Chemistry with a Year in Industry BSc

At King’s, learning chemistry isn’t just about lectures—it’s about getting your hands dirty, running real experiments, and seeing how chemistry works in the real world. From your very first year, you’ll be in state-of-the-art labs, learning essential techniques, using advanced instruments, and working alongside fellow students on exciting experiments. As you progress, you’ll take what you’ve learned straight into a full-year industrial placement, giving you invaluable experience and professional skills that employers really value. By your final year, you’ll be leading research projects, solving real chemical problems, and presenting your findings like a pro. All of this is supported by KCL’s central London location, top-notch libraries, and cutting-edge facilities.

Some of the hands-on experiences you’ll benefit from include:

• Integrated Chemistry Laboratory 1 & 2: Early lab modules where you develop practical skills, learn to analyse data, and carry out experiments safely and confidently.

• Year in Industry Placement: A full year working in a company in chemicals, pharma, biotech, or even science-related finance and law—applying your knowledge in real-world projects with support from KCL’s placement team.

• Research-led Projects in Year 4: Two major projects where you explore topics like green chemistry, nanotechnology, or polymer chemistry, honing your independence, teamwork, and presentation skills.

• Digital and Computational Tools: Modules that integrate software and data-analysis tools to complement your experiments and help you tackle complex problems.

• Modern Facilities: Access to KCL’s refurbished labs equipped with advanced instruments like NMR, LCMS, GCMS, and peptide-synthesis equipment, along with world-class libraries and research institutes in central London.

Graduating from this programme opens the door to a range of exciting careers—you could become a Research Scientist, Industrial Chemist, Process Engineer, or Scientific Consultant. Thanks to the combination of strong chemistry foundations and a full-year industry placement, you’ll be ready to make an impact in pharmaceuticals, biotech, materials, sustainability, or analytical industries:

• Careers & Employability support: King’s dedicated Careers & Employability service works closely with the Chemistry Department to help you secure your Year in Industry placement, attend employer events, and get one-to-one guidance tailored to your goals.

• Employment stats and salary: Graduates from physical sciences at King’s typically start on salaries around £26,500, with ranges from £21,000–£34,000, rising to a median of £32,500 after five years.

• University–industry partnerships: Your placement is supported through King’s Work-based Learning Unit and its extensive network of UK and international companies across chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, and even finance or law-related roles.

• Accreditation: The degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), giving your qualification strong professional recognition.

• Graduate outcomes: King’s Chemistry graduates enjoy excellent employability, with the subject ranked 6th in the UK for graduate prospects (Times Higher Education 2024/5).

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re thinking about continuing your studies, you could progress to the integrated MSci in Chemistry with a Year in Industry at King’s, adding an extra year focused on a major research project. Beyond that, options include MRes, MSc, or PhD programmes in chemistry, materials science, biomedical sciences, or related fields—perfect if you’re aiming for academic research, specialist roles, or leadership positions in R&D.