Program Overview

Chemistry and Mathematics BSc (Hons) 2025 entry

The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and Mathematics will teach you the fundamentals of chemistry and the critical role it plays in industries and new technologies. You will also develop a high level of mathematical ability to understand complex patterns and structures and develop the tools to analyse them.

Overview

• The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and Mathematics will teach you the fundamentals of the central science of chemistry, from the composition and properties of matter, to using reactions to create new molecules and materials.
• You will learn about the critical role of chemistry in industries and new technologies, from pharmaceuticals to accessing drinkable water, and from efficient energy generation to sustainable food production.
• You will also develop a high level of mathematical ability to understand complex patterns and structures, and develop the tools with which to analyse them.

Entry Requirements

• The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background.
• Find out more about Standard and Minimum entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAAB, including A in Chemistry and an A in Mathematics.
• Minimum entry grades: AABB, including A in Chemistry and an A in Mathematics.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAA, including A in Chemistry and A* in Mathematics.
• Minimum entry grades: AAB, including an A in Chemistry and A in Mathematics.

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 38 (HL 6,6,6), including HL6 in Chemistry and an HL6 in Mathematics.
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Chemistry and an HL6 in Mathematics.

General Entry Requirements

• All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

SQA qualifications

• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

GCSE qualifications

• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

Other qualifications

• We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes.
• Please see our entry requirements for more information.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

• Yes, applicants are expected to have studied Chemistry and Mathematics at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level, IB Higher Level, or equivalent.
• Preference may be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications.

International applicants

• If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.

Course Details

• The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and Mathematics will teach you the fundamentals of the central science of chemistry, from the composition and properties of matter, to using reactions to create new molecules and materials.
• You will learn about the critical role of chemistry in industries and new technologies, from pharmaceuticals to accessing drinkable water, and from efficient energy generation to sustainable food production.
• You will also develop a high level of mathematical ability to understand complex patterns and structures, and develop the tools with which to analyse them.

Modules

• First year
• Second year
• Honours (third and fourth years)
• Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:
  • Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers origin of the elements and the periodic table, atomic structure, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, and mathematical tools for chemistry.
  • Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 1: covers bonding in simple molecules, inorganic solids, chemistry of the first-row transition metals, properties of solids, states of matter, and introductory spectroscopy.
  • Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: covers the structure and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, basic stereochemistry, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.
  • Mathematics: is designed to introduce students to the ideas, methods and techniques which they will need for applying mathematics in the physical sciences or for taking the study of mathematics further.
• Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:
  • Inorganic Chemistry 2: covers metal complexes and organometallics, descriptive transition-metal chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, solid-state chemistry and descriptive main-group chemistry.
  • Physical Chemistry 2: covers quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, molecular spectroscopy and diffraction, and advanced mathematical tools for chemistry.
  • Linear Mathematics: extends the knowledge and skills that students have gained concerning matrices and systems of linear equations.
• Students will choose three other Mathematics modules from a range of options.

Teaching

• The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.
• More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure webpage.

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Careers

• St Andrews chemistry graduates have an employment rate of more than 95% and are in demand by large multinational and grassroots companies alike.
• Chemistry degrees provide a range of highly desirable skills that are prized by employers across numerous sectors, including:
  • problem-solving
  • numeracy
  • data handling
  • teamwork
  • oral and written communication
• St Andrews Chemistry and Mathematics graduates move into a wide range of employment both in the chemical and allied industries, as well as sectors outside physical science which rely on a high degree of mathematical ability.
• Many BSc Chemistry and Mathematics graduates continue on to PhD-level degrees both in the UK and overseas.

What to do next

• Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run.
• We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.