Chemistry with a Year in Industry MSci

4 Years On Campus Accelerated-bachelors Program

University of Birmingham

Program Overview

This MSci programme is perfect if you love chemistry and want to see how it works in the real world. You’ll explore everything from organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry to advanced topics, and spend a full year working in an industry placement—giving you skills and experience that make you stand out to employers.

Curriculum structure

Year 1
Your first year lays the foundations: you’ll dive into modules like Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Fundamental Maths for Chemists. Alongside your lab work, you’ll start building skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and scientific communication—essential for both your studies and future placement.

Year 2
In Year 2, you go deeper into the heart of chemistry with modules like Inorganic II, Organic II, and Physical II, while also choosing options such as Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, or Biological Chemistry to explore your interests. You’ll also prepare for your industry year with CV workshops, applications, and interview practice.

Year 3
This is your “Year in Industry,” where you’ll spend a full year working in a real-world industrial setting. You’ll gain hands-on experience, keep in touch with academic tutors, and showcase your work in reports and presentations—an invaluable bridge between study and professional life.

Year 4
Back on campus for your final year, you’ll focus on a major research project and advanced modules like Green Chemistry, Supramolecular Chemistry, or Materials for Sustainable Chemistry. This is your chance to specialise, push your research skills, and work with cutting-edge science.

Focus areas: Analytical chemistry, Medicinal chemistry, Computational chemistry, Biological chemistry, Sustainable materials, Green chemistry

Learning outcomes: You’ll graduate with strong knowledge across chemistry disciplines, hands-on research skills, the ability to solve real industrial problems, and professional experience that gives you a head start in your career.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, giving you a recognised route to professional membership and chartered status.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Birmingham is ranked in the top 100 globally by QS and 11th in the UK overall. Chemistry at Birmingham is 9th in the UK according to The Guardian University Guide 2026.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Birmingham, chemistry isn’t just something you read about—it’s something you do. From day one, you’ll get hands-on experience in state-of-the-art laboratories, using the same tools and techniques that professional chemists use in industry. Small group work, tutorials, and team experiments mean you’ll develop your practical, communication, and problem-solving skills, while preparing for your full Year in Industry placement. By the time you graduate, you won’t just understand chemistry—you’ll have lived it.

Here’s how you’ll gain real-world experience and skills:

Work in modern teaching and research laboratories, including the £40 million Collaborative Teaching Laboratory with wet and dry labs, giving you the feel of a professional chemistry environment.
Take weekly practical lab sessions from Year 1 onwards, using industry-standard instruments and techniques under expert supervision.
Collaborate in team-based projects and workshops, building communication, data analysis, and presentation skills.
Complete a full Year in Industry placement with leading partner companies, where you’ll apply your knowledge, produce a professional report, and present your work in a mini research symposium.
Undertake a major final-year research project in one of the university’s research groups, exploring cutting-edge topics like sustainable chemistry or advanced materials.
Benefit from strong industry links with companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, BASF, and AstraZeneca, opening doors for placements and future careers.
Access dedicated careers and placement support, including CV advice, interview preparation, and personalised guidance from the School of Chemistry and College careers teams.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this course means you’ll be ready to step straight into the world of chemistry with confidence. Whether you’re aiming to work as a professional chemist, research scientist, process development specialist, or technical consultant, you’ll have the skills, experience, and industry insight to make an impact. Because of your full Year in Industry placement, you’ll already have practical experience that sets you apart from other graduates:

Here’s how the University supports you and boosts your employability:

Careers and Placement Support: The College of Engineering & Physical Sciences Careers Team helps with CVs, interview practice, placement searches, and even offers guidance for up to two years after graduation.
Professional Accreditation: The Royal Society of Chemistry accredits this degree, giving you a recognised route to professional membership and future chartered status.
Industry Connections: Graduates have gone on to work with top companies like GSK, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Shell, thanks to the strong industry links embedded in your placement experience.
Strong Graduate Outcomes: The programme is consistently highly ranked—9th in the UK for Chemistry in The Guardian University Guide 2026—showing employers value Birmingham graduates.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, this degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate research or a PhD. Many graduates also choose specialised master’s programmes, using the skills and lab experience gained here to explore advanced areas of chemistry and materials science.