Chemistry study guide 2024/25
What you can study
The School of Chemistry is the best in the UK for research (THE REF analysis), and our academic staff include the authors of textbooks that are used globally for teaching undergraduate chemistry. You will be guided by these world-class experts as you discover how chemistry shapes the world around us, and prepare to tackle some of the world's biggest problems, from climate change to drug discovery.
You will find units on:
- materials chemistry
- biological life chemistry
- environmental life chemistry
Pre-requisites
At UK universities, students specialise from their first year and rarely take units outside their degree subject. This means that:
- Year 1 units are suitable for all students.
- Year 2 units require some university study in the discipline.
- Year 3 units require a strong background in the discipline.
- Masters-level units require three years of university study in the discipline.
Subject pathway students
If you have been nominated to Bristol on the Study Abroad (Chemistry pathway), you must take the majority of your credits from this guide.
Year 1
Pre-requisites: suitable for all students
Teaching Block 1
- Building Blocks of Chemistry 1 - CHEM10023
- Big Ideas in Science - CHEM10001
- Materials Chemistry: The Materials World - CHEM10016
Teaching Block 2
- Building Blocks of Chemistry 2 - CHEM10022
- Life Chemistry: Life Through the Chemical Lens - CHEM10012
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 2
Pre-requisites: some university study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
- Biological Life Chemistry - CHEM20011
- Core Concepts in Chemistry 1 - CHEM20015
- Materials Chemistry: Materials for Energy - CHEM20005
Teaching Block 2
- Chemical Models and Prediction - CHEM20008
- Core Concepts in Chemistry 2 - CHEM20016
- Environmental Life Chemistry - CHEM20012
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 3
Pre-requisites: strong background of study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
- Advanced Chemical Models and Prediction - CHEM30032
- Advanced Environmental Life Chemistry - CHEM30029
- The Art of Chemistry 1 - CHEM30036
Teaching Block 2
- The Art of Chemistry 2 - CHEM30035
- Advanced Biological Life Chemistry - CHEM30028
- Materials Chemistry: Material Interfaces - CHEM30031
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
- Advanced Data Science and Machine Learning for Scientific Computing - SCIF30006
- Advanced Practical Chemistry (Teaching Labs) - CHEM30005
- See 'Project units' (below) for further options
Masters-level units
Pre-requisites: at least 3 years of study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
Teaching Block 2
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Project units
Pre-requisites: before arriving in Bristol, develop and propose a research topic to the School of Chemistry, and confirm that a supervisor is available.
If there is no supervisor available, students will need to select an alternative unit.
All project units run in Teaching Block 4 (full year):
Year 3:
Masters-level:
Application queries
Contact the Centre for Study Abroad inbound team if you have any queries about the application process for the study abroad programmes:
Phone: +44 117 39 40207
Email: cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk