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Chemistry at University of Aberdeen - UCAS

Course summary

Chemistry is not just about chemicals in laboratories – chemistry touches every aspect of our daily lives. Chemistry is about understanding how matter changes and how these changes affect everything from the food we eat and air we breathe, to the medicines we take and the energy we use to power our homes, cars and phones. Ranked 7th in the UK for Chemistry, Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022. Ranked 1st in Scotland for Overall Student Satisfaction, National Student Survey 2021. The brand-new Science Teaching Hub provides the latest high-tech teaching labs and equipment to support your learning and to help you develop industry-standard skills and techniques to launch your chemistry career. Chemistry is a core science that is not only the very essence of life, but is also concerned with the quality of life and its continuous improvement. It is often regarded as the central science, and a degree in chemistry provides a student with many key skills which can be used in many areas not necessarily restricted to the discipline. Students who study chemistry at university go on to work in a wide range of highly rewarding careers, tackling the problems we face today in areas such as drug discovery, environmental protection, forensics, food and agriculture as well as academic careers in teaching or cutting-edge research. Chemistry is also central to the transition to clean and sustainable energy and this programme will also provide you with the foundation for a career in developing battery and fuel cell technology, carbon capture technologies and also the hydrogen economy. The BSc (Honours) degree is the traditional route to a qualification in chemistry. It involves four years of full time study (although direct entry into second year is possible for well qualified applicants, and all four years may be undertaken part time). BSc (Hons) graduates with first class or upper second class honours are eligible to continue to postgraduate research degrees, although most choose from the wide variety of employment options available to chemistry graduates. Chemistry graduates are very employable because a degree in Chemistry opens up many opportunities in areas such as drug development, environmental protection, food chemistry, petroleum chemistry, forensic science and materials development.

Modules

Our teaching in the first two years aims to give a balanced treatment of all the main branches of the subject. In the third and fourth years we develop a selection of topics in more depth, and offer options which enable students to tailor their programmes to suit their own aptitudes and interests. View all modules on the programme page to find out more about what you will be studying and when. University of Aberdeen modules are designed to give you breadth and depth to your degree. The range of modules you study will allow you to become proficient in all subjects which are directly relevant to your degree giving you greater career options.

Assessment method

The use of various forms of assessment and learning environments facilitates the development of generic transferable skills enhancing student employability. Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods: coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course; practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and written examinations at the end of each course. The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses. Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Chemistry, Royal Society of

How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
F100
Institution code:
A20
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

For entry to Year 2: Satisfactory completion of HNC Applied Sciences (120 SCQF credit points) - B in all Graded Units - Curriculum to include: Mathematics for Science (H8XP), Inorganic Chemistry (B) (H92Y), and Physical Chemistry (B) (H936). For entry to Year 2: Satisfactory completion of HNC Chemical Process Technology (120 SCQF credit points) - A in all Graded Units - Curriculum to include: Inorganic Chemistry: Theory and Laboratory Skills (H92Y 34), Physical Chemistry: Theory and Laboratory Skills (H936 34). For entry to Year 3: Satisfactory completion of HND Applied Sciences (240 SCQF credit points) - B in Graded Unit 1 and A in Graded Unit 2 - Curriculum to include: Organic Stereochemistry: Theory and Laboratory Skills (H934 35), Instrumental Techniques 1 (H930 35), Inorganic Chemistry: Theory and Laboratory Skills (H932 35), and Aromatic Chemistry: Theory and Laboratory Skills (H92N 35). For entry to Year 3: Satisfactory completion of HND Chemical Process Technology (240 SCQF credit points) - BA in Graded Units.

International applicants

In addition to tuition fees, students will require money to cover their living costs including accommodation, food, books, entertainment, clothing, phone bills, local travel, and laundry. These expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and spending habits. In keeping with UKVI rules, we recommend that students budget £1,023 per month to cover their living costs. International students who require a Student visa to study in the UK also have to pay the NHS health surcharge of £470 per year of study, plus £235 (any additional period of 6 months or less is charged at the rate of half the annual amount) when applying for a visa. International students who will be studying for more than 6 months are permitted to work for 20 hours per week during term-time, though this may be increased during the holiday periods. Please note that this must not be relied upon as a means to fund your studies.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/find-a-degree.php


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Overall - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 5.5 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above. IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted.
TOEFL (iBT)78TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Home Edition (online) - DI code is 0818: Overall 78 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 18 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above.
PTE Academic59Overall - 59 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above. Online Test is not accepted.
Trinity ISEPassPass overall at ISE II with a distinction in writing and merit in the other three skills.
Institution's Own TestAcademic English Pre-sessional Programmes - Pass (valid for one year) OR Academic English Preparation Programme - Pass at Level Four (valid for one year)
Cambridge English AdvancedCOverall - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing -169.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCOverall - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing -169.

To study for an undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, or through a recognised English language test. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your degree programme, unless otherwise stated.

Please use the checklist at the following webpage to determine how you can meet our English language requirements:

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/undergraduate-degrees-english-requirements-268.php


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
50%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
80%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
International £24800* Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
EU £24800* Year 1
Scotland £1820 Year 1

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

EU/International Fees have not been set for Academic Year 2025-26. The fee detailed above was for Academic Year 2024-25. EU/International Applicants: When you are thinking about studying overseas, it is important that you understand all the costs involved and budget accordingly. It is essential to budget for your studies prior to leaving your home country, and arrange all your funding for BOTH your tuition fees and your living costs.

Sponsorship information

Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen. View the University of Aberdeen Online Prospectus programme page to find out about any scholarships and funding you may be eligible to apply for.

Chemistry at University of Aberdeen - UCAS