Chemistry
Chemistry informs everything, from developing new pharmaceuticals that will help fight disease, to arresting climate change.
Learn from experts
Benefit from innovative hybrid learning led by world experts whose research brings your degree to the cutting edge.
Global reputation
Chemistry at Bristol ranks in the UK top ten (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026) and our Chemistry research ranks first in the UK (THE analysis of REF 2021).
Outstanding facilities
Access industry-standard equipment, state-of-the-art teaching labs, high-performance computing and digital laboratory support.
Chemistry at Bristol
Bristol offers a unique environment in which to study chemistry. We are home to the award-winning Bristol ChemLabS.
Among our academic staff we have many leading scientists, some of whom are authors of major textbooks that help to teach chemistry to thousands of students here in Bristol and throughout the world.
Our strong reputation for teaching and research means that you'll be taught by internationally renowned scientists in world-class laboratory facilities.
You'll benefit from a hybrid learning model that blends the best of labs, workshops, small group tutorials, and online learning. In class your lecturers will use immediate feedback from you to adapt and respond to your understanding of the material.
Grow your confidence with our digital laboratory support, which lets you learn at your own pace and try out experiments online before your practical classes.
We also offer Chemistry with Computing, Chemical Physics, and Physics.
Being able to learn from world-leading researchers and their breadth of knowledge is second to none; it's brilliant. Bristol is a really vibrant city and there are loads of pubs, cafes, bars and nightclubs. If you're not into going out, there's still something here for you - you can take what you want from the city.
Harry
BSc Chemistry
Career prospects
Chemists are employed throughout the science industry and in teaching for their technical knowledge and expert understanding.
Past graduates have gone on to careers as Research and Development Chemists, Software Engineers, Civil Servants, Technology Risk Consultants and Financial Analysts.
Beyond this, employers in financial services, management, government and many more areas value the transferable skills that chemists possess, such as numeracy, communication skills and problem solving.
You'll graduate with an impressive range of skills including digital, problem-solving, analysis, organisation, presentation and communication skills. Our chemistry careers team will provide you with guidance and support right from the start of your degree. Careers events will help you to network with alumni and meet representatives from multinational companies, startups, government agencies and charities.
Graduates may also go on to further study at PhD level before pursuing their career.
Course structures
The first two years are common to all our courses. You will study fundamental concepts in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry and applications in areas such as analytical, environmental, materials and theoretical chemistry. You will develop your ability to design experiments and interpret results and will gain important skills through our chemistry-specific communications and mathematics units.
The final year of our BSc courses includes a project, with options to work in a research laboratory or local schools, helping to develop science resources or carrying out chemistry education research.
The final year of our MSci degrees includes a 20-week research project in which you will work with a member of academic staff and their research team on a current problem in chemistry. Many students have had their work published in internationally renowned chemistry journals.
Real-world experience
You could have the chance to work on a final-year research project in a laboratory, or help to develop science resources in a local school.
Choose our course 'with industrial experience' to spend your third year working in a paid position for a major chemical company. Recent partners have included AstraZeneca, Syngenta, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson Matthey.
Our single honours Chemistry degrees are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, so you will be recognised as a professional by prospective employers.