This five-year MChem degree is designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers by providing a strong foundation in core chemistry, alongside specialist topics such as pharmaceuticals, computational chemistry, biology, and materials science. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop valuable practical and digital skills through hands-on laboratory experience and modernised lab teaching. This broad scientific training enhances your employability across diverse sectors, from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to research and industry.

During the undergraduate degree, you’ll study a comprehensive chemistry curriculum covering chemical reactivity, atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, kinetics, organic synthesis, inorganic chemistry and catalysts, as well as advanced techniques such as multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.

You will gain a broad and balanced foundation of chemical knowledge and practical skills and apply this to create solutions for theoretical and practical problems in chemistry.

Your learning will include extensive laboratory work, to provide you with hands-on experience and opportunities to link theoretical knowledge from lectures to the real world. You will develop your practical abilities, confidence, and communication skills in addition to your extensive, cutting-edge theoretical knowledge of chemistry to become highly employable upon graduation. Chemistry graduates from Heriot-Watt University have a good reputation with employers who appreciate this unique combination of skills and knowledge. This will allow you to work in several roles across a diversity of fields within the pharmaceutical, biomedical, biochemical, health care, agriculture, food, drink and water industries. Opportunities also exist in the chemical, petroleum, electronic, aerospace and communications industries.

In addition to career pathways that directly use your practical skills and chemical knowledge, you can apply your problem-solving abilities, numeracy and other transferable graduate skills to careers beyond the chemistry industry. The broad range of skills involved in a chemistry degree means chemistry graduates are in high demand in other employment sectors, ranging from environmental protection to education, and commerce.

*1st in Scotland and 7th in the UK based on teaching quality

Your student experience

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Our expertise

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Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active chemical scientists and academics. Your learning will be directly informed by the work and research within Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Chemical Sciences (ICS) which focuses on understanding chemistry at the atomic level, how atoms interact to form molecules and extended systems with useful and interesting properties

Research in ICS encompasses a wide field in response to the needs of a modern technological society. The broad spectrum of interests of the research staff ranges from fundamental aspects of pure chemistry to interdisciplinary areas which involve interactions with physics, biochemistry, and applied science. ICS has excellent facilities that support research and research facilities have been created for high-resolution multinuclear NMR, X-ray crystallography (both single-crystal and powder), laser science, a continuum flow lab, and computational chemistry. Each of these areas has attracted major research funding.

Research in ICS is divided into three main research groupings:

Dynamics and Structure

Materials Chemistry

Molecular Chemistry

The research and industry focused nature of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and up to date with current and emerging trends.

Course content

September Intake - Edinburgh

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Mandatory September

Principles of Chemistry

Introductory Chemistry Lab and Skills 1

Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 1

Optional September

Introductory Biology 1

Mechanics, Fields and Forces

Mandatory January

Chemical Reactivity

Introductory Chemistry Lab and Skills 2

Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 2

Optional January

Introductory Biology 2

Waves and Matter

Disclaimer

The courses mentioned above may change between now and the time that you study. For more information, please view our Terms and Conditions.

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Teaching staff

Programme Leader

Graeme Barker

Associate ProfessorSee more

Arno Kraft

Liam Donnelly

Assistant ProfessorSee more

Stephen M. Mansell

New RSC book by our Deputy Head of Chemistry: a lively, historically rich introduction to boron

I'm proud to present Boron: In Search of the Real Fifth Element, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Boron sits at a fascinating crossroads of the Periodic Table, and this book—built on material from my Edinburgh Fringe shows—brings the element to life with stories that range from the glass-making shortages of World War I to how boron impurities in nuclear reactors shaped outcomes in World War II. Written for A‑level and Advanced Higher students, chemistry undergraduates and the curious public, it reflects our department’s commitment to rigorous research, lively public engagement and teaching that connects historical insight with modern chemical understanding.Dr Stephen M. Mansell

Deputy Head of ChemistrySee more

Fees and funding

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September 2027 intake tuition fees

Scotland

Paid by SAAS

England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland

International

Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.

International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).

Scholarships and bursaries

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)View details

Entry requirements

If joining us in September 2027, please see the entry requirements below. Heriot-Watt offers different entry requirements, depending on your background.

Standard entry requirements

Highers AAAB (over two sittings). Must include Chemistry at A, and one of Maths or Physics or Engineering Science at B.

A-Levels BBB. Must include Chemistry at B, and either Maths or Physics at B.

International Baccalaureate 30 points. Must include Chemistry at Higher Level 5 and either Maths or Physics at Higher Level 5.

BTEC Extended Diploma DDM. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.

HNC A in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.

HND BB in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.

Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.

Minimum entry requirements *

Highers BBBC (over two sittings). Must include Chemistry at B, and one of Maths or Physics or Engineering Science at B.

A-Levels BCC. Must include Chemistry and either Maths or Physics, with one required subject at B.

International Baccalaureate 28 points. Must include Chemistry and Maths, both at Higher Level 5.

BTEC Extended Diploma DMM. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.

HNC B in graded unit. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.

HND BB. Must be relevant science subject including sufficient Chemistry and Maths.

*Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish and Rest of UK status students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20) or POLAR4 Quintile 1 regions (RUK)

or are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.

Additional information

For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.

If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk

For applicants studying HNC, HND or BTEC qualifications, when submitting your application please ensure you list in full all the units you are currently studying, as specific units (e.g. in Maths) may be required."

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.

Please see our detailed English language requirements.

Why Heriot-Watt

We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.

At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).

Employability

Work and study

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Potential career paths

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Natural and social science professionals

Managers, directors and senior officials

Engineering professionals

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