To help you stand out in the pharmaceutical industry, this course gives you both a solid understanding of the theory and practical skills required to succeed. For working in big pharma, it’s everything you need it to be.

Chemists have been instrumental in ridding the world of killer diseases and developing drugs that improve the lives and outcomes for millions of people worldwide. As a medicinal chemist, you’ll be at the forefront of this battle as you discover how chemicals and drugs work.

Become a specialist

Rather than the broad range of modules and knowledge you’ll get on a traditional chemistry course, this course is designed to give you the specific specialist knowledge to work in the pharmaceutical or drug development industry. The in-depth study of pharmaceutical techniques you’ll be learning will support you when you graduate to save lives through the development of the next generation of drugs and treatments.

Supporting you

You’ll be joining a course where you’re truly supported – both academically and personally. The Royal Society of Chemistry commended our pastoral support, recognising the commitment of our staff to student wellbeing and success.

But the support doesn’t stop there. In your first year, you’ll be paired with a student mentor – someone who’s already been through the transition to university and can offer advice, encouragement, and guidance as you settle into degree-level study. Whether you need help navigating your timetable, preparing for assessments, or just adjusting to student life, your mentor is there to help.

Relevant to industry

Working with industry and future employers like AstraZeneca, we developed this course and annually consult with them to update it. This gives you the best work-like learning experience, familiarising you with the protocols and processes used in industry all before you graduate.

Get industry experience

Through group work and the Professional Practice module you’ll start designing your own experiments and trying things out. Developing problem solving skills by testing and learning are valuable skills for any chemist to have and we make sure you get this experience right from the start of your course. We’ve also embedded employability skills in the course so you are not only learning theory and skills, but you know where to find your dream job and how to apply for it.

Top quality support

96% of chemistry students were positive about the teaching and academic support on their course. National Student Survey 2025.

High quality accredited courses

Our courses are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. We work closely with industry and know what they want from graduates. With that in mind, we’re constantly developing our Chemistry courses to meet these needs.

Study in our outstanding chemistry facilities

Our labs are some of the best in the UK, whether you are studying in groups in our large SuperLab or working on smaller or individual projects in our ISTeC building.

Learn from the experts

at a university rated TEF ‘Gold’ for teaching and learning.

This course is packed with work-like learning experiences designed to prepare you for the real world of chemistry from day one.

You'll build over 300 hours of hands-on lab experience throughout your course, developing the skills and confidence you'll need in the workplace. You'll also benefit from strong connections with industry – employers are involved in shaping the skills you develop, and many take part in our careers fairs, offering invaluable advice and networking opportunities. Our alumni are also on hand to share their experiences and help you navigate your own career path.

A standout feature of the course is our professional skills modules, which were praised by the Royal Society of Chemistry for their innovative approach. These modules are built around real-world problems set by employers. In one, students work in teams on a medicinal chemistry project, where they design, synthesise, and present potential drug targets to industry professionals. In another, students are challenged to analyse contaminated river water, identifying pollutants and producing an environmental report for a mock client.

Summer Research Placements

Take your learning beyond the classroom with a fully funded summer research placement. You'll work alongside expert researchers on cutting-edge projects, contributing to impactful research that tackles real-world challenges. Many projects are connected to our internationally recognised research activities, while some are supported by industry partners, giving you valuable experience of commercial collaborations and applied research. It's a fantastic way to develop your skills, strengthen your CV and discover where a career in research could take you. Placements are competitive and subject to availability.

Get ready to embark on an adventure with our study abroad programs at partner universities or by getting a work placement overseas. Both opportunities will boost your employability, build lifelong friendships, and allow you to experience the world in a whole new way.

Course accreditations

Choosing a degree accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), a global mark of quality, tells employers you’ve studied chemistry to the highest professional standards. RSC accreditation means your course is designed to give you the skills, knowledge, and practical experience that industry values most – setting you up for a successful and rewarding career in chemistry.

What’s more, this accredited degree puts you on the pathway to becoming a Chartered Chemist (CChem) – a respected professional status that can open doors in the UK and internationally after you graduate.

Module information

A standard full-time BSc (Hons) course is made up of 120 credits studied each year. Some courses may vary, however, and you can find information on the total number of credits achieved per module below.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the

Year OneYear TwoOptional Placement YearFinal Year

ModulesExpand all +

Organic Structure and Function

Learn about the bonding and structure in organic molecules and functional group chemistry, with an emphasis on reactivity and mechanism.

20 credits

Inorganic Bonding and Solid-State Materials

Learn the fundamental concepts of theoretical and practical chemistry as well as aspects such as inorganic complexation reactions, indicator theory and acid-base systems.

Physical States of Matter

Study physical chemistry including kinetic theory of gases, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, phase equilibria and distillation processes.

Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Analysis

Learn basic chemical principles including chromatography, applied optical spectroscopy, statistical tests, electroanalytical techniques, and appropriate specialist methods.

Professional Development

Engage with real-life examples of how chemistry works, and understand the influence of social, economic or environmental factors on the way chemical sciences operate.

Introduction to Specialist Areas of Chemistry

These include Biological Chemistry of Drugs, Polymeric Materials and Environmental Issues.

This year we will be exploring more advanced concepts and you’ll have the opportunity to take a short placement to get you thinking about the world of work. We’ll also start to explore the processes involved in drug discovery and development.

Organic Chemistry

Learn more advanced concepts in synthetic organic chemistry, organic reaction mechanisms and reactivity, as well as advanced structural analysis through organic spectroscopic techniques.

Inorganic Chemistry

Develop the concepts introduced in Year One and learn about structural chemistry in relation to chemical behaviour, functionality, reactivity and identification of inorganic molecules.

Physical Chemistry

Learn the basic principles of surface and colloid chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis and concepts of heat and mass transfer associated with industrial processes.

Analytical Chemistry

Builds on Year One with a focus on interfering sample matrices, quantitative and qualitative identification of multicomponent samples and measurements under non-ideal conditions.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Introduces you to the processes involved in drug discovery and the steps taken by the medicinal chemist in order to take a lead compound and develop a drug for market.

Professional Practice

Develop the skills and experience that employers value most, working on real-world chemistry projects shaped by industry experts. You’ll explore topics such as commercialisation, intellectual property, ethics, and data analysis, while practising teamwork, problem-solving, and technical skills. By the end, you’ll be confident in showing employers how your chemistry degree has prepared you for a wide range of careers.

Optional year-long work placement. If you are not taking a placement you will progress directly to your final year in year three.

We move on to advanced topics, including the applications of medicinal chemistry. You’ll carry out independent research for your final year project, and you’ll have greater input in deciding which modules you study, depending on your own interests and career aspirations.

Core modulesExpand all +

Develop plans and carry out a substantial independent research project of publishable quality. Understand the principles of analytical work and the limitations of experimental design.

40 credits

Advanced Chemistry

Study advanced topics across the spectrum of chemistry including heterocyclic chemistry, reaction mechanisms at metal centres, and molecular self-assembly and polymer chemistry in solution.

Advanced Medicinal Chemistry

Integrates academic and industrial aspects of learning and applying medicinal chemistry. You'll learn about drug action and synthesis as well as gaining an introduction to disease states.

Advanced Organic Chemistry

Builds on the previous concepts presented in organic chemistry, and introduces you to concepts of total synthesis, asymmetric synthesis and advanced theories in pericyclic reactions.

Optional modules – choose oneExpand all +

Advanced Chemical Analysis

Develop through advanced topics in the theory and practice of chemical analysis, including method development from first principles through to final presentation, method validation, and group work.

Nano and Green Chemistry

Develop an appreciation of cutting-edge progress in nanomaterials and green chemistry, their use in domestic and engineering applications and the theory and practice of green chemistry.

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Student experience

Maddie Horrocks

Chemistry student

“Through the experience of doing placements, I have been able to consider different career paths, which has helped me gain clarity on my future goals.”

Read Maddie's profile

Andrew Robbins

“Do what excites you and if something does not work it is important to learn from it. Making mistakes is how we learn!”

Read Andrew's profile

Video Gallery

Watch our facility tour video to get an insight into the equipment you'll use and what you'll study on the course.

Chemistry | Facility Tour

How you're taught

You’ll learn through a mix of:

lectures - covering the key theories

seminars - smaller-group sessions perfect for learning key skills and collaborative working

practical sessions - using our extensive range of industry-standard facilities

workshops - this includes surgery sessions where you’ll meet with your lecturer in small groups to discuss any problems or work through challenging topics.

The rest of your time will be spent carrying out independent study such as reading textbooks and lecture notes, and working on exercises.

A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study.

Staff and student community

Whatever the support you need – whether it’s support around your studies or university life in general – you can be sure we’ve got you covered. On the academic and practical side of things you’ll get the support of your lecturers, personal tutors and technical staff, so there’s always someone to turn to. They will get to know you during your course and can help you target support where you need it most.

Our mentoring scheme gives you support from other students on your course. They can give you practical advice on how to tackle a particular part of your studies or more general guidance on life as a student. They’ve been there and can give you a students’ perspective.

Hands-on learning

You’ll get to use our industry-standard equipment, such as our mass specs and x-ray crystallography, right from the very start of your course. From developing risk assessments and COSSH assessments you’ll know how a professional lab works and how to follow laboratory processes and protocols used in industry – all valuable skills to have before you graduate.

Get published

During your project you’ll be working on real research projects often alongside our chemistry researchers. Our research papers are frequently published in international scientific journals with our students named as one of the contributing authors – a great start to your career.

Learn a new language

Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have. Find out more about the ULP.

How you're assessed

This course utilises a wide-variety of assessment methods to enable you to demonstrate your achievement.

Subject knowledge, understanding and problem-solving are assessed by unseen examinations, short answer tests, laboratory reports, oral presentations and poster presentations.

Practical skills, relating to laboratory techniques and the recording, interpretation and analysis of experimental and computational data, are assessed in laboratory experiments and reports, and in project assessments.

A wide range of scientific and professional skills are assessed through written reports, skills portfolios, conference presentations, and work-like learning projects.

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in labs, lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Who will teach you?

Gareth Cave

Professor

Visit Gareth Cave's staff profile

Ray Leslie

Senior Lecturer

Visit Ray Leslie's staff profile

David Robinson

Principal Lecturer

Dr. Robinson is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Chemistry and the admissions tutor for all undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry courses.

Visit David Robinson's staff profile

Lee Martin

Associate Professor

Lee is Associate Professor in Materials Chemistry.

Visit Lee Martin's staff profile

Warren Cross

Principal Lecturer and Course Manager

Visit Warren Cross's staff profile

Emma Smith

Visit Emma Smith's staff profile

Christopher Garner

Visit Christopher Garner's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level equivalent Chemistry grade C

Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level equivalent Chemistry grade C

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

Additional requirements

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Contextual offers

We consider every application in the context of your individual circumstances and educational background. This may include information about where you live, the school or college you attended, or experiences that may have shaped your educational journey. This is known as a contextual offer, and we use information provided through UCAS to help inform our decisions. By considering achievement in context, we can better recognise academic potential and ensure applicants are assessed as fairly and fully as possible.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Other qualifications and experience

NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.

We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.

Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including A-level equivalent Chemistry grade C. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional international requirements

Additional requirements for international students

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students - see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£10,050 per year

Year abroad - £1,507

Placement year - £2,010

If you choose to do a placement year or year abroad, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year. Please be aware that you will be charged the fee set for the year this takes place, rather than being fixed at the rate applicable when you start your course, and any increases are subject to Government approval. As a guide, the fees above are for the 2027/28 academic year.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students - see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

£18,400 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Final year project and dissertation

Students will be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final dissertation copies in their final year - estimated costs approximately £20 - £50.

Scientific Calculator

You will require a scientific calculator for use in examinations (e.g. any A-level approved calculator such as Casio 83 or 85 series, approximately £15).

Year abroad

If you choose to study abroad for a year, you may need to consider additional costs such as visas, vaccinations, accommodation and travel expenses.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Accreditations are the seal of approval from professional bodies and are our assurance to you that our courses are relevant to and valued by industry.

Excellent placement opportunities

NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. That’s why all of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a work experience opportunity. Our experts help build and support your future with a range of career programmes and events.

On this course, after your second year, you will have the opportunity to take a year's work placement (sandwich placement). This will give you the chance to gain vital experience and put your knowledge into practice. You're also twice as likely to secure a graduate job within six months if you take a work placement.

Our recent Chemistry students have taken placements across a wide range of companies including Scott Bader, Alpha Analytical Laboratory, AkzoNobel and Institute Medical Research. They secured varied roles such as Research Assistant, Trainee Ink Chemist and Logistics Analyst.

You'll be supported and assessed throughout your placement year and will write a reflective report and diary at the end of your placement. When you successfully complete your placement you will be eligible to receive an additional award of a Diploma in Professional Practice.

Find out more about work placements.

"I was excited to have the opportunity of a year’s placement, to experience work in industry, make some money, and see if it was something I wanted to do in the future. The academic staff were very supportive in helping me find a placement. This included a mock interview session and CV writing tips.

After the experience of working in industry and working with developing areas of chemistry in the final year, I have begun to pursue a career in analytical chemistry."

Charlotte Boughton

NTU Chemistry student

Your future career

Our Chemistry graduates have excellent employment prospects because they possess a wide range of academic and transferable skills that are suited to a broad range of roles and industries. Your studies at NTU will prepare you well for employment in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and related industries. Over the years we have developed strong links with some of the biggest names in the industry and many of our students have secured work placements and careers with these companies.

Many graduates also choose to go onto further study on one of our Masters-level courses or MPhil and PhD research degrees.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have successful careers in organisations such as:

Scott Bader

Alpha Analytical

Eurofins Laboratory

SATRA Technology Centre

AkzoNobel

Institute Medical Research

Our graduates are…

Graduates from this course now work in a wide range of roles such as:

Associate Scientist

Research Assistant

Trainee Ink Chemist

QA Analyst

Synthetic Chemist

Medicinal Chemistry Assistant

Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll be studying in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) and Rosalind Franklin Building, which includes our SuperLab and Analytical Suite. You'll be allocated your own fume hood and have access to equipment, including mass spectrometers and NMR machines.

Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures. Catch up with your course mates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!

You’re also only four miles away from the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. During term time, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you there and back in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, cinemas, vintage shopping and an acclaimed food and drink scene.

Chemistry Pod in 360°

Explore the Analytical and Microscopy Suite in 360°

Explore the Library at Clifton Campus in 360°

Rosalind Franklin Building

For more information visit the Rosalind Franklin Building page.

Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC)

For more information visit the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) page.

Take a virtual tour

Applying

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Keeping up-to-date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Apply through UCAS

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply through NTU portal

Personal statement guidance

You’ll submit a personal statement with your UCAS application – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

Chemistry

BSc (Hons)

Biochemistry

Medicinal Chemistry

MChem (Hons)

More from this subject

View more courses on the Chemistry subject page

Further study

View Chemistry postgraduate courses

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