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Qualification type
BSc (Hons)

Chemical Sciences BSc (Hons) (4 year route including a Foundation Year at Carmel College)

UCAS code F108

Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 years (1+3)
Start date and application deadlines
Start date
September 2025
Apply by:
Starts on:

We've set the country or region your qualifications are from as United Kingdom.

How to apply

Although the UCAS equal consideration date has now passed, many of our courses are still accepting applications from UK students for 2025 entry through UCAS.

The deadline for international students is 30 June 2025.

Combine this subject

With a combined degree, you can study two subjects as part of the same degree programme.

  • Choose from 30 subjects and over 300 combinations
  • Choose joint or major minor subjects
  • Adjust the weight of your subjects at the end of your first year
  • Same number of credits as single honours students
  • Same classes as single honours students
  • Appeal to a wide range of employers

Explore combined degrees for Chemistry courses

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Please select from our list of commonly chosen countries below or choose your own.

If your country or region isn’t listed here, please contact us with any questions about studying with us.

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About this course

If you love chemistry and want to keep your future career options open, this programme offers a solid grounding in all aspects of chemistry, while allowing you to incorporate some non-chemical options to broaden your education.


Introduction

This is the ideal option if you think you want to start studying chemistry at a lower level than the three-year BSc (Hons) Chemistry programme and are uncertain of an area of specialism.

You spend the foundation year at Carmel College (St Helens) studying chemistry and mathematics with options from biology, geography and physics. Carmel College is located in St Helens, about nine miles from the main University campus.  The College offers small class sizes and high standards of academic achievement.

Find information about what essential and optional modules you will need to take during your Year Zero at Carmel College to progress to your chosen University of Liverpool degree programme in our guide to progression routes


What you'll learn

  • Practical application of chemistry
  • Material chemistry
  • Energy and catalysis
  • Functional interfaces
  • Medicine and bio-nano chemistry
  • Theoretical and computational chemistry
  • Renewable and sustainable chemistry
  • Numeracy and problem solving.

Accreditation

Our BSc programmes have bachelor accreditation from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) ensuring your degree with us will set you on the pathway to a successful career.

Accreditation in detail
Royal Society of Chemistry logo

Royal Society of Chemistry

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society for chemists in the United Kingdom.


Routes

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We’re proud to announce we’ve been awarded a Gold rating for educational excellence.


Course content

Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.

Year zero

Students follow a programme covering basic sciences including compulsory modules in:

  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics

And optional modules chosen from:

  • Biology
  • Geography
  • Physics

On successful completion of the programme at Carmel College, students transfer to the first year of their chosen degree programme.

Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.

Teaching and assessment

How you'll learn

This four-year Chemical Sciences degree programme aims to provide broad coverage of all aspects of chemistry with the foundation year at Carmel College.

How you're assessed

Assessment is mainly by examination and coursework but, depending on the modules taken, you may encounter project work, presentations (individual or group), and specific tests or tasks focused on solidifying learning outcomes. Students are expected to score an overall mark of 50% to progress to the second year of the course. In second year, students will start on the first year of their selected degree programme at the University of Liverpool.

Liverpool Hallmarks

We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.

The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:

  • Digital fluency
  • Confidence
  • Global citizenship

Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:

  • Research-connected teaching
  • Active learning
  • Authentic assessment

All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.

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Course options

Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.

Global opportunities

University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.

Year in China

Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.

  • Learn Chinese
  • Study in a bustling world heritage city
  • Improve employment prospects
  • Study Chinese culture
  • 30 minutes from Shanghai
  • Learn new skills

Read more about Year at XJTLU, China

Year abroad

Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.

  • Choose from up-to 26 countries
  • Experience another way of life
  • Inspire your future career or studies
  • Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
  • More likely to earn higher salary
  • More likely to be employed after graduating

Where can I spend a year abroad on this course?

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • USA

More about taking a year abroad

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Your experience

The Central Teaching Laboratories offer a unique environment for the study of physical sciences. Chemistry occupies the top floor, which houses synthetic chemistry and physical chemistry labs with new equipment for a wide range of experiments.

Explore where you'll study

Environmental Sciences Labs
Organic Chemistry Lab
Undergraduate Synthetic Chemistry Lab
Central Teaching Laboratory
Central Teaching Laboratory Social Learning Space
Handling chemicals
Watch on Panopto: A day in the life of Chemistry student Amy

A day in the life of Chemistry student Amy

Virtual tour

Supporting your learning

From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:

The research that takes place in the chemistry department here in Liverpool is internationally leading, and makes a huge impacts around the world.

Hannah Grisdale, MChem Chemistry
Two students chatting while walking through campus.

Chat with our students

Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.

Watch on Panopto: A day in the life of Chemistry student Amy

A day in the life of Chemistry student Amy

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Careers and employability

Our graduates develop a wide range of skills including numeracy, problem solving and IT in addition to scientific skills. Visits to the Department by leading companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever ensure that you make contact with prospective employers at key stages in your final year.

Typical careers of our graduates include

  • assistant analyst
  • development chemist
  • research assistant
  • site chemist.

Recent employers:

  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Unilever
  • IOTA Nanosolutions Ltd
  • Perstorp Caprolactones
  • Shell
  • Towers Watson
  • United Utilities.
employment

86% of the University of Liverpool’s chemistry students find their main activity after graduation meaningful.

(Graduate Outcomes, 2018-19.)


Meet our alumni

Hear what graduates say about their career progression and life after university.

Hannah Grisdale, MChem Chemistry

I chose to study chemistry at Liverpool University because of the brilliant reputation the university, and more importantly, the department has. The research that takes place in the chemistry department here in Liverpool is internationally leading, and makes a huge impacts around the world. I looked around many different departments when deciding on my choice […]

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My qualifications are from United Kingdom.

Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition fees

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

Full-time place, per year - £9,535
Foundation year fee - £7,500
Year abroad fee - £1,430 (applies to year in China)

Following the foundation years, standard course fees apply.

The tuition fees shown are correct for 2025/26 entry. Please note that the year abroad fee also applies to the year in China.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. Learn more about paying for your studies.


Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.


Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.

The Liverpool Bursary

If you’re a UK student joining an undergraduate degree and have a household income below £35,000, you could be eligible for a Liverpool Bursary worth up to £2,000 for each year of undergraduate study.

Asylum Seekers Scholarship

Apply for an Asylum Seekers Scholarship and you could have your tuition fees paid in full and receive help with study costs. You’ll need to have applied for asylum in the UK, or be the dependant of an asylum seeker, and be joining an eligible undergraduate degree.

Care Leavers’ Opportunity Bursary

If you’ve spent 13 or more weeks in Local Authority care since age 14, you could be eligible for a bursary of £3,000 per year of study. You’ll need to be a UK student joining an eligible undergraduate degree and be aged 28 or above on 1 September in the year you start.

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

Are you a UK student with a Black African or Caribbean heritage and a household income of £25,000 or less? You could be eligible to apply for a Cowrie Foundation Scholarship worth up to £8,000 for each year of undergraduate study.

Estranged Students Bursary

If you’re a UK student identified as estranged by Student Finance England (or the equivalent UK funding body), you could be eligible for a bursary of £1,000 for each year of undergraduate study.

Genesys Life Sciences Scholarship

Joining a School of Biosciences degree and have a household income of less than £25,000? If you’re a UK student, you could apply to receive £4,500 per year for three years of your undergraduate course.

Nolan Scholarships

Do you live in the Liverpool City Region with a household income of £25,000 or less? Did neither of your parents attend University? You could be eligible to apply for a Nolan Scholarship worth £5,000 per year for three years of undergraduate study.

Rigby Enterprise Award

Are you a UK student with a household income of £25,000 or less? If you’ve participated in an eligible outreach programme, you could be eligible to apply for a Rigby Enterprise Award worth £5,000 per year for three years of your undergraduate degree.

ROLABOTIC Scholarship

Are you a UK student with a household income of £25,000 or less? Did neither of your parents attend University? You could be eligible to apply for a ROLABOTIC Scholarship worth £4,500 for each year of your undergraduate degree.

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.

Technetix Broadhurst Engineering Scholarship

Joining a degree in the School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science? If you’re a UK student with household income below £25,000, you could be eligible to apply for £5,000 a year for three years of study. Two awards will be available per academic year.

Young Adult Carer’s (YAC) Bursary

If you’re a young adult and a registered carer in the UK, you might be eligible for a £1,000 bursary for each year of study. You’ll need to be aged 18-25 on 1 September in the year you start your undergraduate degree.

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My qualifications are from United Kingdom.

Entry requirements

The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.

Qualification Details
A levels

T levels

T levels are not currently accepted.

GCSE

All applicants must have a minimum of five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English Language, Mathematics and two Sciences. Core and Additional Science/Dual Science acceptable as the two Sciences. Alternatively, if separate sciences are being studied then one of these must be GCSE Chemistry. Applicants over 21 can be considered on GCSEs alone.

International qualifications

Many countries have a different education system to that of the UK, meaning your qualifications may not meet our direct entry requirements. Although there is no direct Foundation Certificate route to this course, completing a Foundation Certificate, such as that offered by the University of Liverpool International College, can guarantee you a place on a number of similar courses which may interest you.


Alternative entry requirements

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Entry requirements: which qualifications do you need?

Contact us

Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.

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Last updated 8 October 2024 / / Programme terms and conditions

Changes to Chemical Sciences (4 year route including a Foundation Year at Carmel College)

See what updates we've made to this course since it was published. We document changes to information such as course content, entry requirements and how you'll be taught.

14 January 2025: Duolingo English Test requirements updated

Duolingo English Test requirements updated. See English language requirements for details of the revised requirements.

16 December 2024: Change to Year in Industry information

This course was updated to reflect the fact that an official “Year in Industry” option is not currently available.

19 April 2023: Progression routes updated

Progression routes updated and added to the Overview section.

7 June 2022: New course pages

New course pages launched.