Chemistry BSc (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Nottingham Trent University

Program Overview

NTU’s BSc (Hons) Chemistry is perfect if you love discovering how the world works at a molecular level and want a degree that’s practical, modern, and shaped by real research. You’ll explore every major area of chemistry while building the confidence, lab skills, and experience that employers look for.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Your first year builds a strong foundation in core chemistry. You’ll explore how molecules behave in Structure and Function, dive into materials and bonding in Inorganic Bonding and Solid-State Materials, and get hands-on with topics like kinetics, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics in Physical States of Matter. Through Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Analysis, you’ll learn essential analytical tools, and Professional Development helps you understand how chemistry fits into real-world careers. You’ll also get a taste of specialist areas such as green chemistry, materials chemistry, and biological chemistry.

Year 2:
In second year, everything becomes more applied and in-depth. Modules in Organic, Inorganic, Physical, and Analytical Chemistry sharpen your understanding of chemical reactivity, advanced instrumentation, and industrial processes. The Professional Practice module gives you the chance to tackle real chemistry problems as a team. You can also personalise your learning through options like Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Modern Day Materials, or Applied Instrumental Analysis. Many students choose to take a placement year after this — a fantastic opportunity to gain industry experience.

Year 3 (Final Year):
Your final year is where you push into advanced, cutting-edge chemistry. In Advanced Chemistry, you’ll study everything from heterocycles and asymmetric synthesis to molecular self-assembly and polymers. Your major Research Project lets you investigate a topic you care about, working closely with academics in NTU’s modern labs. You can shape your final year even further with options like Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Nano & Green Chemistry, Chemotherapeutics, Advanced Physical Chemistry, and more.

Focus areas: materials chemistry, medicinal chemistry, environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, green chemistry

Learning outcomes: graduates gain strong laboratory experience, advanced analytical skills, the ability to interpret complex data, confidence in designing experiments, and a deep understanding of chemical principles across all major disciplines.

Professional alignment (accreditation): the degree is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

Reputation (employability rankings): NTU has an excellent employability record, with chemistry graduates progressing into roles at major organisations such as AstraZeneca, Novartis, Boots, and the NHS.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Studying Chemistry at NTU means you’ll learn by doing from the very start. Every week you’ll be in modern, research-active labs, using the same instruments and techniques that professional chemists rely on. Whether you’re running your first spectroscopy experiment or carrying out your final-year research project, you’ll have access to outstanding facilities and supportive technicians who guide you as you build real confidence in the lab.

And because NTU teaches chemistry through real-life problem solving, you’ll work in teams, handle advanced equipment, and even contribute to genuine research. Here’s how that hands-on experience looks throughout the course:

High-spec teaching labs in the Rosalind Franklin Building: You’ll work in the Super Lab, equipped with 25 double fume hoods, rotary evaporators, FTIR and UV-Vis spectrometers, conductance meters, and dedicated prep spaces.
Specialist research Pods at ISTeC: Final-year students get their own bench space, fume hood, vacuum and nitrogen lines, rotary evaporators, DLS, freeze dryers, flash chromatography systems, and more — a true mini-research environment.
Access to industry-standard analytical instruments: Including Raman spectroscopy, potentiostats (with QCM), AFM, SEM with EDX, mass spectrometry tools, and X-ray crystallography.
Real research during your final-year project: You’ll work alongside NTU researchers on live scientific questions, often contributing to work that leads to publications.
Group-based learning through Professional Practice: You’ll design experiments, solve chemistry-based challenges, and develop teamwork, communication, and scientific decision-making skills.
Optional year-long industry placement: Many students step into roles at companies like AkzoNobel, Scott Bader, and Alpha Analytical Laboratory — gaining real workplace experience before graduating.
Supportive learning spaces: The Rosalind Franklin Building and ISTeC house dedicated labs, specialist equipment rooms, and collaborative spaces designed specifically for chemistry and materials science.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Chemistry degree from NTU opens doors to a wide range of exciting careers. With the strong lab experience you’ll gain and the course’s professional accreditation, graduates often move straight into roles like Analytical Chemist, Product Development Technologist, Quality Control Analyst, or Research Chemist. Many students step into industry quickly, while others use this degree as a launchpad for advanced study.

To help you take those next steps, NTU offers a lot of targeted support and strong real-world connections:

Dedicated employability support: NTU’s Employability Team helps you polish your CV, prepare for interviews, meet employers on campus, and take part in careers fairs designed for science students.
Strong graduate outcomes: Around 85% of NTU Chemistry graduates progress into work in England, with a typical starting salary of about £26,500.
Industry links that matter: NTU Chemistry graduates have gone on to work with highly respected organisations such as AstraZeneca, Boots, Pfizer, NHS laboratories, Birds Eye, and the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory.
Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry: This gives your degree long-term professional value and supports your pathway to becoming a Chartered Chemist later on.
Career-ready graduates: Whether you aim for lab research, product innovation, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, or further study, the degree prepares you with strong analytical, practical, and problem-solving skills that employers really value.

Further Academic Progression:

If you want to continue studying, you’ll have excellent options after this degree:

You can progress into NTU’s MChem Chemistry, which adds advanced master’s-level training and a larger research project.
You can also move into MPhil or PhD research, building on the strong scientific and laboratory background you develop throughout your BSc.