Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
A047
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Come to an open day
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Course summary
- Acquire core chemistry concepts and apply them to real-world scenarios, mirroring the demands of post-graduate careers.
- Get hands-on experience with our extensive range of industry-standard scientific instruments.
- Build your skills and use them to problem solve current issues like climate change and infectious disease.
- Gain invaluable experience by undertaking an optional placement year in a real-world industrial setting.
Chemistry is not only the study of matter but also the study of change – a discipline that permeates everything around us. Chemistry is known as the ‘central science’, so a solid understanding in chemistry allows you to work in lots of other areas of science such as biology, pharmaceuticals, materials and environmental science.
You’ll gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to actively participate in thrilling scientific developments that leave a lasting impact on all aspects of life.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for this course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year.
How you learn
At Sheffield Hallam, we embrace the practicality of chemistry. There's no substitute for experiencing it firsthand, and that's precisely what your course will offer—a hands-on approach both in and out of the classroom, with a combination of practical work and real-world work placement opportunities.
Our academic staff are internationally renowned researchers but are also enthusiastic about supporting the training and advancement of young scientists. By the time you graduate, you’ll be a skilled and independent scientist, ready to make a difference in the world.
You learn through:
- In-person teaching in face-to-face workshops and tutorials
- Practical hands-on laboratory experience
- Industry-standard facilities and equipment
- Online videos, interactive materials and practice quizzes
- Small group teaching sessions
- Online support tutorials
- An optional industrial placement year
- Capstone independent research project
Throughout your studies, you will be assessed on various skills, including problem-solving, explaining scientific concepts using appropriate terminology, professional communication of science through written reports, presentations, and viva voce examinations, data analysis and interpretation, and reflection on your learning via portfolios.
Key themes
Our curriculum emphasises contemporary challenges, focusing on problem-solving and transferable skills that enable you to tackle pressing issues like climate change and infectious disease.
You’ll begin your journey with us by learning core concepts and building your problem-solving and communication skills. You’ll then apply your understanding to real-world laboratory-based scenarios – ultimately completing independent laboratory projects where you plan, conduct and analyse the results of your experiments.
In semester 2 of your third year, you’ll conduct an extended independent research project, working on a real problem in modern chemistry, supervised by one of our experts. You’re also able to choose a module based on your preferred area of study. All the options are highly applied and interdisciplinary, exploring the boundaries between chemistry and other areas of science – as well as the impact chemistry can have on the future of our planet.
Course support
All of our chemistry degrees are designed and led by research-active staff. As you progress, we’ll gradually develop your independence, encouraging you to tackle complex problems with confidence.
By the time you complete the programme, you'll emerge as a proficient and autonomous scientist, equipped to make a significant impact on the world. These problem-solving and transferable skills will enable you to address pressing issues, contributing to meaningful change in society.
Course leaders and tutors
Daniel Allwood
Senior Lecturer in Organic ChemistryI joined Sheffield Hallam University from the University of Cambridge, where I undertook a PhD (2008-2012) and post-doctoral research (2012-2015) with Professor Stev … Read more
Applied learning
Field trips
You’ll get to experience residential field trips during your course. Both chemists and biologists will help to teach and learn from one another on these trips, discovering how different disciplines influence one another. You’ll learn practical skills which demonstrate how chemistry is not only conducted in the laboratory, but also out in the field.
You’ll tackle environmental concerns like pollution and exploring the connections between chemistry and sustainability. You’ll venture beyond classrooms to scenic UK landscapes.
Experiential learning
Experiential Learning will allow you to grasp core chemistry concepts and apply them to real-world problem-solving scenarios, including those resembling post-graduate careers such as a medicinal chemist or environmental scientist. Your course will provide you with hands-on experience using a wide range of scientific instruments, such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, Infra-Red spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry.
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to complete a year-long placement between your second and third year. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
You can access various support activities, resources, employer events and opportunities from your Careers & Employability Team to ensure you make the most of your work experience opportunities during your degree.
Well-known organisations students have worked with in the past include:
- Airbus
- AstraZeneca
- GSK
- Pfizer
- Tata Steel
- Molson Coors
- Sheffield Assay Office
- Cyprotex
Networking opportunities
Each year students have the opportunity to showcase their project work to our School of Biosciences and Chemistry – and in the final year at a national chemistry conference. These are great opportunities to gain invaluable skills in presenting to the scientific community.
Representatives and staff from Sheffield Hallam’s Chemistry Society (ChemSoc) sit on the committee for the local section of the Royal Society of Chemistry – so they will keep you up to date with the latest local and national chemistry events.
Throughout the Professional Skills for Scientists modules, we’ll support you to build, reflect on and evidence your skillsets to potential employers. The second-year modules in particular focus on helping you to secure a placement year if you choose to do one.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- Scientific research
- Chemical analysis
- Pharmaceuticals
- Scientific instrumentation
- Materials
- Chemical manufacturing
- Petrochemicals
- Flavours and fragrances
- Quality control
- Recycling and waste processing
- Scientific sales
- Healthcare science
- Scientific marketing
- Scientific recruitment
- Scientific communication
- Academia
- Science education
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- AstraZeneca
- GSK
- Unilever
- Johnson-Matthey
- Dr Reddy’s
- Reckitt
- Agilent
- Infineum
- Lubrizol
- Waters
- The NHS
As well as a range of UK and international universities, a range of public and state schools.
Student View
Watch student Joe Anslow describe his experience on placement at Tata Steel.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Biosciences and Chemistry Facilities Tour
Take a look around the biosciences and chemistry facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with senior lecturer and recruitment lead Dr Susan Campbell.
Equipment and facilities
The School of Biosciences and Chemistry features state-of-the-art chemistry laboratories and facilities, which you will be supported to get hands-on experience with throughout your degree. You’ll benefit from:
- Modern, industry-standard laboratory spaces
- Our Centre for Mass Spectrometry Imaging
- Our Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy
- Mass Spectrometry
- Infra-red spectroscopy
- High Performance Liquid Chromatography
- Gas Chromatography
- Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
- Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
- Computational chemistry facilities
360 tour - biosciences and chemistry facilities
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 64
From A levels to include at least 24 points in any one A level and at least 16 points from a science subject (biology/chemistry/human biology). Or BTEC National qualification in Applied Science. We do not accept general studies. For example:
- MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science.
- Pass overall from a T level qualification in either Health -Care Science or Science with D or E from core.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in a science based subject considered. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent.
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent.
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 or above, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each skill.
If you do not have any of the qualifications above but have relevant experience, you are welcome to discuss potential opportunities with the admissions tutor.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Concepts In Biology And Chemistry
Developing Skills For Science
Foundation Skills For Science
Foundations Of Biology And Chemistry
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Applied Topics In Chemistry
Core Concepts In Chemistry
Demonstrating Professional Skills For Scientists
Introducing Professional Skills For Scientists
Principles Of Chemical Analysis
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Applications Of Analytical Science
Applying Professional Skills For Scientists
Developing Professional Skills For Scientists
Inorganic, Physical And Materials Chemistry
Organic And Biosynthetic Chemistry
Year 4
Compulsory modules
Placement Year For Biosciences And Chemistry
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced Chemical Synthesis
Advanced Professional Skills For Scientists
Chemistry For Future Global Challenges
Research Project
Elective modules
Advanced Analytical Science
Applications Of Data Science
Medicinal Chemistry And Drug Discovery
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Biosciences and Chemistry (PDF, 131.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
