Chemistry with professional placement or study abroad BSc (Hons)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Bath

Program Overview

This degree gives you the chance to explore all areas of chemistry while gaining real-world experience, either in a professional placement or studying abroad. It’s perfect if you’re curious about how chemistry shapes everything from medicines to sustainable technologies and want to build the skills to make a real impact.

Curriculum structure

Year 1
You’ll start with the essentials, like Foundations and Applications of Chemistry, Analytical and Spectroscopic Techniques, and Year 1 Laboratory Skills. These units give you a solid understanding of core chemistry concepts and hands-on lab experience, making sure you’re ready for more advanced topics later.

Year 2
In your second year, you’ll go deeper with units such as Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry, Characterisation, Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy, and Macromolecules and Biomolecules. You’ll also explore Computational Chemistry, learning to use software to model and solve chemical problems. This is where your skills start to come together and become more applied.

Year 3
This is your “experience year.” You can either spend a full year in a professional placement, putting your knowledge to work in industry, or study abroad at one of Bath’s partner universities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain confidence, see chemistry in action, and broaden your horizons.

Year 4
In your final year, you’ll tackle advanced topics like Advanced Chemistry 1, Problems and Solutions in Modern Chemistry, and Advanced Practical Skills. You’ll also complete your Final Year Project, giving you a chance to investigate a topic you’re passionate about and demonstrate your independence as a scientist.

Focus areas: Inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, and computational chemistry, plus professional skills and optional specialisations.
Learning outcomes: Graduate able to design and carry out experiments, interpret data, solve real-world chemical problems, communicate findings effectively, and apply skills in research or industry.
Professional alignment (accreditation): Fully accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Reputation (employability rankings): Bath is ranked 8th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2026 and 6th for graduate prospects. Graduates from this programme are highly employable, with the majority finding work or further study within 15 months.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Bath, you won’t just sit in lectures — you’ll get hands-on, real-world chemistry experience from the very first year. From working in state-of-the-art laboratories to using industry-standard instruments, every step of the course is designed to build your confidence and practical skills. By your third year, you’ll either spend a full year in a professional placement or study abroad, giving you the chance to see chemistry in action and gain experiences that make your CV stand out. Along the way, you’ll also tackle group projects, computational exercises, and your own independent research in a supportive environment:

Dedicated teaching laboratories for synthetic, analytical, and computational chemistry, where you’ll design experiments, run instruments, and interpret real data.
Material & Chemical Characterisation Facility (MC²) with advanced tools like NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and chromatography — giving you research-level experience.
Professional placement year in industry (e.g., GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, AkzoNobel) to apply your chemistry knowledge in a real-world setting.
Study abroad option to spend a year at one of Bath’s international partner universities, broadening your academic and cultural horizons.
Group projects and presentations that develop teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, culminating in your Final Year Project where you lead your own research.
Digital and computational tools embedded in the curriculum, including software for modelling chemical processes and analyzing data.
Integration with research labs and departmental events, so you experience real scientific inquiry and the wider chemistry community.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this chemistry programme opens doors to a wide range of exciting careers. Many alumni go on to work as analytical scientists, research associates, quality control specialists, or sustainability consultants, often within industry, government, or research institutions. Thanks to the professional placement or study-abroad year, you’ll leave Bath not just with knowledge, but with real-world experience that employers value:

Careers and Placement Support: Bath’s dedicated Careers Service helps you find and prepare for placements, with workshops on CV writing, interviews, and networking.
Employment stats: 62% of chemistry graduates were in employment and 24% were in further study 15 months after graduation. Typical starting salaries are around £28,000.
Industry Connections: The programme has strong links with employers such as GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and AkzoNobel, giving you opportunities to network and gain hands-on experience.
Accreditation and long-term value: The degree is recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry, meaning your qualification carries weight with employers worldwide.
Graduate prospects: Bath consistently ranks highly for employability, and this chemistry programme gives you the skills and experience to thrive in high-skilled roles.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, Bath graduates are well-prepared for master’s (MSc) or doctoral (PhD) programmes in fields like medicinal chemistry, sustainable materials, environmental science, or computational chemistry. Your final-year independent research project gives you a strong foundation for postgraduate research or professional qualifications, helping you take the next step toward a career in science or academia.

Additional Information & Requirements

GCSE - GCSE Mathematics grade 6/B and GCSE English Language or Literature grade 4/C (or equivalent).
A-level - AAB including Chemistry and two other science or maths subjects (if studying Chemistry and two or more science/maths subjects).
A-level - AAA including Chemistry and one other science or maths subject (if studying Chemistry and only one other science/maths subject)
IB - 36 points overall with 6, 6, 5 at Higher Level, including 6 in Chemistry and 5 in a second science or maths subject (HL Mathematics or Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences accepted).
If the second science/maths is at Standard Level, 36 points with 6, 5, 5 at HL including 6 in Chemistry plus 7 in the SL subject; note that SL Mathematics: Applications & Interpretations is not accepted as the second science/maths.
English language requirements - IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in all components or TOEFL IBT: 90 overall with a minimum 21 in all 4 components
India - Average 80% across four subjects, with 85% in Chemistry and 80% in a second maths or science subject (Physical Education not accepted). If Maths is not studied at 12th Standard, 7 or 70% in 10th Standard Maths is preferred; CBSE students must take the standard Maths exam.
India - For other boards, please contact the university for guidance.
USA - 5, 5, 4 in three AP tests, including 5 in Chemistry and 4 in one other science or maths subject (only one Calculus AP allowed; AP Seminar and AP Research not accepted). Minimum grade 3 in AP Calculus AB/BC, Statistics or Precalculus OR 700 in SAT Math OR 28 in ACT Math is required.