BSc (Hons) Environmental Chemistry Bachelor's degree at the University of Plymouth
BSc (Hons) Environmental Chemistry at University of Plymouth integrates core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Environmental Chemistry at Plymouth is taught by world-class researchers, our students gain both the practical laboratory skills and academic knowledge needed to be a professional environmental chemist in a wide range of careers. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Environmental Chemistry is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Plymouth, based in University of Plymouth Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Physical sciences graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,500. (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.
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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (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 6 modules
- Practice of ChemistryCore20 credits
Module details
Ignite your passion for Chemistry. Get hands-on as part of a team, be trained in practical techniques, develop your laboratory practice, and enhance your scientific communication skills. This module will support your transition to university level study whatever your background.
Assessment: 60% Coursework 40% Practicals
- Inorganic ChemistryCore20 credits
Module details
An exploration of atomic structure, relating the concepts of electron energy levels and atomic orbitals to real-world applications. Students will construct the periodic table, discussing its history, structure, and uncovering trends in elemental properties. Learn and apply bonding theory for simple molecules, metal complexes and crystal structures, through hands-on laboratory experimentation and analysis.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Examinations
- Organic ChemistryCore20 credits
Module details
Join us on a voyage of molecular discovery. In a series of hands-on lab sessions, workshops, and small group tutorials, you will explore the wonder of organic chemical reactions and gain a deep understanding of the concepts underpinning them.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Examinations
- Physical ChemistryCore20 credits
Module details
Further your ability to predict and model chemical parameters. Understand the states of matter, chemical kinetics, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics. Workshops will provide you with opportunities to investigate and ask probing questions, and lab sessions will train you in accurate observation and data collection.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Examinations
- Approaches to Data AnalysisCore20 credits
Module details
Learn how computing, maths and chemistry interweave. Enhance your IT skills and gain a thoroughly supported experience using the programming language "R" to process, analyse and present environmental chemical data sets.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Examinations
- Analytical Environmental TechnologiesCore20 credits
Module details
Tackle the biggest challenges to sustainability with modern analytical technologies. Master fundamental techniques, delving into theoretical concepts and real-world applications, empowering you to select the right tool for any environmental challenge. Dynamically blending theory and hands-on exercises, this module sharpens your critical thinking as you transform chemical samples into actionable environmental intelligence.
Assessment: 50% Practicals 50% Examinations
Year 2 7 modules
- Placement PreparationCore
Module details
This module explores the role of placements, work experience and volunteering for enhancing employability whilst at university and as a future graduate. It considers placement options (types, durations) and supports students in developing applications and preparing for interviews.
- Environmental Issues and CommunicationCore20 credits
Module details
Science isn't finished until it's communicated. Learn about some of the crucial challenges we face in communicating scientific data and ideas to create change in society. You will not just discover how to communicate to different groups - including policymakers, children, media organisations and science deniers - but you will also produce innovative multimedia communication pieces too.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- The Art of ExperimentationCore20 credits
Module details
Can you trust your data? Master collecting representative and reliable data through case studies applying fundamental theoretical concepts. In workshops, unpick robust approaches to sampling, processing, and analysis. Learn to design robust experiments, identify errors, and deliver trustworthy results that meet professional standards. Preparing you for your final year project and future career.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practicals
- Practical Environmental ChemistryOptional20 credits
Module details
Enjoy an entirely practical-based module. We will take you into the field to collect samples and put into practice theoretical concepts you've already mastered. Gain experience using a range of modern instrumentation to gather large volumes of high-quality environmental data.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Career Catalyst: Pathways to Professional SuccessOptional20 credits
Module details
This module equips you with essential professional and research skills for study and career success. Develop expertise in teamwork, communication, and time management. Master critical analysis, project planning, and quality systems. Enhance your employability through report writing, presentations, literature evaluation, risk assessment, COSHH, and quality management - preparing you for excellence in academia or industry.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Environmental Management and SustainabilityOptional20 credits
Module details
Expand your knowledge and critical thinking skills in key areas of environmental science and management, using insights from economics and environmental governance to explore solutions to real life problems affecting life supporting resources such as water, air, energy or food.
Assessment: 60% Coursework 40% Practicals
- Research Design in Action: Fieldwork for a Changing PlanetOptional20 credits
Module details
Enhance your subject understanding by putting your research skills into action and immersing yourself in fieldwork. Explore real-world challenges in dynamic landscapes and engage with diverse communities in a range of exciting destinations. Work in a team to design and lead your own project, gaining practical experience that underpins your degree programme and advances your professional development.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practicals
Placement Year 1 modules
- PlacementCore
Module details
This module is a placement position, where a student undertakes a programme of work within a host company or organisation. The placement occurs within a yearlong period, meeting minimum duration requirements. Students experience applying their degree, experience professional practice, develop enhanced subject-related knowledge and skills, and undergo personal-professional development.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
Year 3 8 modules
- Advanced Organic ChemistryCore20 credits
Module details
How does organic chemistry work in our daily lives? What reactions go on in our bodies and how can we use this understanding to design effective medicines? What are the environmental effects of the organic molecules, such as pharmaceuticals, we make? Explore these questions in detail and unearth the fascinating world of enzyme chemistry and other essential molecules of life, such as steroids and terpenoids.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Examinations
- Advanced Research ProjectCore40 credits
Module details
A research project, normally involving laboratory work, but which may also include fieldwork, on a topic relevant to the degree programme. Both independent research and collaborative team-work is linked to the development of skills appropriate to the management of the project and entry and success in the professional workplace.
Assessment: 80% Coursework 20% Practicals
- Global Environmental SolutionsCore20 credits
Module details
Explore interdisciplinary approaches to addressing contemporary global environmental challenges and enhance your skills in critically evaluating environmental policies and political frameworks affecting how environmental problems are managed. Apply environmental economics and sustainability principles to selected environmental issues and examine how research data informs complex environmental decision-making.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Practicals
- Independent ProjectCore40 credits
Module details
Experience the full research process, from formulating a problem to presenting the outcomes, by undertaking an independent research project that tackles a real-world challenge. This is your opportunity to apply research skills and techniques, gain hands-on experience and showcase your originality while preparing for future academic or career success.
Assessment: 80% Coursework 20% Practicals
- Advanced Inorganic ChemistryOptional20 credits
Module details
Study a selection of advanced inorganic chemistry topics related to current cutting-edge research areas (e.g. modern catalysis, materials chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry). Apply your knowledge, new skills and understanding to plan and deliver laboratory-based investigations and theoretical problem solving related to these research areas.
Assessment: 50% Coursework 50% Examinations
- Frontiers in Analytical ScienceOptional20 credits
Module details
Learn how to use modern and industrially relevant instrumentation, with guidance from expert staff. Workshops will allow you to explore the complimentary theory and look at the instrumentation of the future. This is a hands-on module, designed to give you the practical experience that employers are looking for.
Assessment: 100% Coursework
- Marine Pollution and Environmental ChangeOptional20 credits
Module details
Examine the sources, movement and impacts of pollutants, from nutrients and trace elements to anthropogenic chemicals and carbon dioxide. You'll learn practical field techniques for assessing estuarine water quality and critically evaluate links between human activities and environmental change. This module builds strong analytical skills essential for modern marine management.
Assessment: 60% Coursework 40% Examinations
- Frontiers in Fieldwork: Unlocking Multidisciplinary PotentialOptional20 credits
Module details
Embark on exploration of critical, real-world challenges in an exciting field context. Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to tackle a core issue through a research project of your own creation.
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
On this course, you combine practical laboratory skills with the academic knowledge needed for professional environmental chemistry work. You'll usually begin with core chemistry and physics fundamentals, atomic structure, bonding, mechanics and energy, alongside mathematics for scientists and basic laboratory techniques. In Year 2, you'll progress to organic and physical chemistry, quantum and thermal physics, and more advanced experimental work, whilst developing scientific computing skills and mathematical methods. By Year 3, you'll move into specialist options such as astrophysics, materials science, medicinal chemistry, quantum science or computational methods, study research-level topics taught by active researchers, and undertake a supervised research project. A research placement option is also available.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-level qualifications or equivalent. Most accepted students held A-levels, and the typical UCAS tariff band among entrants was 128–143 points. You'll need a genuine interest in understanding how chemistry applies to environmental challenges, and the capacity to engage with both theoretical concepts and practical laboratory work alongside independent research.
Careers & job market
Across Physics and Chemistry courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Of those working, 75% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £26,500 to £34,000, rising to £30,600–£43,200 after five years. These figures reflect the broader graduate population and are not specific to this course.
University & format
The BSc (Hons) Environmental Chemistry is a 3-year, full-time degree taught at University of Plymouth Campus in English. The University of Plymouth is a nationally recognised UK degree-awarding body, and awarded Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
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.
- 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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
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 | 95% |
| an Access course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
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.
- 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Plymouth →For students who normally live in England
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.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
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 | £26,500 | £22,500 – £30,000 | 25 |
| 3 years after | £24,500 | £21,500 – £28,500 | 65 |
| 5 years after | £32,000 | £26,500 – £38,000 | 70 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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
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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. 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.
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.
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsSOC 2020 31 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,828
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
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: 55; response rate: 60%. 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.
How 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-LibraryIs 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
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,500. 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 9.1 out of 10: NSS 93.7% · in work or study 95% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Plymouth
Physical sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University of Plymouth Campus
3,218 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
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 University of Plymouth from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £9,790 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Plymouth’s funding pages.
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 University of Plymouth and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Plymouth
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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