Chemists and chemical engineers make products that we use in our everyday life, from vitamin C to chocolate, from creams to packaging, and from fuels to washing powders.  

You will study how to ensure the safe, sustainable and profitable production of chemicals and materials that will not only improve people’s quality of life but also contribute towards a better future for our planet.  

This programme is academically the same as the BSc (Hons) Chemistry but, as an applied chemist, you will undertake a final year research project under the supervision of one of our academic staff.  
 
We cater for the needs of ‘pure’ chemists and provide the opportunity to explore the industrial, pharmaceutical, technological and commercial dimensions of chemistry. Business and other specialist topics are built into our courses enabling you to develop valuable management skills.  
 
What you’ll learn

You’ll share your first year with chemical engineers, to ensure you have a good grounding in the subject before gaining a deeper insight into the industrial processes.
 
Areas including sustainability and health and safety will be key to your learning, while more scientific and advanced modules will give you the technical skills you need for your career.  
 
You have the option to spend a year on placement in industry after your second academic year. Many students take advantage of this option and find the experience extremely beneficial both for their development as an engineer and their final year performance.

Our teaching is varied, including conventional lectures and tutorials, project team and individual work, plant visits, lab work and specialist supervision from consultants working in industry.
 
Your practical work will include exciting projects, from making your own aspirin to building a nuclear reactor (a mock one, of course!) Study here and you’ll be at the heart of a creative and career-focused culture, learning invaluable skills so you’re ready to start your life-changing career.
 
Assessment is by a combination of exams, project, lab and coursework. Your final degree classification is determined by your performance in all years after the first year.

This course gives you a broad grounding in the principles of chemistry, preparing you to enter research, development or production in the chemical process industries or to undertake postgraduate research or teaching certificates. Alternatively you may pursue a career in areas as diverse as commerce, administration, accounting, banking or the civil service.

For students interested in biological chemistry, there are also opportunities in a wide variety of modern exciting industries including pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals, biotechnology, environmental control, water, renewable energy and materials. Recent graduates have gone on to join big companies including BT, Kodak, BP, Unilever, Kappa and Procter and Gamble.