Chemistry (with Industrial Placement)

MChem Hons

  • UCAS code F102
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 9

    9th for Chemistry

    The Guardian University Guide (2024)

  • 13

    13th for teaching quality

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024)

  • 15

    15th for Joint place for student satisfaction

    The Complete University Guide (2025)

Chemists are great problem solvers and analytical thinkers; they have been instrumental in developing our modern world. Studying our Chemistry (Industrial Placement) degree will not only provide you with a multi-disciplinary skill set, it will also give you the opportunity to experience the environment of a real chemistry workplace and allow you to apply the theoretical knowledge you’ve gained.

The industrial placement takes place in Year 4 to give you several advantages:

  • You will have a greater degree of maturity
  • Your knowledge, practical work and research experience will be more advanced
  • You have a greater chance of being offered a job after the placement because you will have completed your degree

The Industrial Placement Programme Officer, who will also be in touch with you during the placement, will guide you on how to identify and apply for a placement from Year 2 and how to prepare for competitive interviews during Year 3.

In Years 1 to 3 you will explore a range of core topics, including chemical synthesis and materials, chemical physics and analysis, chemical computation and theory, and chemical biology. Our modern approach combines the traditionally segregated subjects of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, and teaches chemistry in logical stages. As part of the degree, you will receive an expansive introduction to the foundations of chemistry, from the fundamentals of atoms and molecules, to chemical reaction kinetics. Later years build on these foundations, and develop advanced knowledge and skills in modern chemical theory and contemporary practical techniques.

In your first year you will study the core chemistry modules - comprising two-thirds of the year - along with optional modules that can be selected from a range of subject areas taught in the University. You will develop your practical skills in our brand-new, research-grade labs, with access to an impressive range of equipment. Alongside the technical knowledge, you will gain excellent transferable skills in communication, research, data analysis, mathematics and computation, and analytic and logical thinking; all of which can be applied to many different career paths.

Your second year builds upon the broad fundamentals of first year, and you will cover some familiar topics in more detail, such as organic synthesis, spectroscopy and kinetics, while new, more advanced topics are introduced, such as d-metal chemistry, soft-matter chemistry and quantum chemistry. In your third year, you will study a range of advanced topics, as well as a research skills module, which will prepare you for you final year project undertaken during your industrial placement. You will also have the opportunity to choose from a variety of optional modules in more specialised areas of chemistry.

During your fourth and final year, whilst at your industrial placement, you will apply your skills by undertaking a major research project. The topic of the proposed research project will be agreed with your employer in advance of the placement and will be broken down into a series of components including a literature review, a project interview, a final dissertation and a final oral presentation. In addition, you will complete a module assessing reflection on the contribution to the host organisation, the experiential learning and enhanced skill set the placement has provided. You are also expected to undertake two modules as distance taught courses from a list of available Year 4 modules in advance topics in chemistry.

Lancaster University nor the Chemistry Department can guarantee a placement with a company. Any student unable to secure a placement would typically be transferred onto the standard MChem degree programme.

We are a modern and inclusive department committed to small group teaching which we believe fosters a highly supportive and productive learning environment.

Alternative Programmes

The MChem programme is also offered with an integrated Study Abroad year, where you can expand your horizons in locations such as North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. As the degree shares a common first- and second-year with the BSc and other MChem programmes, there is flexibility to switch between programmes once you are in Lancaster (subject to academic requirements).

Careers

The study of chemistry is essential to so many of our basic human needs, from creating safe food and water, synthesising materials for clothing and shelter, manufacturing life-saving medication, and getting us from A to B. The world needs chemists! As a chemistry graduate, you’ll develop an understanding of the world around you which opens up the door to many career opportunities in the field of chemistry and beyond. You can take the knowledge gained from the modules you’ve studied and pursue a career in areas such as pharmaceuticals, product development, postgraduate medicine, energy and the environment, or even continue in academia. Chemistry graduates are also in demand in non-scientific roles for their ability to understand complex problems, their mathematical capabilities, project management skills and awareness of ethical issues and environmental impact. Our graduates are well-paid too, with the median starting salary from our Chemistry degrees being £25,750 (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023).

Here are just some of the roles that our BSc and MChem Chemistry students have progressed into upon graduating:

  • Research Scientist - Croda International
  • Forensic Laboratory Scientist – Cellmark Forensic Services
  • Compliance Specialist – Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • Plating Engineer – TT Electronics Plc
  • Laboratory Analyst – AstraZeneca
  • Analytical Chemist – Central Science Laboratory
  • Science Teacher – Cheshire City Council
  • Medical Laboratory Assistant – NHS
  • Analytical Support Technician – Lancaster University
  • Formulating Scientist – Unilever
  • Quality Technologist – Royal Sanders (UK) Ltd
  • Project Coordinator – Alderley Analytical

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level AAB

Required Subjects A level grade AB in Chemistry and a further science from; Biology, Computing, Economics Environmental Science, Geography, Human Biology, Information Technology, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.

GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6, English Language grade C or 4

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including 6 in Chemistry HL and 6 in a further HL science subject

BTEC May be considered alongside A level Chemistry grade B

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,250 £29,820

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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