Making new compounds, determining their structures and exploring their reactivities are just part of a chemist’s job.
The work of chemists has led to many things we now take for granted: from cosmetics to detergents, perfumes to adhesives, drugs to dyes, and paints to painkillers.
This degree provides you with a thorough understanding of all the main areas of chemistry as well as the opportunity to study chemistry for a year at one of our partner universities in Europe, North America or the Far East.
Organic, inorganic and physical chemistry form the backbone of your study programme at each Stage.
We also cover vocational topics aimed at developing graduate skills such as problem solving, teamworking, presentation and communication skills, as well as the laboratory skills required by professional chemists.
This degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This means it satisfies the academic requirements for the award of Chartered Chemist (CChem).
The School of Chemistry at Newcastle contributes to an internationally recognised portfolio of chemistry research – a breadth of study that caters for a wide range of interests and career aspirations. Our research feeds directly into our teaching material. This makes sure that you have the chance to learn about some of the latest discoveries in your subject area, from the people responsible for making them. You will have chance to design and conduct your own research through an extended research project in Stage 4.
Teaching is a combination of lectures, tutorials or workshops. You will have practical classes for two afternoons each week in Stage 1 and these increase in later Stages. Further information can be found on our undergraduate web pages about the approach to teaching and learning at Newcastle University.
Assessment is by in-course assessment, laboratory work and written examinations. Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module, more information can be found in our individual module listings.
The School of Chemistry at Newcastle is home to some of the highest specification laboratory facilities in the country:
Take a virtual tour of our facilities on the School's website.
The School of Chemistry is based in the Bedson Building, which houses newly-built teaching laboratories, specialist computer facilities and refurbished lecture theatres.
We provide all of our first-year students with a welcome pack worth £200, containing everything you need to make a smooth transition to University study – from textbooks and a calculator to a lab coat and alarm clock.
Our student-run society Nu:Kem organises a busy schedule of social and academic events throughout the year to help you meet people from all years and really feel part of life in the School of Chemistry.
From the very start of your studies, you will also be appointed a Personal Tutor from within the School who can provide guidance on both academic and non-academic matters.
All of our chemistry degrees share the same first year, building on your existing knowledge of chemistry with modules covering: basic organic chemistry; physical chemistry; structural and inorganic chemistry; biological and medicinal chemistry; and data handling. This gives you chance to see where your interests lie.
It also means that it is possible to transfer to one of our other chemistry degrees before the start of second year should your ideas changes as your skills and knowledge develop.
In second year, you continue to study alongside our Chemistry BSc and Chemistry MChem students. You study organic, inorganic and physical chemistry in modules that build on the material covered at Stage 1.
You take a unique group assignment module on a given chemistry topic, which develops your transferable skill set and leads to the creation of a learning pack.
You also study further specialist topics, such as light-activated reactions and polymers, and natural product chemistry.
You spend Stage 3 studying at a university in Europe, North America or the Far East.
Find out more on the Royal Society of Chemistry’s website.

I can safely say that my time living in France was the best year of my life. From doing research in the lab to exploring the Alsace region, I learned so much and really grew as a person.