Chemistry (Extended Degree) BSc (Hons)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Northumbria University

Program Overview

Northumbria’s BSc (Hons) Chemistry Extended Degree is designed for students who are passionate about chemistry but need an extra year of support to build their scientific confidence. You’ll start with a foundation year that strengthens your science and study skills, then move into the full chemistry degree where you’ll explore everything from analytical chemistry to drug design and hands-on laboratory research.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year (Year 0)

Your foundation year is all about getting comfortable with university-level science. You’ll take modules like Scientific and Numeracy Skills and Practical Skills in Science to build your lab confidence, your ability to handle data, and your understanding of core scientific ideas. Alongside this, modules like Inspirational Science and the Research and Science Communication Project bring science to life through real examples, teamwork, and clear scientific writing — giving you the ideal launchpad for the degree.

Year 1

In your first undergraduate year, you dive into the essentials: Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Principles of Chemical Structure, and Introduction to Biological and Medicinal Chemistry. This is where you start learning how atoms bond, how molecules react, and how chemists use techniques like spectroscopy to figure out what substances are made of. You’ll also take Academic Skills for Chemistry to strengthen your lab practice, reporting skills, and confidence with scientific equipment.

Year 2

This is the year when everything becomes more advanced and more applied. You’ll explore reaction mechanisms in Organic Chemistry, energy and molecular behaviour in Physical Chemistry, and complex structures in Inorganic Chemistry. Modules like Chemical Information Science introduce you to modern computational tools, while Applied Chemistry shows you how chemistry is used in the real world — from pharmaceuticals to environmental analysis.

Year 3 (Final Year)

Your final year lets you pull everything together through your Chemistry Research Project, where you work on a real scientific question with full academic supervision. You’ll also choose from specialist options like Theoretical and Computational Methods or advanced areas of medicinal and natural product chemistry. This year builds the depth, independence, and hands-on research experience that employers and postgraduate programs value most.

Focus Areas

Analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry.

Learning Outcomes

A confident chemist ready to design experiments, interpret complex data, solve scientific problems, communicate clearly, and work independently in professional laboratory or research settings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The degree follows the standards required for professional chemistry training and prepares you for pathways toward professional recognition through the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Northumbria University consistently performs strongly in UK university rankings for graduate employability and is widely recognised for the quality of its science teaching and industry-focused learning experience.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What makes Chemistry at Northumbria truly engaging is how quickly you get hands-on with real scientific work. From your foundation year onward, you’ll spend a significant amount of time in specialist laboratories, learning how to run experiments, analyse data, and use the same instruments and digital tools that today’s chemists rely on. As you progress, you work in small lab groups, take part in problem-solving workshops, and eventually carry out an independent research project in your final year — all supported by Northumbria’s industry-standard facilities and experienced academic team.

You’ll use advanced chemistry instruments, modern teaching labs, computational tools, and Northumbria’s digital learning systems throughout your degree. And because this is an extended degree, you also get extra guidance in your foundation year, helping you build confidence before moving into the full chemistry curriculum.
Here’s how your practical learning experience is brought to life at Northumbria:

Experiential Learning Highlights:

State-of-the-art teaching laboratories used across all chemistry levels, where you learn core experimental techniques and develop the professional lab skills required in modern scientific careers.
Specialised research laboratories available during your final-year Chemistry Research Project, giving you access to real research environments used by academic staff.
Analytical and spectroscopic instruments such as NMR, IR, UV-Vis, and mass spectrometry (as cited in module descriptions like Inorganic Chemistry AP0528 and Analytical Chemistry).
Hands-on lab modules in every year, including Practical Skills in Science (foundation), Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, Organic/Physical/Inorganic Chemistry practicals, and the final research project.
Group-based scientific communication projects in the foundation year, where you collaborate with peers to present scientific ideas and gain teamwork experience.
Computational and digital chemistry tools, introduced through modules like Chemical Information Science (AP0530), which train you to use chemical databases and software for modelling and analysis.
Modern digital learning environment, including access to online resources, self-paced learning tools, virtual simulations, and the university’s central IT systems (myNorthumbria, Student Portal).
Access to Northumbria’s Library and Learning Centre, offering scientific journals, databases, and support spaces for study, research, and project work.
Supportive academic skill-building sessions, especially in the foundation year, helping you strengthen scientific writing, data handling, laboratory safety, and academic confidence.

Progression & Future Opportunities

By the time you finish this degree, you’ll have real lab experience, strong analytical skills, and the confidence to work independently on scientific problems — the exact qualities employers look for in chemistry graduates. Many students go on to roles like analytical chemist, research scientist, process chemist, or pharmaceutical lab specialist, thanks to the blend of hands-on learning and specialist training at Northumbria. And because the degree is RSC-accredited, you also graduate with a valuable step toward becoming a Chartered Chemist, which really strengthens your long-term career profile.

To give you a clearer picture of the kinds of support and opportunities you’ll benefit from, here’s what Northumbria offers:

Dedicated Careers Support: Northumbria’s Careers Service helps you craft a strong CV, prepare for interviews, and connect with employers throughout your studies.
Optional Placement Year: You can take a full year out to work in the chemistry industry, gaining real experience that makes you stand out to future employers.
Accreditation Advantage: Because the degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, it counts toward the academic requirements for achieving Chartered Chemist (CChem) status later in your career.
Industry-Experienced Academics: Many staff bring experience from major organisations such as Unilever, Roche, and the John Innes Centre, helping you understand how chemistry works in the real world.
Strong Graduate Outcomes: According to national Graduate Outcomes data for chemistry at Northumbria, around 85% of graduates are in highly skilled roles (scientific, technical, research and professional jobs) within 15 months of graduating.

Further Academic Progression:

If you’re interested in continuing your studies, you’ll have several exciting options after this degree:

Move into a master’s programme, such as an MChem or an MSc in Chemistry or a related field.
Continue towards a PhD, especially if you enjoy research and want to work at an advanced scientific level.
Explore specialist postgraduate routes in areas like pharmaceutical development, environmental science, materials chemistry, or regulatory science.