Chemistry BSc (Hons)
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award
Our commitment to high quality teaching has been recognised with a TEF Gold rating. The University has received an overall rating of Gold, as well as securing a Gold award in the framework's two new student experience and student outcomes categories.
Why choose this course?
Do you want to be involved in making positive changes to the world? This could be the course for you. Chemistry affects every aspect of our lives, from clothing to medicines that help millions of people. It plays an integral part in solving global challenges such as food security, plastic pollution, developing alternative energies, and synthesising new medicines and materials.
Chemistry at Kingston offers knowledge and skills relevant to industry, research and teaching. You'll gain practical skills in our laboratories, broaden your knowledge of environmental chemistry, and develop the academic and professional skills valued by employers.
You will have your own individual final year project, which enables you to investigate a chosen area in depth.
We have recently updated our modules to enhance student-centred teaching and align course content with industry needs, helping you become a future-proof graduate.
| Attendance | UCAS code/apply | Year of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years full time | F100 | 2025 |
| 4 years full time with professional placement | F101 | 2025 |
| 4 years full time including foundation year | F108 | 2025 |
Please note: Teaching on this course may take place on more than one KU campus.
| Main Location | Penrhyn Road |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- This degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
- You'll have the opportunity to have a one-year work placement. This will give you valuable experience and help prepare you for a career in chemistry.
- Kingston's state-of-the-art laboratories include networked computers for each workspace, which are newly refurbished through a £6 million investment.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
It partially fulfils the academic requirements for Chartered Chem (CChem).
What our students say
What you will study
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 1 introduces the fundamental aspects of the subject and will consolidate your existing knowledge, providing a base on which you can develop advanced concepts. You will learn and develop the laboratory and practical techniques needed for your course.
Core modules
Academic Skills for Molecular Sciences
30 credits
You will gain a thorough grounding in mathematical, presentation, reporting and IT skills to support your scientific progress. This module will help you develop effective learning strategies. It provides the foundation for your personal and career development.
This module will introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with Navigate. You will be supported by themed tutor meetings enabling you to work on tasks to develop your graduate attributes.
Chemical Foundations: From Atoms to Pharmaceuticals
30 credits
Chemistry impacts many spheres of everyday life. From paints and coatings to smartphone's electrochromic displays, small molecule drugs to the understanding of biochemical processes necessary for life.
This module will revisit chemistry topics taught at A-level and build on them to ensure you become familiar with the core chemistry concepts necessary to the chemical, pharmaceutical and biochemical sciences. There is a key focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Chemical Frontiers: Quantum, Inorganic and Environmental Chemistry
30 credits
This module is designed to ignite your curiosity and deepen your understanding of chemistry's role in our world. You will dive into the fascinating world of molecular quantum mechanics with this module. You'll explore key trends in the periodic table, focusing on select elements from groups 1, 13, and 17. You will discover the unique properties of coordination compounds.
You'll delve into the critical topics of atmospheric and aquatic pollution, understanding their environmental impacts. Throughout the course, you'll also connect your learning to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, gaining a global perspective on sustainability, including the environmental consequences of the release of chemical species and potential solutions to environmental pollution.
Essential Techniques in Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
30 credits
This module covers the basic concepts and practical skills necessary to underpin your course, including considering sustainability. You will learn about different separation methods, including classical distillation and recrystallisation, various chromatographic techniques, and small-scale analytical chromatographic techniques such as gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography.
You will be introduced to electromagnetic radiation, the techniques of infrared spectroscopy, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry. This will be developed with a set of 'combined structure problems' which simulate real-world situations where unknown organic compounds are identified solely from their spectroscopic data.
Year 2 takes a more in-depth look at inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. You will expand your experimental work, developing the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to become a competent professional. Additional modules covering experimental and analytical chemistry will expand your skills for interpreting results using modern spectroscopic investigations. An optional professional placement year provides an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of how chemistry is applied in an industrial situation.
Core modules
Aspects of Physical Chemistry
30 credits
This module contains four main strands: electrochemistry, phase equilibria, kinetics and spectroscopy.
You will investigate the electrochemistry of ionic solutions and cells, and its applications to chemical thermodynamics. You will learn how to interpret phase diagrams.
You will explore kinetics and thermodynamics, including transition state theory of chemical reactions, complex reaction mechanisms and their kinetic analysis. You will be introduced to statistical thermodynamics and partition functions.
You will discover the quantum mechanics and the theory underlying both rotational (microwave) and vibrational (Infra-red and Raman) spectroscopies.
Future Trends in Synthetic and Analytical Chemistry
30 credits
You will increase your knowledge of analysis and practical procedures, with an emphasis on analytical and experimental organic chemistry.
Your laboratory skills will be taken to a new level, as you develop the research skills required to devise experiments and then objectively assess results. The Future Skills Explore learning outcomes are delivered in this module. You will develop other important graduate attributes and skills, such as utilising statistics, preparing high-quality reports and delivering presentation, all of which improve employability.
The analytical methodologies and experimental techniques are those used routinely in academia, industry, and other laboratory research: spectroscopy, organic syntheses, molecular modelling, inorganic and physical chemistries, and the uses of applied separation technologies in common use. This module aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly those related to Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9).
Inorganic Chemistry: Trends, Coordination and Structures
30 credits
You will build upon the theory and principles developed previously and apply these to second and third row transition metals, the lanthanides and Groups 14 and 15.
You will be introduced to solid state chemistry with a consideration of defects and conductivity, the bonding and reactivity of inorganic complexes and organometallics.
The fundamental knowledge on Main Group and Transition Metal chemistry will help you to understand concepts of modern industrial processes and materials design.
This module meets some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), including Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9).
Organic and Medicinal Chemistry
30 credits
The module develops understanding of both Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry introducing important principles, reactions, and mechanisms in organic chemical reactivity as well as basic mechanisms of drug action.
You will build on concepts introduced in your first year, including carbanion reactivity of carbonyl compounds, the reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds, stereochemistry and asymmetric synthesis. You will also be introduced to drug design and the role this plays in the modern pharmaceutical industry, including retrosynthesis and the use of it in identifying different synthetic routes in manufacturing generic drugs.
You will explore sustainable options for synthesis, which contributes to the UN Sustainability Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), using examples from a range of medicinal areas to illustrate these key processes.
In Year 3, you will undertake more specialised study of inorganic, physical and organic chemistry.
You will apply the knowledge you have gained to your project module, which forms an important part of this year's work and allows you to investigate a research topic in a chosen area of interest.
Core modules
Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry
30 credits
This module addresses some of the most current and industrially relevant areas of applied chemistry.
Key topics include polymer chemistry, Nano materials synthesis and applications, heterogeneous catalysis, green chemistry, sustainable practices in chemistry, intellectual property and health and safety.
You will gain a grounding in commercially and industrially relevant topics in chemistry as well as honing key employability skills.
Several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are particularly relevant to this module, including SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
30 credits
You will enhance your knowledge of atomic and molecular electronic structure, photochemistry and spectroscopy.
You will hone your understanding of important concepts of surface chemistry through the study of various surface phenomena, such as spectroscopy and photochemistry, surface adsorption and micellisation.
The inorganic chemistry topics focus on ligands with multiple donor atoms and their complexes, applications in supramolecular chemistry, and aspects of main group chemistry.
Natural Product Chemistry and Sustainable Synthesis
30 credits
You will learn all about the role and journey that natural products take in drug discovery as they play an important role in medicinal chemistry. These include commonly used drugs such as Aspirin to potent pain relievers such as morphine and complex chemotherapy drugs like Taxol.
You will gain theoretical and practical skills in the isolation of drug-like molecules from nature, all the way through to the biosynthesis and synthesis as well as isolation from natural sources of some exciting naturally derived compounds.
This module aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 15: Life on Land. These goals collectively support the broader aim of sustainable development and improving global health.
The Future Skills Apply learning outcomes are delivered in this module.
Project
30 credits
This module provides you with an opportunity to undertake a scientific project and develop skills required to plan a project, develop a methodology, analyse the data and disseminate the results.
There are several types of projects that may be offered to you: laboratory, data projects involving acquisition of data and information from surveys, computer simulations, or a systematic review of research literature that includes the collection, analysis and original presentation of reported research data.
Your project will include a review and critical evaluation of qualitative and quantitative information and data to address a hypothesis or research question, and the production of a written report.
Foundation year
If you would like to study one of our science degrees at Kingston University but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you can include an extra foundation year within your chosen degree. Please see the science foundation year course page for details of modules.
Future Skills
Knowledge to give you the edge
Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.
At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
It may also include placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences and field trips.
Staff teaching on this course
This course is delivered by the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry.
The School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry offers an outstanding and diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, forensic science, pharmacy, pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences, and sport science and nutrition.
We've invested heavily in the development of new facilities including laboratories for teaching and research to provide students with access to ultra-modern equipment in a wide range of teaching facilities.
Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Course fees and funding
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
Facilities
There is a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including:
- the £9.8 million Eadweard Muybridge building with state-of the art laboratories, including labs dedicated to chemistry;
- specialist equipment, such as:
- gas and liquid chromatography;
- electron and confocal microscopy;
- a range of spectrometers, including mass spectrometers, infrared spectrometers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers;
- nuclear science equipment;
- thermal analysis;
- x-ray diffractometers; and
- electrochemical analysis;
- computing laboratories and a team of IT technicians to offer assistance.
The Library offers:
- subject libraries, plus a free inter-library loan scheme to other libraries in the Greater London area;
- online database subscriptions; and
- a growing selection of resource material.
What our students say
After you graduate
Graduates work in areas such as research, chemistry, product development and engineering, and teaching.
What our graduates say
Work placement year
How you can work in industry during your course
Placements:
- provide work experience that is relevant to your course and future career
- improve your chances of graduating with a higher-grade degree
- enhance your CV
- lead to a graduate job
- enable you to earn a year's salary whilst studying (the vast majority of placements are paid)
- help you to select your final-year project
Study or work abroad
Key information set
The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
