Program Overview

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Chemistry

A highly-valued degree that can be used as the first step towards further academic learning and research in chemical sciences or take you directly into a role across a wide variety of industries and commerce.

Start Dates

• September 2026
• September 2025

Degree Type

BSc

Course Length

3 years full-time

Location

Durham City

UCAS Code

F100

Typical Offers

A Level	BTEC	International Baccalaureate
AAA	DDD	38

Course Details

The chemistry department at Durham is one of the leading departments in the UK and within the Top 100 across the world.

When you choose the BSc in Chemistry you will join a dynamic and focused learning community that is home to multiple research institutes, a range of first-class facilities, and experts with close industry links. Current developments in both research and industry are used to bring theoretical learning to life.

Chemistry degrees at Durham offer a high level of flexibility. The BSc in Chemistry contains the same core curriculum in Years 1 and 2 as our other chemistry degrees, and you can switch to one of the other degrees up to the end of the second year.

You will learn how chemistry is the central science with learning that interfaces with biosciences, earth sciences, engineering, and physics. You will be exposed to cutting-edge analytical techniques and learn how they can be used in research to tackle global issues. Graduates are ready to either move straight into employment in a wide range of industries or advance into further studies and scientific research.

You will build strong foundations in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry and learn practical skills in our modern teaching laboratories. In your final year, you will continue to learn the core aspects of modern chemistry and examine how it is applied to real-world issues. Your studies will culminate in a research-led dissertation.

Course Structure

Year 1 Modules

Core Modules:

• Core Chemistry 1: provides the foundation for your future studies and covers organic, inorganic and physical chemistry.
• Practical Chemistry 1A and Practical Chemistry 1B: are two modules of laboratory work. These will allow you to learn and practise the skills required to accurately and safely use chemical reactions to create target substances and concludes with project work.
• Mathematical and Experimental Tools Required in Chemistry (METRiC): builds on your pre-university mathematical skills and ensures that you understand the vocabulary of physics and biology that interfaces with chemistry.
• Introduction to Materials Chemistry: introduces the fundamentals of solid state and materials chemistry.

Optional Modules:

• Molecules in Action: Finally, you will choose some optional modules allowing you to tailor your learning in subjects such as mathematics, biology, languages or the chemistry module Molecules in Action.

Year 2 Modules

Core Modules:

• Core Chemistry 2: builds your knowledge of inorganic, physical and organic chemistry into more specialised concepts.
• Chemistry of the Elements: focuses the principles of bonding as well as the unique chemistry of the transition metals.
• Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry: explores how the structure of molecules affects reactions.
• Properties of Molecules: advances your understanding of physical chemistry in the areas of magnetic resonance, surface chemistry and electrochemistry.
• Practical Chemistry: becomes more intensive and advanced in Year 2.

Optional Modules:

• Biological Chemistry or Computational Chemistry: Once again, you can personalise your studies with one option module, including Biological Chemistry or Computational Chemistry.

Year 3 Modules

Core Modules:

• Core Chemistry 3: takes your final year knowledge up to degree standard.
• Chemistry Dissertation: You will also produce a research-led Chemistry Dissertation which will demonstrate your attained skills of literature review, data collection and critical analysis as well as literacy and presentation skills.
• Practical Chemistry: continues to explore your practical ability in a laboratory setting.

Optional Modules:

• In recent years optional modules have included:
  • Chemistry into Schools
  • Chemistry and Society
  • Inorganic Concepts and Applications
  • Advanced Organic Chemistry
  • Molecules and their Interactions
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Advanced Computational Chemistry
  • Computational Chemistry
  • Advanced Biological Chemistry
  • Biological Chemistry

Additional Pathways

Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with Year Abroad or with Placement pathway. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four or four to five depending on course.

Learning

The course content is primarily delivered through lectures, supported by tutorials, workshops, and private study. Practical lessons are essential in experimental sciences, helping you develop laboratory skills, experiment planning, data analysis, and safety management.

In the first year, core modules include seven hours of lectures, two hours of tutorials or workshops, and six hours of practicals weekly. Optional modules add two to six hours of contact time per week, alongside independent study.

As you progress, learning becomes more student-led, particularly the dissertation, which involves literature review, data analysis, and report writing. An academic supervisor will support you throughout your dissertation.

Assessment

Assessment is mainly by end-of-year examinations and coursework including laboratory reports, essays and project reports and presentations. In your final year, you will submit your research-led dissertation and an oral presentation.

The range of assessment methods is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the course content, test your capacity to solve problems, enhance your written and oral communication skills, and assess your ability to relate your learning to real-world scenarios.

Entry Requirements

• A level offer – A*AA including Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Contextual offer – AAB including A in Chemistry and A in Mathematics.
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – D*DD and A level requirements as above.
• IB Diploma score – 38 with 666 in higher level subjects, including Chemistry and Mathematics (either Analysis and approaches HL or Applications and interpretations HL).

Fees and Funding

The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study.

Career Opportunities

A degree in Chemistry will prepare you for a career in science and technology either in industry, research or academia. Chemistry is also an excellent foundation for careers in areas such as business and finance, consultancy, journalism, information technology, teaching and more. A significant number of our students also progress to postgraduate study.

Transferable skills include communication and presentation skills, logical thinking, report writing, problem solving, time management, data handling and analysis, teamwork and leadership, creativity, and instrumental and experimental skills. We aim to develop your curiosity as a scientist. These skills are valued across many sectors.

Recent employers of our graduates include GSK, Infineum, Procter & Gamble, BP and Akzo Nobel.

Department Information

Chemistry is often called ‘the central science’ as knowledge of atoms and molecules is instrumental to understanding and interacting with the world around us. Gain the theoretical knowledge you need while developing your practical skills at our thriving centre of teaching and world-leading research.

We are a dynamic and diverse international teaching and research community, equipped with modern laboratories and world-class facilities. You’ll be taught by internationally renowned research-active academics with a wide range of expertise.

We have a long tradition of interdisciplinary research, from the development of chemical tests for cancer to the theory and computational study of molecular interactions. You will study the design, synthesis and characterisation of societally and technologically important substances, and will benefit from exposure to innovative research programmes and ideas. We have built a large network of national and international industrial partners involved in collaborative research through interactions at many levels with the Department and our BSc and MChem qualifications are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

With flexible pathways to suit your interests and career goals, and the chance to apply for an additional year in industry or an overseas placement, a degree in Chemistry will equip you for a range of careers or further study.

Rankings

• Top 10 in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• Top 10 in The Guardian University Guide 2025
• 4th in The Complete University Guide 2025

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see our department web pages.

Facilities

We are located on the Lower Mountjoy (science) site, near the Palatine Building and Calman Learning Centre, and just a short walk from the city centre or any of our colleges.