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2023/24
2024/25

BSc Chemistry with a Year in Industry or Research

  • UCAS code
    F107
  • A level offer
    BBB
  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

Study BSc Chemistry with a Year in Industry or Research and gain first-hand experience of the chemical or pharmaceutical industry.

During the first two years you will learn the core chemistry topics which all chemists need to know. Topics include trends in the periodic table, carbonyl group chemistry and chemical kinetics.

You will be taught by world-leading experts through a combination of lectures, lab classes, workshops and tutorials. In the National Student Survey 2023, 98% of students in the Department of Chemistry said that their course challenged them to achieve their best work very often or fairly often.

If you do not have an A level in Maths, you will take our first year Maths for Chemists module which covers all the topics you will need for Chemistry. Depending on your level of maths, you may have the opportunity to take an option from outside the department.

The work placement in your third year gives you the opportunity to gain industrial experience as well as the chance to apply your knowledge and skills to real-life situations. Recent host companies have included GSK, Unilever and Procter & Gamble.

In your final year you will study more advanced topics influenced by the cutting-edge chemistry taking place around you. The Department 's staff specialise in a number of areas including nanotechnology, synthesis, polymers and advanced materials, surface science and forensic analysis, providing a wide range of options for your final year research project.

If you are interested in teaching as a career, we offer a school-based project in your final year. You will spend one day a week for two terms working alongside both teachers and pupils on an individual project. This project gives you the necessary experience for teacher training applications and helps develop your professional skills for careers which involve working with people.

All our chemistry courses are very flexible and, depending on your grades, you can transfer between them at the end of your first or second year. This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

For more information, please visit the Department of Chemistry website.

Placement

We have a dedicated placements officer who can advise on career options, CVs and letters of application, as well as help you to find a placement. We have previously sent students to companies such as Coty (Rimmel), Dow Corning and GSK. Students have also been placed at foreign research institutions such as the University of Zaragoza, Aarhus University, the University of South Australia and NASA.

For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250

New international students: £27,650

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Placement year fees

If you spend a full year on placement, you will only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee for that year. For more information, please see our fees and funding pages or contact placements@reading.ac.uk.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

We incorporate skills development into each year of your degree, giving you a better chance of securing work when you leave university. Upon graduation you will have developed a range of skills which are essential for chemists but also make you highly desirable in all areas of employment. These include skills such as planning and organisation, handling information, communication, scientific and practical skills, ICT, problem solving, critical analysis and time management.

The experiences gained whilst working in industry also make you highly employable as they demonstrate independence, adaptability and business awareness.

Graduates go into a range of professions, including becoming analytical scientists, chemical sales reps, organic synthetic chemists, peptide chemists, research chemists and senior analysts, or pursue further academic study.

Past students have found work in a range of companies and organisations, including Evotec, Pharmaterials, Intertek, Reed, Police Service, Pfizer, CEM Analytical Services and Thames Water.