School of Chemistry
Undergraduate Courses
Discoveries in chemistry have dramatically altered our view of the world and the way we live day-to-day. Penicillin, painkillers, LCD TVs – we owe them all to chemistry!
Our degrees can be taken as either a three-year BSc degree or a four-year MChem degree. The BSc and MChem programmes share a common first two years, meaning it is possible to switch degree courses in either direction during the first two years of the course.
All our Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry courses satisfy Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) rules for accreditation (MChem) or recognition (BSc), a guarantee that you have the breadth and depth of knowledge to be a professional chemist.
It is also possible to gain additional experience by incorporating a year in industry or a year abroad into your degree.
During all of our degree courses you will undertake a research project in one of our world-leading research groups, giving you hands-on experience of academic research focussed on a topic that particularly excites you. Our approachable staff are always available to discuss your interests, and you may even become a published author before your graduate!
Find out about the 'Leicester experience' directly from our students: student experience, year in industry.
I am really enjoying my time at the University of Leicester studying Chemistry because the Chemistry Department is really supportive. From the moment I started there was so much encouragement from lecturers. There is an open-door policy so whenever I have needed support or advice, I can knock on my lecturer's door, and they are there to help. Support goes beyond the lecture theatre and academics. The department has been amazing in relation to career advice and helping me secure my industrial placement while also providing wellbeing support too. What I particularly love about the teaching is that my lecturers are all conducting active research and it is great because they bring what they are researching into my lectures. I have really benefited from seeing real-life applications of what I am learning and how it links to what is being done in industry. I am glad that I picked a research-intensive University.
- 9th in the UK for Chemistry (Guardian 2025)
- 5th in the UK for overall student positivity (NSS 2024)
- Top 10 Chemistry Department in 5 out of 7 National Student Survey themes (NSS 2023)
- 91% of students employed or in further education within 15 months of graduation (NSS 2024)
- 22nd in the UK for Chemistry research (Research Excellence Framework, REF 2021)
Our degrees
BSc degrees provide an excellent route to a wide range of careers in industry, commerce, finance, journalism, and the public sector. The MChem is designed for those wishing to train to a more advanced level as professional chemists. Graduates go on to careers or further study in the chemical sciences, or use their chemistry and other transferable skills in a wide number of different employment sectors. It is possible to change between BSc and MChem degrees while you're here.
Chemistry
Chemistry is often referred to as the 'central science'. A deep understanding of chemistry has impacts on all aspects of our daily lives, from the food we eat to the fertilisers used to help feed the world, and from the chemicals in our medicines and pharmaceuticals to the catalysts that allow these chemicals to be produced sustainably. Our chemistry courses offer the perfect overview of this ever-changing science.
Chemistry BSc (with optional year in industry)
Full-time, 3-4 years | UCAS code: F100
Discoveries in chemistry can lead to all kinds of breakthroughs in fields like health and medicine, energy and the environment, technology and materials – to name just a few. This degree is about learning and training across a range of areas, to give you more choice in where your career can go.
Chemistry MChem (with optional year abroad or year in industry)
Full-time, 4 years | UCAS code: F105, F107, F106
This four-year degree expands on the Chemistry BSc to prepare you for high-level entry into the industry. It’s also a solid base for pursuing PhD research.
Chemistry with Foundation Year BSc (with optional year in industry)
Full-time, 4 years | UCAS code: F991
If you would love to study chemistry here at Leicester, but you don’t quite have the entry requirements, this Foundation Year degree is your path to making it happen.
Medicinal Chemistry
Chemical processes underpin much of drug action and drug development, biochemistry, and the pharmaceutical industry. Our Medicinal Chemistry degrees provide a frim grounding in identification of drug targets, and drug development, delivery, and optimisation.
Medicinal Chemistry BSc (with optional year in industry)
Full-time, 3-4 years | UCAS code: F120
Every infection-fighting and disease-treating drug owes a great debt to chemistry. In this degree, you’ll be given a solid grounding in chemistry and its role alongside drug development.
Medicinal Chemistry MChem (with optional year abroad or year in industry)
Full-time, 4 years | UCAS code: F121, F122, F123
This four-year degree expands on the Chemistry BSc to prepare you for high-level entry into the industry. It’s also a solid base for pursuing PhD research.