Heriot-Watt University

Go Global:

  • European Exchange
  • Non-European Exchange

The course

UCAS code
F101
Duration
5 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time

Become a chartered chemist while studying in partner universities across the world.

Find out how to apply More about this subject area

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Overview

The core chemistry courses (along with additional chemistry courses) ensure a strong basis in theory and laboratory practice. Communication and enterprise skills are an integral part of the course. Students choose a research topic in Level 4 or 5. The course aims to produce Chemistry graduates at the highest level of professional skill and knowledge, whilst at the same time allowing for a broad, flexible course in the earlier years.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry for partially meeting the academic criteria for Chartered Chemist (CChem).

Explore

Specialisms

This is one of our most flexible degree programmes. With each degree specialism, the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences will provide you with the skills and expertise needed to thrive in the positions, organisations and industries of the future. Our degrees will expose you to the current thinking and practices of successful organisations and business leaders.

Go Global

With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way.

You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.

Specialisms

European Language

This degree specialism works alongside our expert Languages department in the School of Social Sciences allowing students to study French, German or Spanish whilst studying core chemistry courses. Through our international partnerships in France, Germany and Spain students will progress to carry out a research project at their chosen chemistry department.

Year in Australia

This degree specialism allows the student to study the fundamental principles of Chemistry with the opportunity to spend one year studying at our partner institution in Australia. Students will learn and study under our expert Chemistry faculty calling on their industry experience and research-lead knowledge.

Year in Europe

This degree specialism allows the student to study the fundamental principles of Chemistry with the opportunity to spend one year studying at our partner institution in Europe. Students will learn and study under our expert Chemistry faculty calling on their industry experience and research-lead knowledge.

Year in North America

This degree specialism allows the student to study the fundamental principles of Chemistry with the opportunity to spend one year studying at our partner institution in the USA. Students will learn and study under our expert Chemistry faculty calling on their industry experience and research-lead knowledge.

Computational ChemistryThis degree specialism is led by a skilled team of Chemistry faculty involved in Computational Chemistry research. Graduates will be specialised in the computer modelling of structures. Biology together providing an in-depth look and understanding of the underlying chemistry in the animal and plant kingdoms. Our expert faculty provide students with an advanced specialist knowledge in biochemistry, cell biology and biological chemistry.
BiologyThis degree specialism combines chemistry with biology. Molecular Biology describes the methods involved in the manipulation and analysis of DNA and demonstrates why recombinant DNA is important in the life sciences. Introduction to Microbiology provides an introduction to the principal groups of microorganisms, emphasising the important role that microbes play in our lives.
Materials and NanoscienceThis degree specialism combines Chemistry with physics and their engineering applications. The development of new materials with special properties requires students to combine their newly learned knowledge of polymers and solid-state materials with core chemistry. This specialism will also explore Nanoscience and it's application in Chemistry.
Pharmaceutical ChemistryThis degree specialism combines Chemistry with biology. The pharmaceutical industry is a major component of the chemical industry; our students gain an advanced understanding of molecular cause and treatment of disease using Pharmaceutical or Medicinal Chemistry.

Course content

Detailed course guide

Year 1

Students gain a good understanding of the fundamental principles of Chemistry and are introduced to laboratory skills illustrating various experimental techniques; students also study Mathematics and an optional subject.

Year 2

Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry lectures continue with emphasis on the interrelationship between theoretical principles and experimental measurements. Students choose an optional subject, either the same or a different one from Level 1.

Year 3

Advanced Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry are joined by topics in Analytical and Materials Chemistry. Communication and teamwork skills are developed and laboratory work becomes more advanced.

Year 4

Involves advanced lectures in Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry, together with special topics. Students also undertake a 16-week research project in Chemistry (BSc), or special practical courses designed to give a deeper understanding of modern analytical practical techniques (MChem).

Year 5

Involves an extensive 24-week research project within a research group plus specialist Chemistry courses.

Discover Uni course data

Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our MChem Chemistry students are doing 15 months after graduating:

  • 45% are working
  • 25% are studying
  • 10% are working and studying.

In highly skilled work

  • 90% of those are in highly skilled work 15 months after graduating.

Salary

  • The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £21000
  • The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £24000

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into 15 months after graduating:

  • Science, engineering and technology associate professionals

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB (including Chemistry and Maths)
  • A-Levels BBC (including Chemistry B and Maths) 
  • Int. Baccalaureate 30 points (with Higher Level Chemistry and Mathematics at 5)
  • BTEC DDM (in relevant subject)
  • HNC A in graded unit (in relevant HNC)

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC (including Chemistry at B and Maths)
  • A-Levels BCC (including BC in Chemistry and Mathematics)

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

  • live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
  • are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements

Year 2

  • Advanced Highers AB (including Chemistry and Mathematics plus Highers AABB)
  • A-Levels AAB (including Chemistry and Mathematics)
  • Int. Baccalaureate 36 points (with Higher Level 6 Chemistry and Mathematics)
  • HND BB in graded units (in relevant HND)
  • BTEC DDD (in relevant subject)

Year 3

  • HND AA in graded units (in relevant HND)

Additional information

English language requirements

  • If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2021 entry
Status* Scotland England / Northern Ireland / Wales** International***
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £19,792

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

*** 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales starting undergraduate degree courses in 2021

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.