Chemistry BSc (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science and Chemistry
- Undergraduate
Kickstart your career with our Chemistry BSc (Hons) degree course, accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). You'll have the opportunity to undertake a one-year work placement in industry, which will help prepare you for a career in chemistry.
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Explore how the study of chemistry can contribute to positive changes in the world
There are a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based.
You will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including:
- our £9.8 million Eadweard Muybridge building with state-of the art laboratories
- specialist equipment, such as:
- gas and liquid chromatography
- electron microscopy
- spectrometers, including mass spectrometers, infrared spectrometers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers
- nuclear science equipment
- thermal analysis
- x-ray diffractometers
- electrochemical analysis
- computing laboratories and a team of IT technicians to offer assistance
In addition, you’ll be able to choose to work or study abroad and experience another culture, build your international network and gain global experience as part of your undergraduate degree.
My time at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ was massively enjoyable and a large part of that was down to the level of teaching and the lecturers at the University. The diverse range of teaching methods implemented at the University meant that all students were allowed to learn at their own pace and work to their strengths.
Why choose this course
Chemistry affects every aspect of our lives, from clothing to the medicines that help millions of people. It plays an integral part in solving global challenges, such as food security, plastic pollution, developing alternative energies, and synthesising new medicines and materials.
The Chemistry BSc (Hons) degree course at Kingston provides knowledge and skills relevant to industry, research and teaching. You'll gain practical skills in our laboratories, broaden your knowledge of environmental chemistry, and develop the academic and professional skills valued by employers.
You will have your own individual final year project which enables you to investigate a chosen area in depth.
We have recently updated our modules to enhance student-centred teaching and align course content with industry needs, helping you become a future-proof graduate.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
It partially fulfils the academic requirements for Chartered Chem (CChem).
Course content
Year 1
Year 1 introduces the fundamental aspects of the subject and will consolidate your existing knowledge, providing a base on which you can develop advanced concepts. You will learn and develop the laboratory and practical techniques needed for your course.
Core modules
30 credits
You will gain a thorough grounding in mathematical, presentation, reporting and IT skills to support your scientific progress. This module will help you develop effective learning strategies and provides the foundation for your personal and career development.
This module will introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with Navigate. You will be supported by themed tutor meetings enabling students to work on tasks to develop their graduate attributes.
30 credits
Chemistry impacts many spheres of everyday life. From paints and coatings to smartphone’s electrochromic displays, small molecule drugs to the understanding of biochemical processes necessary for life.
This module will revisit chemistry topics taught at A level and build on them to ensure you become familiar with the core chemistry concepts necessary to the chemical, pharmaceutical and biochemical sciences. There is a key focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
30 credits
This module is designed to ignite your curiosity and deepen your understanding of chemistry’s role in our world. You will dive into the fascinating world of molecular quantum mechanics with this module. You’ll explore key trends in the periodic table, focusing on select elements from groups 1, 13, and 17. You will discover the unique properties of coordination compounds.
You’ll delve into the critical topics of atmospheric and aquatic pollution, understanding their environmental impacts. Throughout the course, you’ll also connect your learning to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, gaining a global perspective on sustainability, including the environmental consequences of the release of chemical species and potential solutions to environmental pollution.
30 credits
This module covers the basic concepts and practical skills necessary to underpin your course, including considering sustainability. You will learn about different separation methods, including classical distillation and recrystallisation, various chromatographic techniques, and small-scale analytical chromatographic techniques such as gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography.
You will be introduced to electromagnetic radiation, the techniques of infrared spectroscopy, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry. This will be developed with a set of 'combined structure problems' which simulate real-world situations where unknown organic compounds are identified solely from their spectroscopic data.
Year 2
Year 2 takes a more in-depth look at inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. You will expand your experimental work, developing the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to become a competent professional. Additional modules covering experimental and analytical chemistry will expand your skills for interpreting results using modern spectroscopic investigations. An optional professional placement year provides an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of how chemistry is applied in an industrial situation.
Core modules
30 credits
This module contains four main strands: electrochemistry, phase equilibria, kinetics and spectroscopy.
You will investigate the electrochemistry of ionic solutions and cells, and its applications to chemical thermodynamics. You will learn how to interpret phase diagrams.
You will explore kinetics and thermodynamics, including transition state theory of chemical reactions, complex reaction mechanisms and their kinetic analysis. You will be introduced to statistical thermodynamics and partition functions.
You will discover the quantum mechanics and the theory underlying both rotational (microwave) and vibrational (Infra-red and Raman) spectroscopies.
30 credits
You will increase your knowledge of analysis and practical procedures, with an emphasis on analytical and experimental organic chemistry.
Your laboratory skills will be taken to a new level, as you develop the research skills required to devise experiments and then objectively assess results. The Future Skills Explore learning outcomes are delivered in this module. You will develop other important graduate attributes and skills, such as utilising statistics, preparing high-quality reports and delivering presentation, all of which improve employability.
The analytical methodologies and experimental techniques are those used routinely in academia, industry, and other laboratory research: spectroscopy, organic syntheses, molecular modelling, inorganic and physical chemistries, and the uses of applied separation technologies in common use. This module aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly those related to Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9).
30 credits
You will build upon the theory and principles developed previously and apply these to second and third row transition metals, the lanthanides and Groups 14 and 15.
You will be introduced to solid state chemistry with a consideration of defects and conductivity, the bonding and reactivity of inorganic complexes and organometallics.
The fundamental knowledge on Main Group and Transition Metal chemistry will help you to understand concepts of modern industrial processes and materials design.
This module meets some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), including Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9).
30 credits
The module develops understanding of both Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry introducing important principles, reactions, and mechanisms in organic chemical reactivity as well as basic mechanisms of drug action.
You will build on concepts introduced in your first year, including carbanion reactivity of carbonyl compounds, the reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds, stereochemistry and asymmetric synthesis. You will also be introduced to drug design and the role this plays in the modern pharmaceutical industry, including retrosynthesis and the use of it in identifying different synthetic routes in manufacturing generic drugs.
You will explore sustainable options for synthesis, which contributes to the UN Sustainability Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), using examples from a range of medicinal areas to illustrate these key processes.
Year 3
In Year 3, you will undertake more specialised study of the inorganic, physical and organic chemistry.
You will apply the knowledge you have gained to your project module, which forms an important part of this year's work and allows you to investigate a research topic in a chosen area of interest.
Core modules
30 credits
This module addresses some of the most current and industrially relevant areas of applied chemistry.
Key topics include polymer chemistry, Nano materials synthesis and applications, heterogeneous catalysis, green chemistry, sustainable practices in chemistry, intellectual property and health and safety.
You will gain a grounding in commercially and industrially relevant topics in chemistry as well as honing key employability skills.
Several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are particularly relevant to this module, including SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
30 credits
You will enhance your knowledge of atomic and molecular electronic structure, photochemistry and spectroscopy.
You will hone your understanding of important concepts of surface chemistry through the study of various surface phenomena, such as spectroscopy and photochemistry, surface adsorption and micellisation.
The inorganic chemistry topics focus on ligands with multiple donor atoms and their complexes, applications in supramolecular chemistry, and aspects of main group chemistry.
30 credits
You will learn all about the role and journey that natural products take in drug discovery as they play an important role in medicinal chemistry. These include commonly used drugs such as Aspirin to potent pain relievers such as morphine and complex chemotherapy drugs like Taxol.
You will gain theoretical and practical skills in the isolation of drug-like molecules from nature, all the way through to the biosynthesis and synthesis as well as isolation from natural sources of some exciting naturally derived compounds.
This module aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 15: Life on Land. These goals collectively support the broader aim of sustainable development and improving global health.
The Future Skills Apply learning outcomes are delivered in this module.
30 credits
The module provides you with an opportunity to undertake a scientific project and develop skills required to plan a project, develop a methodology, analyse the data and disseminate the results.
There are several types of projects that may be offered to you: laboratory, data projects involving acquisition of data and information from surveys, computer simulations, or a systematic review of research literature that includes the collection, analysis, and original presentation of reported research data.
Your project will include a review and critical evaluation of qualitative and quantitative information and data to address a hypothesis or research question, and the production of a written report.
Science Foundation Year
If you would like to study one of our science degrees at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you can include an extra foundation year within your chosen degree. Please see the science foundation year course page for details of modules.
Future Skills and careers opportunities
Graduates from our Chemistry BSc (Hons) course go on to work in areas such as research, chemistry, product development and engineering, and teaching.
Types of jobs include:
- Analytical chemist
- Teacher
- Quality assurance scientist
- Regulatory analysis
- Clinical skills technician
- Development technologist
- Senior chemist
- Quality control analyst
- Project assistant
- Medical representative
Employers our graduates have go on to work for include:
- Eli Lilly
- Allergy Therapeutics
- GSK
- AWEC Plc
- Scapa
- Isolagen
- Leatherhead Food Research
- Martindale Pharmaceuticals
- Ashfield Healthcare
- Schwarz Pharma
Embedded within this course and throughout the whole Kingston experience is our Future Skills programme. The Future Skills programme was developed to respond to the ever-evolving demands from modern day employment.
It will help you obtain the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability, and learn how to apply these skills in different scenarios. You’ll also learn how to articulate to employers how being able to do so gives you the edge.
The lecturers and facilities are great. They were very helpful when it came to industrial placement, with CV workshops and mock interviews to help me with my application. I am planning to further my studies into a masters in drug design and hopefully go into the research field one day!
At ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it
For more information on how Kingston prepares you for the future job market, visit our Future Skills page.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars, small group tutorials and practical sessions.
It may also include placements, project work, workshops, conferences and field trips.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 27% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 29% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 3: 35% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 75%; exams 25%
- Year 2: Coursework 65%; exams 35%
- Year 3: Coursework 66%; exams 34%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 35 students and lecture sizes are normally 35–130Â. However this can vary by module and academic year.
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ is a great place to study due to the high level of teaching delivered and the large amount of support given. The University has invested a large amount into brand-new teaching labs and equipment, enabling us to undertake practical sessions.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| £9,535* | |
| Foundation Year: | £9,535 |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £18,500 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £19,200 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £19,900 |
| Year 4 (2028/29): | £20,700 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed in our Fees and Funding section. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Specific courses may require uniforms, specialty clothing, or specific equipment like lab coats and safety shoes. ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ will supply you with a lab coat and safety goggles at the start of the year.
Some courses may require professional memberships.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
The staff care a lot about the students and are supportive throughout anyone's time here, the personal tutor scheme is fantastic if you're having any kind of problems, whether university- related or personal. The lecturers also have an open door policy; if you're having any problems with coursework or lecture material any lecturer is happy for you to visit them in their office or arrange a time to go over anything you're struggling with.
I chose to study in Kingston because it is a very multi-cultured location. The place is beautiful and with the River Thames flowing through, it is a nice place to relax and just spend time with your friends. Kingston is a very warm and serene place to learn.
Entering university straight from college can seem as a very daunting situation, as it was for me. However, at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, it quickly became apparent that this would not be an issue. What I loved most was how personable the lecturers were. They truly showed they cared for my education and my success at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ. This greatly contributed to me graduating with a 2:1 in BSc Chemistry, which led me to go on and gain a masters degree in MRes Chemistry, from which I graduated with a distinction!
For me, studying at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ was a life-changing experience. Probably, one of the key factors to making my three years great was the lecturers. They were a huge asset to my journey. Not only did they help provide me with the tools to excel in my career but also gave me the confidence to pursue further studies. Last year I graduated for my masters and have already started my PhD in Chemistry – something I never thought I could do.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
