Chemistry Study Guide 2026/27
What you can study
The University of Bristol's School of Chemistry offers a unique environment in which to study chemistry. As the country's only Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in chemistry, you will be taught by internationally renowned scientists in world-class labs. We are ranked in the UK top 10 for Chemistry (Guardian Universities League Table 2022) and 3rd in the UK for Chemistry research (Times Good University Guide 2022).
We offer a superb laboratory teaching environment for undergraduate teaching. Our academic staff include the authors of textbooks that are used globally for teaching undergraduate chemistry.
You will find units on:
- materials chemistry
- biological life chemistry
- environmental life chemistry
Pre-requisites
At UK universities, students specialise from their first year and rarely take units outside their degree subject. This means that:
- Year 1 units are suitable for all students.
- Year 2 units require some university study in the discipline.
- Year 3 units require a strong background in the discipline.
- Masters-level units require three years of university study in the discipline.
Subject pathway students
If you have been nominated to Bristol on the Study Abroad (Chemistry pathway), you must take the majority of your credits from this guide.
Year 1
Pre-requisites: suitable for all students
It is likely not possible to take units across different year levels due to the complexity of the timetables. We advise that you select all your units from one year level.
Teaching Block 1
- Big Ideas in Science - CHEM10001
- Building Blocks of Chemistry 1 - CHEM10023
- Materials Chemistry: The Materials World - CHEM10016
Teaching Block 2
- Building Blocks of Chemistry 2 - CHEM10022
- Life Chemistry: Life through the chemical lens - CHEM10012
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 2
Pre-requisites: some university study in the discipline.
It is likely not possible to take units across different year levels due to the complexity of the timetables. We advise that you select all your units from one year level.
Teaching Block 1
- Biological Life Chemistry - CHEM20011
- Core Concepts in Chemistry 1 - CHEM20015
- Materials Chemistry: Materials for Energy - CHEM20005
Teaching Block 2
- Chemical Models and Prediction - CHEM20008
- Core Concepts in Chemistry 2 - CHEM20016
- Environmental Life Chemistry - CHEM20012
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 3
Pre-requisites: strong background of study in the discipline.
It is likely not possible to take units across different year levels due to the complexity of the timetables. We advise that you select all your units from one year level.
Teaching Block 1
- Advanced Chemical Models and Prediction - CHEM30032
- Advanced Chemistry Research Project - International - CHEM30034. Please see the 'Project units' section for further information. This is a 60 credit unit so students will not be able to take other units alongside this in Teaching Block 1.
- Advanced Environmental Life Chemistry - CHEM30029
- The Art of Chemistry 1 - CHEM30036
Teaching Block 2
- Advanced Biological Life Chemistry - CHEM30028
- Advanced Chemistry Research Project - International - CHEM30034. Please see the 'Projects units' section for further information. This is a 60 credit unit so students will not be able to take other units alongside this in Teaching Block 2.
- Materials Chemistry: Material Interfaces - CHEM30031
- The Art of Chemistry 2 - CHEM30035
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Masters-level units
Pre-requisites: at least 3 years of study in the discipline.
It is likely not possible to take units across different year levels due to the complexity of the timetables. We advise that you select all your units from one year level.
Teaching Block 1
Teaching Block 2
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
- Advanced Topics in Current Research 2 - CHEMM0051
- Project for MSci Chemistry - CHEMM0001. Please see the 'Project units' section for further information.
Project units
The following project units are open on the condition that you have decided on a research project topic prior to your arrival in Bristol and confirmed these details with the academic member of staff and the School admin office. If a supervisor is unavailable to support a project, students may be required to select an alternative unit.
Year 3
Teaching Block 1 and Teaching Block 2
- Advanced Chemistry Research Project - International - CHEM30034. Students can choose to take this unit in Teaching Block 1 or Teaching Block 2. Please note this is a 60 credit unit so students will be unable to take another unit alongside this in the relevant semester.
Masters-level
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Application queries
Contact the Centre for Study Abroad inbound team if you have any queries about the application process for the study abroad programmes:
Phone: +44 117 39 40207
Email: cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk