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 (transfer from the BSc to the MChem is subject to satisfactory progress at the end of the first and second year of study, based on grades achieved).

All our Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry courses satisfy Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) rules for accreditation (MChem) or recognition (BSc) (PDF, 878kb), 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. Rosie Horwood, an MChem student, has written a blog about her experiences throughout an industrial placement in the 2022-23 academic year.

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!

BSc degrees

A BSc degree provides the rigorous training in chemistry and allied skills to allow you to further your studies in chemistry via an MSc or to use your chemistry and other gained transferable skills in a number of different employment sectors (see our careers section for more details).

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.

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.

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.

MChem Chemistry degrees

Those who have a strong desire to be a professional chemist should apply for one of the four-year MChem degrees on offer. The MChem courses have a strong emphasis on research and professional training in the final two years and provide a much firmer basis than the BSc for a career as a chemist in industry or academia.

On an MChem degree you have three options for your third year: a year abroad, an industrial placement, or further study in Leicester.

Chemistry MChem (with optional year studying abroad or 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.

Medicinal Chemistry MChem (with optional year studying abroad or in industry)
Full-time, 4 years | UCAS code: F121, F122, F123
This four-year degree expands on the Medicinal Chemistry BSc to prepare you for high-level entry into the industry. It’s also a solid base for pursuing PhD research.