Chemistry

Chemistry is the science of matter, transformation and the molecular world. It underpins medicine, materials science, food technology, environmental science, energy and almost every other field of scientific or industrial activity. Chemists study the structure, properties and reactions of substances from the atomic scale upward, developing both an understanding of fundamental principles and the practical skills to work safely and effectively in the laboratory.

It is a discipline that combines rigorous theory with hands-on experimentation, and the ability to connect the two is at the heart of what it means to think like a chemist.

At the University of Durham, this three-year full-time degree develops your understanding of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, the three main branches of the discipline, alongside analytical techniques, computational methods and practical laboratory skills. You will engage with chemistry at a high level, tackling complex problems and developing the kind of precise, evidence-based thinking that the subject demands. The typical entry tariff is 168 UCAS points, reflecting Durham's competitive admissions and the mathematical and scientific demands of the programme.

Durham's chemistry department has a strong research reputation, and undergraduates benefit from access to modern facilities and engagement with research-led teaching.

Chemistry graduates are among the most versatile science graduates in the job market. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, the chemical and petrochemical sectors, materials science, forensic science, food and drink manufacturing, environmental consultancy and scientific publishing all employ chemists. Many graduates also move into finance, management consultancy, teaching and policy, where the analytical skills developed by a chemistry degree are recognised as highly transferable.

Postgraduate study is common, with MChem or MSci programmes available at many institutions as a natural extension of the undergraduate degree, and a PhD is the standard route into academic or industrial research chemistry.