Program Overview

---

MChem Chemistry

Overview

Study at a university ranked 4th in the UK and 6th in Europe for Chemistry (QS World University Rankings 2025). Gain considerable practical laboratory experience. Gain excellent training based on scientific and quantitative skills. Take optional course units from across the Faculty and University. We're one of the most targeted universities by the UK's leading graduate employers (High Fliers Research 2024). This course is accredited by the RSC. It fulfils the academic requirements for Chartered Chem (CChem).

A study experience that makes a difference

We place social responsibility at the heart of your learning which means you can take advantage of unique ways to make a difference while studying with us, through your course or through extra-curricular activities.

• Complete our Ethical Grand Challenges to learn how you can create a better world and become more socially responsible.
• Work with an external organisation to tackle real-world sustainability problems through our University Living Lab.
• Discover subjects that broaden your horizon with our interdisciplinary learning opportunities.

Open days

For details of the next University Undergraduate open day, view our open days and visits page. You can also view our Chemistry Virtual Open Day, and if you have any questions please just get in touch.

Contact details

• Department: Department of Chemistry
• Contact name: Admissions Office
• Telephone: +44 (0)
• Email: [insert email]
• Website: [insert website]
• School/Faculty overview: Our internationally-renowned expertise across the School of Natural Sciences informs research led teaching with strong collaboration across disciplines, unlocking new and exciting fields and translating science into reality. Our multidisciplinary learning and research activities advance the boundaries of science for the wider benefit of society, inspiring students to promote positive change through educating future leaders in the true fundamentals of science. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester.

Courses in related subject areas

• Chemistry

Entry requirements

A-level

• A*AA, including Chemistry and at least one other science or mathematics subject.
• Subjects considered to be science/mathematics subjects are Biology, Physics, Mathematics, and Further Mathematics.
• If you miss the MChem grades, but meet the BSc grades (AAA), you will automatically be considered for the BSc option.
• If you do not have the required grades or subjects you may want to consider our integrated foundation year.

International Baccalaureate

• 37 points overall with 7,6,6 at Higher Level, including Chemistry and at least one other science or mathematics subject.
• We will accept Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation.

GCSE/IGCSE

• Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education, typically a minimum of five GCSE/IGCSEs, including acceptable levels of literacy and numeracy, equivalent to at least grade 4/C in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and grade 6/B in GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics.
• GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

Other entry requirements

• Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
• Scottish requirements
• Welsh Baccalaureate
• Foundation year
• Pearson BTEC qualifications
• OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications
• Access to HE Diploma
• T Level
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Country-specific entry requirements

• We accept a range of qualifications from different countries.
• Detailed information on our international entry criteria is available on the Department of Chemistry website.
• For general entry requirements for countries not listed above, see accepted entry qualifications from your country.

English language requirements

• All applicants to the University (from the UK and overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency.
• The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
  • GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade 4/C,
  • IELTS 6.5 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0,
  • TOEFL iBT 90 overall with no sub-score below 20. We do not accept TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, or;
  • An acceptable equivalent qualification.

Fees and funding

Fees

• Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Policy on additional costs

• All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme.
• Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application.

Scholarships/sponsorships

• The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students.
• We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.
• For information about scholarships/bursaries/sponsorship please see our undergraduate fees pages and visit the Department website.

Application and selection

How to apply

• Apply through UCAS.

Advice to applicants

• You should not normally apply for more than one first year undergraduate course offered by the Department of Chemistry at The University of Manchester.
• Applicants to this course can change to any one of the courses offered within the Department of Chemistry at any time before the start of the academic year.
• It is also possible to transfer between our Chemistry courses at the end of your first year or, in some cases, later, subject to academic achievement, completion of any required pre-requisite modules, and approval.

Deferrals

• Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation.
• Deferred entry is granted at the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only and two years at the maximum in exceptional circumstances.

Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications

• If you have re-sat individual modules to improve your grades, we will consider your application according to the standard selection process.
• If you are planning to re-sit the final Year 13 examinations, or have already done so, the University will consider your application, but we may require further information in order to make an informed judgment on your application.

Policy for applicants who take their examinations in more than one sitting

• We are happy to consider applicants who are taking their examinations in different sittings, provided they were taken over the standard two-year period.

Re-applications

• If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.
• Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
• In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.

Transfers

• Transfers to the first year of this course from those on another course within the University, or from other institutions, are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Transfers into the second year are not normally considered.

Course details

Course description

• Chemistry student Zaynah tells us why she chose to study at Manchester.
• Choosing to study chemistry can open the door to an exciting range of career options.
• From practical scientist through research technologist to academic specialist, all can be reached, in part, through this contemporary, multi-disciplinary degree programme.
• Our innovative skills-based curriculum will give you the tools to succeed in your degree and our award-winning careers service will assist you in making choices for your future.

Special features

• A range of study options
• You can extend your degree by a year to undertake an integrated master's or gain industrial experience/study abroad.
• It's possible to broaden your degree by taking units from the University College and the Business and Management for all Programmes in exchange for a few units from your degree.
• Foundation Year available
• You can prepare for the full degree course if you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry by undertaking our foundation course first.
• Flexibility to transfer between courses
• It is generally possible to transfer between the various chemistry degrees we offer in years 1-3. This is subject to satisfactory academic performance and completion of the required pre-requisite modules.

Additional course information

• Our student community
• ChemSoc is a student-run society with the aim of giving chemistry students the complete experience whilst at The University of Manchester.
• The year begins with the infamous lab coat pub crawl and concludes with a fantastic annual ball!
• In between ChemSoc hosts socials alongside other societies, allowing your inner passion for your subject to come out and show everyone that chemistry is the best subject.
• The society has two successful sports teams, football and netball, with the football team winning the league last year!
• Teams comprise of first years right through to PhD students, so you will be able to meet lots of new faces!
• Besides the social side the society has reinvented its academic aspects; ChemSoc hosts research talks accessible to all students featuring our high level of research from Manchester.
• Finally, the society encourages students to think about their employability, and have worked closely with the Careers Service to run events throughout the year, such as a LinkedIn workshop.

Teaching and learning

• Undergraduates have around 20 hours contact time per week and are expected to spend around 30 hours in private study.
• Your week will be made up of:
  • Lectures
  • Small group tutorials
  • Laboratory classes
  • Group work
  • Individual research projects
  • Computer-based tuition - A range of ancillary mathematics, data handling, presentation and IT skills, and computer based chemistry are taught on the dedicated computer cluster.
  • Workshops
  • PASS session - student-led peer-assisted study sessions where second and third year students help you to develop learning strategies and techniques.

Coursework and assessment

• Assessment is by a mixture of traditional examinations, coursework, laboratory practical and workshops.
• Assessment methods vary widely to suit the nature of the course unit and each level of study.
• Examinations take place in January and May each year, with around one third of the marks from continuous assessment.
• The first year is a simple pass/fail, but from then on a percentage of each year's assessment counts towards your final degree classification.

Course content for year 1

• First-year topics include:
  • molecular orbital approaches to chemical bonding
  • chemical reaction mechanisms
  • molecular spectroscopy; coordination chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics
  • quantum mechanics
• You will also attend course units that cover a range of presentational, mathematical and analytical and IT skills.
• Finally, you have the opportunity to study subjects from another department - see the list of optional course units below.

Course content for year 2

• The second year continues developing the core and extends topics from your first year, introducing new areas such as:
  • bonding and reactivity
  • chromatography
  • organometallic chemistry
  • molecular symmetry
  • metal-ligand bonding
  • polymer chemistry
  • advanced spectroscopy
  • biological and heterocyclic chemistry
• In addition to the core units you will have the opportunity to study course units introducing some of the contemporary themes of modern chemistry, as well as green and environmental chemistry.
• Alternatively, you may choose to study a course from the University's College for Interdisciplinary Learning, including our innovative Leadership in Action course, which combines study with volunteering and personal development.

Course content for year 3

• In your third year you will study advanced core units covering areas such as:
  • computational chemistry
  • organic and inorganic synthetic methods
  • surface chemistry and catalysis
  • molecular structure determination and photochemistry
• You will be also choose from options which cover topics that cut across the traditional subject areas (e.g. nuclear, environmental and biological chemistry), as well as some areas outside chemistry such as the History of Science or Enterprise and Innovation.
• You will also take your practical chemistry and independent learning to a higher level with extended, advanced experimental and theoretical experiments, as well working with a small team to plan a short project tackling a contemporary chemistry problem.

Course content for year 4

• In your final year you will undertake an extended individual project based within one of the research groups in our Department.
• This will give you the opportunity work on a current problem in your chosen area of chemistry under the supervision of one of our academic staff.
• You will study enhanced core course material and also choose from our extensive list of specialist optional course units, which cover cutting-edge developments in chemistry and are taught by world-leading scientists, giving you the opportunity to tailor your final year to the areas of chemistry which most inspire you.

Careers

Career opportunities

• The course offered transferable skills that will be beneficial throughout my career.
• Studying Chemistry has prepared me for more than just lab sessions, it has given me the ability to learn for myself.
• James Stevens / BSc Chemistry Alumnus, Energy Consultant, Envantage Ltd

Accrediting organisations

• MChem Chemistry is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry as satisfying the academic requirements for admission to Membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) and the award of CChem (Chartered Chemist) for graduates with a first or second class honours degree.

Associated organisations

• Graduates are eligible for Affiliate Membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry at a reduced rate.
• On graduation you can proceed to Associate or Full membership and Chartered Chemist Status (depending on degree class).