Chemistry

Cardiff University

This flexible, three-year course provides a broad introduction to chemistry, with the opportunity to specialise in the areas you’re interested in through optional modules and a research project.

You will study core topics on analytical, physical, organic, inorganic, and solid-state chemistry, with the opportunity to take a wide range of optional modules from green and sustainable chemistry and drug development to heterogeneous catalysis and engineering biosynthesis.

You can choose to add a Placement Year Abroad or Year in Industry at the

end of your first year, subject to academic achievement. (However, if you’re an international student with visa requirements, note that programmes with placement years have a four-year duration.)

As a chemist, you can choose a career in chemical or pharmaceutical industries, to apply your critical analysis and problem-solving skills to broader areas - from education to finance – or, to go on to further study.

Career prospects

Chemists play a vital role in tackling society’s most urgent challenges – from biofuels and clean water to developing new pharmaceuticals. A degree in chemistry opens the door to a wide range of careers both inside and outside the lab.

Our graduates are sought after by a wide range of employers looking for excellent communication skills, experience in a lab environment, advanced IT skills and confidence in analysing varied information. With a chemistry degree, you can pursue a range of exciting research careers in areas such as the discovery of new medicines and vaccines, improving understanding of environmental issues and the development of new chemical products and materials using greener processes.

The logical and practical training you’ll gain on your course is highly valued in fields such as marketing, sales, management or finance. Scientific journalism, publishing and teaching are also potential career routes. Previous graduates have gone on to work as development chemists, technical graduates, patent analysts, accountants and quality control scientists.

Graduate careers

• Product Development Chemist
• Patent Analyst
• Quality Control Scientist
• Chemical Engineer
• Academic Researcher

Placements

All students undertake a one-semester research project within a Cardiff Chemistry research laboratory.

If, after starting your degree, you decide you’re interested in a placement abroad or an industry placement, you’ll have the opportunity to transfer to the relevant BSc or MChem courses, subject to academic approval.

Finally, there are a variety of opportunities to undertake summer research projects at Cardiff University under the supervision of our academic staff.