Chemistry with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Liverpool

Program Overview

This degree gives you a solid grounding in all areas of modern chemistry—organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and digital chemistry—while also giving you the chance to spend a full year gaining hands-on experience in an industry setting. It’s perfect for students who want to see how chemistry works outside the lab and build real-world skills that employers value.

Curriculum Structure:
Year 1: In your first year, you’ll get to grips with the basics of chemistry, from understanding how atoms bond and molecules interact (Structure, Bonding & Change) to exploring reactions and sustainability (Reactions, Mechanisms and Sustainability Principles). You’ll also build essential lab, analytical, and digital skills through Shaping Future Chemists: Laboratory, Analytical and Digital Skills 1, and strengthen your maths, physics, and biology knowledge with Foundations of Chemistry.

Year 2: Your second year takes things further. You’ll study modules like Thermodynamics, Transition Metals and Synthetic Methods and Spectroscopy and Strategies for Sustainable Synthesis, giving you a deeper understanding of chemical processes and modern techniques. Lab work becomes more advanced, and you’ll start to connect theory with practical applications in professional and industrial contexts through Shaping Future Chemists 2.

Year 3: By your third year, you’re ready for specialization. You’ll tackle Current Topics in Synthetic Design and Advanced Materials, complete a research project, and explore optional topics like Catalysis or Chemistry for the Environment and Renewable Carbon. This year is all about applying your knowledge, solving real-world problems, and developing advanced lab and digital skills.

Year 4 (Year in Industry): Your final year is spent in a full-time industrial placement. This is your chance to bring everything you’ve learned into a real-world setting, gaining practical experience, professional confidence, and a foot in the door with potential employers.

Focus areas: materials chemistry, medicinal chemistry, digital chemistry, analytical chemistry, sustainability, synthetic and catalysis chemistry
Learning outcomes: graduates leave with strong scientific knowledge, advanced lab and analytical skills, digital fluency, problem-solving abilities, and professional awareness, ready to apply chemistry in research or industry.
Professional alignment (accreditation): Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), giving you a clear pathway toward becoming a professional chemist.
Reputation (employability rankings): Liverpool chemistry graduates are highly sought after—around 90% are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating, with 85% in graduate-level roles.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From your very first year, you’ll be rolling up your sleeves and getting hands-on in chemistry. The program is designed to help you develop practical lab skills, work on real-world problems, and gain confidence with advanced analytical tools. You’ll use modern laboratories and cutting-edge instruments, take part in group projects, and build digital chemistry skills that will prepare you for a professional career. When you reach your year in industry, you’ll bring all of that experience into a real industrial setting, giving you a taste of what it’s like to work as a professional chemist.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Work in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories for synthetic, analytical, and digital chemistry experiments.
Use advanced instrumentation such as NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, chromatography, and elemental analysis.
Gain experience with digital and computational chemistry tools, including molecular modelling software and automated synthesis equipment.
Participate in group projects and collaborative problem-solving, including lab rotations and extended Year 3 research projects.
Complete a full-year paid industrial placement, with opportunities at leading companies like AstraZeneca, GSK, Unilever, and Rolls-Royce.
Develop professional skills through presentations, portfolios, and real-world lab reporting tasks that mimic industry expectations.
Benefit from a research-rich environment, with links to institutes like the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy and the Materials Innovation Factory.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this program leave ready to take on a wide range of exciting roles in chemistry and related industries. Many go on to work as analytical scientists, formulation scientists, research scientists, or development chemists, and some even step into data-focused or leadership roles. With your practical lab experience, digital skills, and a full year in industry, you’ll have the confidence and expertise employers are looking for:

The University’s Careers & Employability Service offers one-to-one advice, networking opportunities, CV workshops, and support connecting with potential employers.
Around 85% of graduates report meaningful employment within 15 months, with many securing graduate-level roles in industry.
Strong industry connections help you gain placements with top companies like AstraZeneca, GSK, Unilever, and Ineos.
Your degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), giving professional recognition and a pathway toward chartered chemist status.
Graduates benefit from the University’s research and skills networks, providing a springboard into technical roles or innovative projects after graduation.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’d like to continue studying, this BSc sets you up perfectly for further education. You could pursue a master’s (MSc) or an integrated MChem degree, or even move into a PhD in chemistry or a specialized area such as medicinal chemistry, materials chemistry, or sustainable chemistry. This means your career options aren’t just immediate—they can continue to grow as you gain advanced expertise.

Additional Information & Requirements

A Level - ABB (two sciences including Chemistry) or AAB (one science including Chemistry with A in Chemistry).
Applicants with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) are eligible for a reduction in grade requirements. For this course, the offer is BBB with A in the EPQ.
A-level students need two science A-levels including Chemistry (with a pass in the practical component for Chemistry, Biology, Geology, or Physics if taken) and a second science from the accepted subjects list.
IB - 32 points overall with at least 5 in HL Chemistry and 5 in another HL science (or 6 in HL Chemistry if no other science), or pass IB Diploma with 6,5,5 in 3 HL subjects including Chemistry and another science.
GCSE - 4/C in English and 4/C in Mathematics
English language requirements - IELTS - 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 or TOEFL iBT - 78 overall, with minimum scores of listening 17, writing 17, reading 17 and speaking 19. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted..
India - Standard X and XII with 70–85% in the best four core subjects (including English), excluding non-academic subjects.
USA - High school diploma with a GPA of 3.0 plus one of the following: 3 AP exams (4, 4, 4 to 5, 5, 5), or 2 AP exams plus an externally-assessed qualification, or 2 AP exams plus an Honors/College-level class (B+ or higher).First-year university completion with a good GPA may also be considered for entry.