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 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.

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
This is for you if... you love chemistry and you want a thorough understanding of its many areas.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry BSc (with optional year in industry)
Full-time, 3-4 years | UCAS code: F154
This is for you if... you love chemistry and want to understand the way chemists develop new drugs. From curing cancer to treating malaria, chemists are at the forefront of drug design.

Chemistry with Forensic Science BSc (with optional year in industry)
Full-time, 3-4 years | UCAS code: F1F4
This is for you if... you love chemistry and want to get first-hand knowledge of the chemistry needed in Forensic Science; do you have what it takes to be a chemistry crime fighter?

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 is for you if... you love chemistry and want to carve out a career as a professional research chemist in industry or the public sector, or study for a PhD in the subject.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry MChem (with optional year studying abroad or in industry)
Full-time, 4 years | UCAS code: F150, F153, F152
This is for you if... you love chemistry and want to understand the way chemists develop new drugs, with a view to a career in that field, or a related PhD.

Chemistry with Forensic Science MChem (with optional year studying abroad or in industry)
Full-time, 4 years | UCAS code: F1FL, F1FK, F1F5
This is for you if... you love chemistry and want to get first-hand knowledge of the chemistry needed in forensic science, with a view to a career in that field, or a related PhD.