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5 reasons to study chemistry at Bath

From placements to student experience, there are lots of reasons to study chemistry at Bath. Here are our top 5.

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Study the structure, properties and synthesis of matter and get ready for a wide range of careers from industry to business or healthcare. With our highly practical Chemistry courses, you'll gain the knowledge and skills you need to tackle a range of problems in chemistry.

We offer chemistry courses in:

  • Chemistry. Study an introduction to all areas of chemistry, gaining the practical and theoretical skills needed to design experiments and test hypotheses.
  • Chemistry for Drug Discovery. Gain a solid foundation in chemistry with a focus on the preparation of drugs and medicines, how they work, and the steps involved in the drug discovery process.
  • Chemistry with Management. Combine your love of chemistry with an interest in business, gaining a broad education in chemistry with an understanding of the social, legal and economic implications of the decisions managers in industry must make.

Here are our top 5 reasons to study chemistry at Bath.

1. Keep your options open

Our chemistry degrees all have the same core units in the first year with the option to specialise as you progress.

You'll be able to explore and move seamlessly between areas such as nanotechnology, drug development, sustainability and new materials, ready to be part of the next generation of scientists.

Gain a broad introduction to the main areas of chemistry and have the chance to try out topics in management or drug discovery. You can build on that experience and specialise later in the course. All of our Chemistry courses offer the opportunity to transfer to a Master's degree (MChem).

You can also put your learning to practical use with the wide range of projects we offer during our courses. During the BSc, you can choose between public engagement, dissertation, school-based activities, chemistry laboratory or computational-based chemistry projects. The MChem gives greater exposure to research and advanced practical techniques, with increasing emphasis on projects toward the end of the course.

2. Enjoy a great student experience

Meet others and find activities to help you enjoy your time and succeed in your studies, right from the start.

Before you arrive, you'll have the chance to talk via social media with others who'll be starting with you and students already on the course.

Once here, you'll be welcomed by our Chem Crew student mentors, who'll help with everything from studying to social life. You'll also be assigned a personal tutor who'll guide you throughout the course.

Our active student chemistry society, Chem: Soc, is also a great way to meet new people from all years and course options. As well as social events like movie screenings, sports nights and the annual Chemistry Ball, Chem: Soc can help you navigate university life or provide support on chemistry topics you're finding tricky.

3. Go on a professional placement

Improve your employability and take advantage of our strong links with industry on a placement.

More than half of our students choose to go on a placement, with many being paid or funded.

You'll get the opportunity to create valuable contacts and develop transferable skills such as problem solving and time management to prepare you for a competitive work environment. The experience you gain can also help with the rest of your degree.

Our award-winning placements team work with everyone from tech start-ups to multi-nationals and research councils, helping you make the most of the opportunities. You will receive dedicated support when you're looking for, and throughout, your placement.

Recent Chemistry students have gone on a professional placement with companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Institute of Cancer Research, Johnson and Johnson, L'Oreal, IBM, and Volkswagen.

The quality of our placements programme is also one of the reasons we're accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

'I went on placement with Charles River Laboratories, which was an invaluable year. It's given me so much and really inspired me to continue throughout the last year of my degree and pursue chemistry beyond that as well.' — Jess Salamone, MChem Chemistry with professional placement (2024).

4. Gain practical experience

Whether you're planning a career in chemistry or in related areas, you'll get plenty of hands-on experience at Bath.

Learn core experimental skills in well-equipped labs on our highly practical chemistry courses.

You'll gain fantastic experience of problem solving, group working and report writing, preparing you for a wide variety of careers.

Our past graduates have gone on to work in a huge range of areas, including industry, science research, education and the public sector, including drug manufacturing, brewing, microbial analysis, cosmetic science and marine science.

Chemistry Undergraduate Lab Tour from University of Bath on Vimeo.

5. Be inspired by world-leading research

Alongside their teaching role, our academics carry out their own research.

Learn from and be inspired by experts in the field. Our teaching staff are heavily engaged in research, keeping courses up-to-date and allowing you to benefit from discussions around the latest developments in chemistry. You may also have the opportunity to work on research with them, giving you experience of real world research and adding to your growing CV.

You can read about some of our latest research here:

Find out more about studying chemistry at Bath

Chat to a chemistry student