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Chemistry BSc(Hons)

2025-26 (also available for 2024-25)

Start date

22 September 2025

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years inc. placement year

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC-BCC

BTEC - DMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

30

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, providing you with industry-wide recognition regarding the quality of your qualification.
  2. Your learning will take place in new £18.2 million facilities such as our chemical sciences labs where you'll access instruments used in industry.
  3. Step out of the classroom and into the real world on a work placement. Past placement providers include Chemfix, Kemira, Thornton & Ross and more.

Known as the central science, chemistry provides a fundamental understanding of how the world works at a chemical level. Since the 1840s, Huddersfield has provided a strong chemistry education to its students, supporting the local textile and dyeing industries as a result. Today, you’re not limited just to these industries. A Chemistry BSc(Hons) degree at Huddersfield can take you far as you make contributions to a wide variety of fields, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare and chemical engineering.

Why study Chemistry BSc(Hons)

At Huddersfield, you’ll be joining a chemistry department with a long and illustrious history. Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, this course will prepare you with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry, with a focus on the following core areas of chemistry; organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry and physical chemistry.

You’ll gain relevant real-world experience throughout this course. You’ll be taught by leading academics through lectures, seminars, and sessions, which will be supplemented by modern industry instruments in our specialist chemical science labs. Following your first two years on the course, you’ll put your knowledge and skills to the test in an optional supervised work placement. During this placement year, you’ll:

  • Experience working in a real-world environment within the industry, in the UK or internationally.
  • Explore employment opportunities within organisations related to your studies and chosen pathway.
  • Network with potential employers and construct work experience profiles to prepare for a future chemistry career.

This course will prepare you for a variety of potentially exciting careers in a range of fields in the industry, as well as for future study. You could work in chemical analysis, chemical manufacturing, healthcare or pharmaceutics.

Course detail

Core modules:

Structure: From Atoms to Molecules and Materials

This module introduces you to the chemistry of the elements. Starting with the earliest known chemical events in the universe, this module discusses the elements, their origin, structure and properties before looking at the structure and bonding in and reactions of chemical compounds and encompasses a number of areas of (mostly) main group chemistry including, but not limited to, the constituents of the earth's crust and the chemistry of the atmosphere.

The Reactivity and Properties of Carbon Compounds

This module teaches you to recognise a range of functional groups and to name systematically compounds that contain them. Structure and bonding in organic compounds are discussed, as are the concepts of the octet rule, orbital hybridisation, formal charge, bond polarisation and resonance. The importance of molecular geometry is introduced and the basic principles of molecular conformation and of stereochemistry are covered. In preparation for the chemistry to follow, an integrated treatment of the 'language of chemical change' is presented. The ideas of mechanism and reaction intermediates are met, together with the curly arrow symbolism which chemists use to represent the electron movement inherent in chemical reactions. In the second half of the module, the chemistry of the principal functional groups is considered, using the ideas developed earlier. The lecture programme is reinforced by regular tutorials in which problems are worked. Running parallel to the lecture programme is a continuously assessed practical course that introduces you to the basic techniques of preparative organic chemistry.

Physical Chemistry 1

This module covers four areas of physical chemistry: Units, Conversions and the Properties of ideal and non-ideal Gases, Solution Chemistry of Acids, Bases and Salts, Reaction Kinetics and Catalysis, and Introductory Thermodynamics

Introduction to Analytical Science and Spectroscopy

This module aims to introduce students from diverse backgrounds to the range of skills required in modern analytical science and illustrate how analytical methodology underpins scientific investigation across the conventional discipline boundaries. The module will build on and develop your prior knowledge of analysis whilst not assuming any particular area of expertise and will also endeavour to improve your numerical, IT and communication skills by illustrating analytical methodology in the context of these key skill areas. This module also aims to develop your ability to obtain and interpret a wide range of spectroscopic data in a systematic and logical fashion. In this way you'll be taught to apply your knowledge to a wide range of new problems and in so doing develop your general problem solving skills. The module will be taught primarily by lectures and tutorials with illustrative practical work to highlight salient points from the lecture material.

Data Handling

This module provides an introduction to the use of computers in the chemical sciences for word processing, data handling and chemical drawing. The module also gives an introduction to the use of molecular modelling software for the understanding of chemical and physical properties of molecules. It will also consolidate the mathematical ability of students entering the course from a variety of backgrounds and provides the essential groundwork in this subject area.

Techniques of Practical Chemistry

The module provides an introduction to practical chemistry in the major branches of the subject through structured practical exercises. It will be taught in the laboratory and sessions will usually begin with some formal teaching from staff in charge, followed by students carrying out practical and other exercises either alone, or in pairs. Laboratory safety, basic laboratory techniques, data recording and the use of routine equipment will be taught. Research skills and ethics will be included. As the module proceeds the experiments will illustrate the principles taught in lectures.

Entry requirements

BBC-BCCat A Level including a grade C in Chemistry. The endorsement for practical work is an essential part of Science A Level study, and is a requirement for entry to our degree course.

112-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications including a grade C in Chemistry at A Level.

Merit at T Level in Science

DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science.

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above to include 21 credits in Chemistry.
  • 112-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications, including Higher Level Chemistry at grade 5.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Science Extended Degree (BCF0).

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Meet our students


Holly is studying Chemistry BSc(Hons), watch her film to find out why she chose to study at Huddersfield, what she likes about her course and her biggest achievement so far at University.

Placements


In the third year of this course, you’ll get the chance to step out of the classroom and into the real world on an optional placement year working for an organisation related to your areas of interest. This is when you’ll really be able to see your knowledge in action, pick up invaluable skills for your future career and boost your employability to help you hit the ground running after graduation.

You could stay to do your placement in the UK or experience a new culture and work abroad for one year. Where could this year take you?

Previous students in the Chemistry subject area have undertaken placements with Arxada, Chemfix, Cyprotex, Kemira, Rosehill Polymers, Thornton & Ross and University of Huddersfield.

My placement year has helped me gain an extensive amount of experience and knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry by completing different types of analysis. In addition to this I have also had the chance to develop my personal skills such as communication, time management and team work.

None

James Matthews, Chemistry BSc(Hons), placement with Thornton & Ross Ltd

Your career


As a graduate of this course, you may consider a career in a wide range of scientific areas, including chemical analysis, chemical manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutics, environmental consultancy, oil and gas, food and drink, petrochemicals, research and teaching.

Previous graduates from courses in the subject area of Chemistry have gone on to roles such as Analyst at ALS Environmental, Analytical Scientist at Sequani, Microbiological Analyst at Microsearch Laboratories Ltd, QC Analyst at Ernest Jackson & Co Ltd and Operations and Technical Support Assistant at National Nuclear Laboratory.**

*90% of graduates from this course were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes 20/21, UK Domiciled).

**LinkedIn

90% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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