Program Overview

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Chemistry BSc (Honours) 2025 entry

The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry will teach you the fundamentals of this central science, 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. Chemistry at St Andrews interfaces with biology, physics, mathematics, medicine and geology, making it a highly applicable subject to many areas of study.

During your degree, you will receive comprehensive academic and practical training to equip you for a wide spectrum of careers, whether in science-based industries or other fields such as teaching, management or finance.

Accreditation

All our single Honours Chemistry degree programmes are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

UCAS code

F100

Start date

September 2025

End date

September 2029

Duration

Four years full time

School

School of Chemistry

Entry requirements

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

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAAB, including A in Chemistry and an A in one other subject from the following: Biology (or Human Biology), Computing Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: AABB, including A in Chemistry and an A in one other subject from the following: Biology (or Human Biology), Computing Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.
• Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAA, including A in Chemistry.
• Minimum entry grades: ABB, including A in Chemistry.

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 38 (HL 6,6,6), including HL6 in Chemistry and HL6 in one of the following subjects: Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Chemistry and HL5 in one of the following subjects: Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Physics.

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?

Applicants must have studied Chemistry at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level, IB Higher Level, or equivalent. Preference may be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications.

Alternative study options

Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following:

Direct entry to second year

Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.

Integrated Masters

It is possible to take Chemistry as a five-year Integrated Masters course, allowing you to graduate with a Master in Chemistry.

Gateway programmes

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades but meet the University's contextual criteria may be interested in the Gateway to Science programme.

Study abroad

Chemistry students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. Chemistry students are only able to study abroad for the full academic year (semester placements are not available).

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 is a four-year course run by the School of Chemistry. Chemistry at St Andrews provides students with a fundamental and comprehensive understanding of chemistry, along with a highly transferrable training in numeracy, problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills.

In the first two years, you will take modules in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry.

Alongside chemistry, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two.

The knowledge and skills in research and analysis that you gain during your first two years will prepare you to undertake more advanced and specialist modules during your final two years. These specialist subjects include (but are not limited to):

• synthetic methods and reaction mechanisms
• the chemistry of biomolecules
• energy conversion and storage materials
• fragrance, food and colour chemistry
• statistical mechanics and computational chemistry

During your final year, you will also carry out a research project in one of the School's highly-rated research groups on a topic chosen in consultation with staff.

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 web page.

Modules

In the first two years of your degree (sub-honours level) you will take the required modules in chemistry alongside modules in at least one other subject.

Typically, you will take one or two chemistry modules per semester during your first two years, and four to six per semester during your third and fourth year (Honours level).

First year

• 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.

Each of the compulsory sub-honours modules in chemistry involves a mixture of lecture-based and practical teaching.

Second year

• Inorganic Chemistry 2: covers metal complexes and organometallics, descriptive transition-metal chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, solid-state chemistry and descriptive main-group chemistry.
• Organic Chemistry 2: covers methods for carbon-carbon bond formation and interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, retrosynthetic analysis, mechanistic biological chemistry and organic spectroscopy.
• Physical Chemistry 2: covers quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, molecular spectroscopy and diffraction, and advanced mathematical tools for chemistry.

Each of the compulsory sub-honours modules in chemistry involves a mixture of lecture-based and practical teaching.

If you decide to take chemistry in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced options, including modules ranging from physical inorganic chemistry to quantum theory of atoms, molecules and solids.

Here is a sample of Honours modules that have been offered in previous years:

• Blockbuster Solids
• Energy Conversion and Storage
• Fragrance, Food and Colour Chemistry
• Functional Materials and Electrons in Solids
• Heterocyclic and Pericyclic Chemistry

In fourth year, students conduct a research project which is designed to develop your skills in experimental design and problem-solving, the evaluation and interpretation of data, independent working and both oral and written communication skills. The project is chosen in consultation with, and supervised by, a member of academic staff.

Teaching

Chemistry is taught through a combination of lectures (80 to 200 students) and labs (20 to 50 students), which are supplemented by small group tutorials (5 to 10 students). Class sizes decrease at Honours level.

All lecture courses have online support materials, and additional teaching support is given for selected topics, such as mathematics.

When not attending lectures, tutorials and labs, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

• working on individual and group projects
• undertaking research in a laboratory
• undertaking research in the library
• preparing coursework assignments and presentations
• preparing for examinations

All sub-honours modules are assessed by 60% to 70% written examinations combined with 30% to 40% coursework covering laboratories, tutorials and transferable skills exercises.

For Honours modules, assessment is either by written examination for lecture-based modules, or by coursework (including written reports, oral presentations and oral examinations) for laboratory, workshop and research project modules.

Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.

The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements.

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team of world-leading academics and specialists in chemical education. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken training may also contribute to the teaching of laboratory classes under the supervision of the module leader.

Fees

Scotland

£1,820

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man

£9,535

EU and overseas

£31,670

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Additional costs

There are no additional fees for labs in the School. However, the School expects that students provide their own lab coat and, in line with University policy, to purchase a number of textbooks as part of their study.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Chemistry as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

• UCAS code C761: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Chemistry
• UCAS code FF16: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry and Earth Sciences
• UCAS code FG11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry and Mathematics
• UCAS code FF13: Master in Science (Honours) Chemistry and Physics

"With" degrees

You can take Chemistry as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in Chemistry:

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1R1
• Chemistry with French (With External Placement) - UCAS code F1RA
• Chemistry with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code F1RC
• Master in Chemistry (Honours) Chemistry with French - UCAS code F1RD
• Master in Chemistry (Honours) Chemistry with Mathematics - UCAS code F1G1

"With" degrees taken with French are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.

Normally, for joint degree programmes, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. However, the Chemistry with French BSc joint degree programme has different entry requirements.

Careers

St Andrews chemistry graduates have an employment rate of over 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 graduates move into a wide range of employment both in the chemical and allied industries, as well as sectors outside physical sciences.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.