Chemistry

Chemistry is at the heart of solutions to many of today’s biggest challenges, from climate change to the treatment of disease. On this degree you’ll study chemistry to an advanced level, equipping you to change the world for the better.

This is our most flexible chemistry degree, enabling you to tailor your degree to the areas that spark your curiosity. Options include medicinal chemistry, sustainable chemistry, chemical biology and the fast-growing field of computational chemistry.

Ranked 4th in the UK by the 2024 Guardian University Guide, you’ll work in fantastic facilities that include chemical engineering laboratories, a dedicated chemical engineering computer suite and a virtual control room, where you’ll learn to run a simulation of a real chemical plant, using the same simulations used by industry to train their staff.

You’ll be prepared for a role as a professional chemist or may choose to use your skills in another field. Our graduates have achieved success in sectors including finance, banking, accountancy, sales and marketing, management, patent law and teaching.

Supporting your studies You’ll be part of a supportive Chemistry community, with a personal academic tutor to provide any extra help you need, both academically and personally. In years one and two we limit tutorials to a maximum of five students, so you’ll have plenty of time and attention from your tutors.

Between classes, the Chemistry department will be your ‘home’ on campus, where you can grab a coffee in the common room, catch up with friends and talk to staff.

Outstanding undergraduate laboratories Take advantage of our recently refurbished labs, which opened in 2019 as part of a £12m investment in Chemistry’s facilities. You’ll study in bright, spacious modern laboratories using new, high-tech equipment, which is the same as you’ll find if you go on to work in the chemical industry. Each student has a laptop to use in the laboratory, for analysing data and writing laboratory reports.

Gain hands-on practical experience with research-grade equipment such as NMR and IR spectrometers and X-ray diffractometers. You’ll make and analyse your own samples, with full support and training, rather than sending samples to be analysed or watching demonstrations. And your lab work will incorporate modern ‘green’ chemistry practices that are used in industry.

Learn about research as it happens Part of a research-active Russell Group university, Chemistry at Southampton is joint first in the UK for research intensity (Complete University Guide 2022), which means you’ll learn from staff who are making trailblazing discoveries.

Our academics are advancing battery technology for cleaner energy, designing drugs for hard-to-treat cancers, and using digital modelling in the fight against COVID-19, to name just a few examples. They will share their passion with you, bringing the most up-to-date knowledge to your seminars and lectures. The breadth of their research activities gives you a wide choice of project topics.