BSc (Hons) Chemistry with Foundation Year

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Plymouth

Program Overview

If you love science but feel you need a stronger academic base before diving into a full Chemistry degree, this course is an ideal starting point. You’ll begin with a supportive foundation year that builds your confidence and skills, then progress into a hands-on chemistry degree where you’ll explore how chemistry shapes everything from health and medicine to our environment.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year (Year 0)

Your foundation year is all about helping you succeed — academically and practically. You’ll develop essential study habits in Becoming a Successful Global Scientist, strengthen your scientific understanding through Essentials for Physical and Environmental Sciences, and explore how chemical and Earth systems interact in Our Changing Planet – Chemical and Geo-environmental Processes. You’ll finish the year working with classmates on a real sustainability challenge through the Sustainable Development Project, giving you the chance to apply your learning to a practical issue.

Year 1

In your first full year of the BSc, you’ll build a strong grounding across all core areas of chemistry. Practice of Chemistry gets you comfortable and confident in the lab, while modules like Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry introduce you to the fundamental principles that underpin chemical reactions and materials. You’ll also learn to analyse scientific data using tools like R in Approaches to Data Analysis, and begin exploring analytical techniques through ChemAnalysis: Tools of the Trade.

Year 2

Year 2 takes everything a step deeper. You’ll explore topics like transition metals in Inorganic Chemistry, reaction mechanisms and spectroscopy in Organic Chemistry, and quantum and electrochemistry in Physical Chemistry. Your analytical skills grow through The Analytical Toolbox, while Practical Environmental Chemistry gives you the chance to gather and test samples in real field environments. The Career Catalyst module also helps you level up your teamwork, communication, and professional skills.

Optional Placement Year

If you choose to take a placement, you’ll spend a year working in industry — gaining real experience, building contacts, and finding out what chemistry looks like in the workplace. It’s an excellent bridge between your studies and your future career.

Final Year (Year 3)

Your final year lets you specialise in the areas that inspire you most. You’ll explore advanced ideas through modules like Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Advanced Physical Chemistry, and Frontiers in Analytical Science. The highlight is your Advanced Research Project, where you work closely with expert staff to design and run your own investigation — a genuine opportunity to contribute to real scientific discovery.

Focus Areas

Analytical chemistry, sustainable and environmental chemistry, advanced laboratory methods, chemical problem-solving, and independent research.

Learning Outcomes

You’ll graduate able to design and conduct experiments, handle and interpret scientific data with confidence, apply chemical theory to real-world issues, and communicate your scientific ideas clearly — all while gaining experience with industry-standard equipment and techniques.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, meaning your degree meets part of the requirements for becoming a Chartered Chemist (CChem).

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Plymouth is #1 in the UK for student satisfaction with teaching and feedback for Chemistry (Guardian University Guide 2025).
According to DiscoverUni, 95% of Plymouth chemistry graduates move into work or further study within 15 months.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the best things about studying Chemistry at Plymouth is how quickly you get to do real science. From your very first year — including the foundation year — you’ll spend time in professional labs, using the same instruments and tools that practising chemists rely on every day. You won’t just learn theory; you’ll gain the confidence that comes from running your own experiments, analysing real samples, and working alongside supportive academics who know how to bring chemistry to life.

And because Plymouth has some of the most advanced analytical facilities in the region, you’ll get access to equipment that many universities reserve only for postgraduates. Fieldwork, group projects, digital tools, research labs — you’ll get a little bit of everything, helping you build genuine, job-ready skills.

Here’s what that hands-on experience actually looks like for this program:

Train in three dedicated Chemistry laboratories inside the Davy Building, equipped with industry-standard analytical instruments.
Use advanced spectroscopy tools — FT-IR, UV/vis, and NMR — to study molecular structures and chemical reactions.
Access the Plymouth Atomic Mass Spectrometry Facility (PAMS), where you’ll work with ICP-MS and ICP-OES to identify and quantify trace elements in real samples.
Learn separation and identification techniques using GC-FID, GC-MS, HPLC-UV, and HPLC-MS, essential for environmental, medical, and industrial chemistry.
Explore materials and surface properties using tools like pycnometry, porosimetry, and surface area analysis.
Work with flow-injection chemiluminescence, a highly sensitive technique used for environmental water analysis — including seawater.
Use X-ray fluorescence (XRF), including handheld portable devices for field-based elemental analysis.
Experience gamma spectrometry for studying natural radioisotopes and environmental samples.
Make use of LABplus, a flexible drop-in space where you can practise lab techniques, work on group tasks, use laptops with scientific software, and get extra support at your own pace.
Visit the Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC) to get hands-on with SEM and TEM imaging and digital analysis tools.
Access the Nanomaterials and Devices Laboratory, which supports work with advanced materials, clean-room processes, and Raman spectroscopy.
Take part in group work early on — including the foundation year Sustainable Development Project, where you collaborate to investigate real environmental challenges.
Choose an optional industry placement year, giving you full-time professional experience in a chemistry-related workplace.

Progression & Future Opportunities

By the time you finish your BSc in Chemistry (with the Foundation Year), you’ll be well-prepared for real-world roles like Analytical Chemist, Lab Scientist, Environment Consultant, or R&D Chemist. You’ll step into these careers with practical lab experience, confidence in using high-level instruments, and strong problem-solving skills — which employers really value.

Here’s how Plymouth helps you turn your degree into a career, and what doors could open for you:

Ongoing Careers Support: The University’s Careers Service is actively there for you — whether it’s polishing your CV, preparing for interviews, or guiding you to internships and placements.
Hands-On Industry Exposure: You have the option to take a full-year placement, working in a real company or research lab, so you graduate with actual work experience, not just theory.
Internship Help: There’s a dedicated internships team at Plymouth that helps you apply, secure paid internships, and for eligible students even offers a £1,000 bursary.
Strong Industry Connections: Chemistry graduates from Plymouth often end up working with organisations like Catalent, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Intertek, and the Environment Agency, solidifying your link to industry.
Wide Recognition with Accreditation: Your degree is aligned with the Royal Society of Chemistry, giving you a head-start toward becoming a Chartered Chemist someday.
Excellent Graduate Outcomes: Around 95% of Plymouth’s chemistry graduates are either working or continuing their studies within 15 months of graduation — a strong sign that the degree truly sets you up for success.

Further Academic Progression:
If you fall in love with research or want to specialise, you can go on to do a Master’s (MSc) in areas like Environmental Geochemistry, or even pursue an MRes or PhD in Chemistry at Plymouth — keeping the door open for academic and scientific discovery.