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Imperial College London · Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Chemistry Bachelor's degree at Imperial College London
BSc (Hons) Chemistry at Imperial College London. Chemistry at Imperial College London is structured around interdisciplinary study, encouraging you to see connections between chemical theory and neighbouring scientific fields rather than treating the subject in isolation.
BSc (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
85%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
Develop your understanding and problem-solving through interdisciplinary chemistry study and build practical laboratory skills. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Chemistry is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Imperial College London, based in South Kensington. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Chemistry graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £34,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Physics & Chemistry, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
9.0
/ 10
Exceptional
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Exceptional90
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent85
Limited evidence Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional95
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 11 modules
- i-EngageCore
Module details
Begin to engage with thinking like a chemist, and receive training in teamwork, use of GenAI and finding chemical information.
- Language of ChemistryCore
Module details
Explore how structures and concepts in chemistry are represented and described, and learn drawing, naming, structure, shape and properties of molecules.
- Structure and Bonding: Atomic Structure to Molecular OrbitalsCore
Module details
Build familiarity with the tools used to predict molecular structures and use theoretical models to explain the bonding in molecules and other chemical structures.
- Introduction to SpectroscopyCore
Module details
Develop your understanding of the physical and theoretical basis for spectroscopic measurements and examine spectroscopic and mass spectrometric techniques.
- Reactivity at Carbon CentresCore
Module details
Learn about the major types of reactivity at carbon centres and how to rationalise trends in reactivity, and apply your understanding of properties of compounds.
- The Reaction Toolkit: Thermodynamics and KineticsCore
Module details
Explore the major theories and methodologies (linked to thermodynamics and kinetics) that are used to interpret chemical reactions and chemical equilibrium at a macroscopic level.
- Chemistry of the Elements: Hydrogen to UraniumCore
Module details
Examine concepts and trends in the chemistry of the s-, p-, d- and f- block elements, and their compounds.
- Practical Chemistry 1Core
Module details
Develop skills in synthetic chemistry, measurement science and coding, and begin to apply these to investigative practical work and data analysis.
- Mathematics and Physics 1Optional
Module details
Explore more deeply, important mathematical and physics concepts that underpin theory of physical phenomena and at the chemistry-physics interface.
- Medicinal Chemistry 1Optional
Module details
Explore the principles that underpin medicinal chemistry, including biomolecule structure and function, and drug design in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Imperial HorizonsOptional
Module details
Study one of ten languages through the Imperial Horizons department.
Year 2 11 modules
- i-Engage 2Core
Module details
Appreciate the expectations as a scientist, learning about inclusivity and diversity, and how to communicate science to different audiences.
- Electronic States and BondingCore
Module details
Study what electronic states are and why chemical bonds form, based on approximate quantum mechanical models, building up to polyatomics, complexes and solids.
- Analysis of Molecules, Materials and MixturesCore
Module details
Gain skills in analysis and applying theories behind a variety of spectroscopic, mass spectrometric and purification techniques and applications.
- Solids, Liquids and InterfacesCore
Module details
Apply knowledge of thermodynamic quantities to describe the state of equilibrium and non-equilibrium systems, phases and interfaces; and calculate how such quantities change during a chemical transformation.
- Chemistry of Molecular SystemsCore
Module details
Build on your knowledge of properties, reactivity and synthesis, and apply it to a wider range of molecular chemical systems, including use of transition metals in catalysis.
- Macromolecules and MaterialsCore
Module details
Extend your knowledge of properties, reactivity and synthesis of small molecules, applying to solids, polymers and biomolecules such as carbohydrates, DNA and peptides.
- Control and Selectivity in Molecular SynthesisCore
Module details
Apply your prior knowledge of synthesis and molecular properties to achieve control and selectivity in chemical reactions, including use of organometallic reagents and retrosynthetic analysis.
- Practical Chemistry 2Core
Module details
Build on training foundation from Year 1, developing more complex practical design and analytical skills and independence through synthetic, physical/data analysis and computational experimental work.
- Mathematics and Physics 2Optional
Module details
Build knowledge and application of mathematical techniques relevant in the analysis and interpretation of physical theories including electromagnetism and molecular interactions.
- Medicinal Chemistry 2Optional
Module details
Further your knowledge of medicinal chemistry in pharmacokinetics, drug design and optimisation, assays in drug discovery and protein therapeutics.
- BPESOptional
Module details
Examine a range of business, finance and management topics on a module delivered by the Imperial Business School.
Year 3 4 modules
- Advanced Chemistry Topics 1Core
Module details
Explore five advanced chemistry topics. You'll choose from topics including advanced synthesis, materials chemistry, soft condensed matter and molecular reaction dynamics.
- Advanced Chemistry Topics 2Core
Module details
Investigate a further five advanced chemistry topics. You'll choose from topics including chemical biology, environmental and green chemistry, process chemistry and strategies in drug discovery.
- Practical Chemistry 3 for BSc ChemistryCore
Module details
Advance your skills in practical chemistry, experiment design and research, by carrying out a short independent research project and advanced lab practicals.
- I-ExploreCore
Module details
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The programme is built around a small number of connected strands rather than a long list of disconnected modules. You'll move through core theory that establishes the foundations of chemical science, before developing research & methods skills that teach you how chemists actually generate and evaluate evidence. Applied practice runs throughout, translating theory into laboratory competence, while specialist options allow you to focus on areas that interest you as your understanding deepens, such as the more advanced or niche corners of the discipline that suit your own direction. An independent project gives you the chance to work through a substantial piece of chemistry on your own initiative, from framing a question to reporting your findings, and professional skills are woven in to prepare you for work or further study beyond the degree. Together these strands are designed to build both technical depth and the practical judgement that laboratory-based science demands.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is naturally curious about how matter behaves and why reactions happen the way they do, and who also enjoys the more painstaking, hands-on side of science, the careful measuring, repeating, and record-keeping that laboratory work requires. If you like the idea of moving between abstract theory and physical experiment, testing your own explanations at the bench rather than just reading about other people's results, you'll likely feel at home here. It rewards patience and precision as much as curiosity: you'll spend real time in labs, learning to trust (and question) your own data. Many entrants have come through A-levels or equivalent qualifications, typically with UCAS tariffs in the 160–175 range, though this reflects what past students have generally held rather than a fixed requirement. If you're someone who wants a degree that builds towards professional recognition as a chemist while leaving room to specialise in the areas you find most engaging, this is worth serious consideration.
Careers & job market
Chemistry graduates work across a wide range of sectors, and national Graduate Outcomes data for Physics & Chemistry courses gives a sense of the broader landscape rather than any university-specific guarantee. Across these fields nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 75% of those in work are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. Around 90% of students on these courses continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed. On earnings, national figures (not specific to this course or university) show starting salaries 15 months after graduation typically ranging from £26,500 to £34,000; after three years the range is £24,650 to £34,800; and after five years, £30,600 to £43,200. These figures reflect national outcomes across Physics & Chemistry graduates generally, and individual results will vary depending on sector, role and location. The RSC accreditation towards Chartered Chemist status may also be a relevant reference point if you're considering a longer-term professional pathway in chemistry.
University & format
Imperial College London is a public, research-intensive university and a member of the Russell Group, founded in 1907 and based at South Kensington for this course. It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, meaning degrees are nationally recognised, and it received a Gold rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. The course runs full-time over three years, taught in English.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Open daysFind out more about our September Open Days
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of AAA. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent97% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 160 - 175 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Professionally accreditedAccredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry for partially meeting the academic criteria for Chartered Chemist (CChem)
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Imperial College London's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 97% |
| Other | 3% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Competitive entry
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*A-level equivalent admitted students held
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Imperial College London whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Imperial College London →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Funding matched to this course
All Imperial College London funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Medicine students
Check eligibility →undergraduate students
Check eligibility →international students
Check eligibility →students of Black heritage
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Physics & Chemistry graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £34,000 | £31,000 – £40,000 | 25 |
| 3 years after | £36,000 | £30,000 – £43,000 | 75 |
| 5 years after | £49,500 | £37,500 – £71,000 | 80 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
85%
in work or further study 15 months on
80%
in highly skilled work or study
95%
continue past their first year
90%
find their work meaningful
65%
say work fits their future plans
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in physics & chemistry · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Physics & Chemistry nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£34,000
£26,500 – £34,000After 3 years LEO
£36,000
£24,650 – £34,800After 5 years LEO
£49,500
£30,600 – £43,200national rangethis course’s medianaxis £22,500 – £51,500
National figures for Physics & Chemistry graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
85 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
40% working10% working and studying35% in further study80% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Physics & Chemistry courses at the same study level.
This course £49,500Peer median £36,000Middle 50% £32,000–£38,500
96th percentile
Compared with 886 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 45; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Physics & Chemistry graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Physics & Chemistry courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes75%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Physics & Chemistry graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Research institutes
- Energy & manufacturing
- Universities
- Government labs
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Physics & Chemistry graduates.
Physics Content Developer for AI-Enhanced LearningUp LearnPhysics PhD, Quantum Data Scientist for AIObsidianPhysics Academic MentorRibbons and Reeves LimitedPhysics TechnicianSapientia Education TrustPhysics Academic Mentor17918Physics Teachers in Calderdale and KirkleesCV-LibraryLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
📈
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £34,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 90.4% · in work or study 85% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
All students22,525
International52.9%
Aged 25+20.2%
Physical sciences across the UK
Students64,325
Aged 25+17.8%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around South Kensington
3,468 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Anti Social Behaviour 750Violent Crime 642Other Theft 530Shoplifting 370Theft From The Person 293
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Physics & Chemistry right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Imperial College London from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Imperial College London; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Imperial College London offers the GREAT - Imperial College London Scholarship for international students, see Scholarships above.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Imperial College London and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Imperial College London
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Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 160 - 175 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by Imperial College London. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Chemistry graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £34,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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