prospects

Your broad grounding in the principles of chemistry will prepare you to enter research, development or production in the chemical industry or to undertake postgraduate research or teaching certificates. Alternatively you may pursue a career in areas as diverse as commerce, administration, accounting, banking or the civil service.

The study of chemistry is a springboard to your future, whether or not you enter a directly related career and is a highly stimulating and rewarding choice. For students taking the Biological Chemistry course there are also opportunities in a wide variety of modern exciting industries including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, biotechnology, environmental control, water, renewable energy and materials.

Personal development

Throughout the course we emphasise business and communication skills which will enhance your ability to write and present technical essays and reports. Our courses emphasise the commercial as well as industrial application of chemistry. You will learn how the theory you study can be applied in your future career, whether you do research, help define public environmental policy or design new chemical process facilities.