Program Overview

MChem (Hons) Chemistry

The MChem (Hons) Chemistry is an integrated four-year undergraduate masters degree that combines hands-on laboratory experience with classroom learning to provide students with the specialist knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career or further study in the chemical sciences.

Course Overview

This course covers a broad spectrum of core areas, including inorganic, organic, physical, and analytical chemistry, and gives students the opportunity to specialise in cutting-edge topics such as synthetic chemistry, catalysis, materials chemistry, and sustainable chemistry.

Features and Benefits

• This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the UK's leading professional body for chemical scientists.
• The university has invested over £115 million to transform the way students learn, including the new Dalton building equipped with dynamic learning spaces, world-class teaching and research facilities, and collaborative study zones.
• Students have access to a wide range of analytical instrumentation, ensuring a professional work environment.
• The curriculum is designed to align with industry needs and developments, equipping students with the skills employers demand.
• The course provides the option to spend an additional year broadening horizons, either through a placement in industry or studying with one of the university's partner universities overseas, subject to availability.

Year 1

Year 1 aims to provide a firm grounding in chemistry through hands-on laboratory work using relevant instrumentation and techniques to study and characterise materials. Students will also learn about important protocols like COSHH and how to carry out risk assessments.

Core Modules

• Atoms to Molecules: Explores the structure of atoms and how they combine to form molecules, covering fundamental principles of bonding and key atomic and molecular spectroscopic techniques.
• Chemical Analysis and Data Skills: Develops practical, reasoning, and reporting skills through hands-on laboratory work, introducing key software, cheminformatics, and mathematical approaches.
• Rates and Reactivity: Explores the energetics of reactions and how these underpin mechanistic descriptions of reactions, focusing on organic chemical transformations.
• Professional Chemist: Expands practical laboratory experience, teaching students to present findings scientifically and use software to create reports, while exploring chemical literature through databases and online repositories.

Year 2

In Year 2, the course focuses increasingly on specialist modules, including analytical techniques, structure and spectroscopy, as well as green and materials chemistry and their impact upon sustainable practice and the circular economy.

Core Modules

• Green Chemistry and Materials: Develops technical skills through practical experiments in organic chemistry, analytical methods, and modelling, highlighting the importance of green and materials chemistry.
• Organic and Analytical Chemistry: Focuses on key topics in organic chemistry and analytical chemistry, covering instrumental techniques and elemental analysis.
• Structural Characterisation and Spectroscopy: Develops technical skills through conducting practical experiments in inorganic, physical, and computational chemistry, introducing new instrumentation and software.
• Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: Studies key inorganic topics, including molecular symmetry and solid-state, d-block and f-block chemistry, and essential concepts in physical chemistry.

Year 3

If students choose the four-year placement or study abroad option, Year 3 will be spent on a work placement or studying abroad. Otherwise, students undertake a research project in line with their specialism and study advanced chemistry concepts.

Core Modules

• Horizons in Chemistry and Techniques: Involves laboratory experiments and mini-projects across inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, as well as scientific computing for chemistry applications.
• Sustainable and Applied Chemistry: Explores case-studies in applied chemistry and technology from the perspective of sustainability, materials chemistry, and the role of analytical chemistry.
• Modern Approaches to Chemical Challenges: Covers advanced topics in inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, including coordination and organometallic chemistry, kinetics, and quantum chemistry.
• Research Project: Gives students the opportunity to design, develop, and execute their own research project, enhancing critical analysis skills and focusing on safety and ethical considerations.

Year 4

The final year is an integrated undergraduate masters year, focusing on a major research project in the chosen specialist area, plus taught modules covering topics at the forefront of the field.

Core Modules

• Research Perspectives in Applied Chemistry: Introduces advances at the forefront of chemical sciences through research-informed teaching and critical evaluation of peer-reviewed literature.
• Advanced Techniques and Technologies in Chemistry: Deepens understanding of key chemical concepts by exploring specialised areas of chemistry and highlighting advancements.
• Advanced Project: Involves completing an advanced independent practical research project, developing critical understanding of theory, concepts, and practical skills in chemistry.

Entry Requirements

• Typical offer: 120 UCAS tariff points.
• IELTS score: 6.0 with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of course start date.
• UK students: 120 UCAS tariff points, including grade C or above in Chemistry (with Pass in Practical Assessment).
• International students: Pass the IB Diploma with minimum 30 points overall or 120 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects, including HL5 in Chemistry.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalised. Information on 2025/26 standard undergraduate fees for UK/Channel Islands and EU/Non-EU international students is available.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 88.7% of UK-domiciled, full-time, first degree graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• The university offers careers support and prospects, including the Careers Service, Future Me, and Rise, to help students get ready for further study or working life.
• A chemistry degree opens the door to varied career opportunities in sectors including chemical, pharmaceutical, materials, food and drink, utility, healthcare, environment, aerospace, automotive, information technology, and telecommunications.