Course summary

Combine your passion for chemistry with the study of biology and prepare to play a role in the discovery of life-saving medical treatments. You’ll learn about every aspect of the drug development cycle: the design of molecules with the potential to treat disease, understanding how they will interact with the body, and testing the effectiveness and safety of new treatments. The degree includes a six-month placement which could see you undertaking a research project at a pharmaceutical company, or at a university overseas. A university placement could take you to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Singapore or almost anywhere in the world. Most placements within industry are paid, and whichever type you choose you’ll gain specialist experience and transferable skills which will impress employers. You’ll study in recently refurbished labs and learn from inspiring academics. In the recent Guardian University Guide (2023) Chemistry placed 1st in the Russell Group for satisfaction with teaching. This demonstrates our commitment to providing an excellent learning experience. You’ll be well placed to take advantage of the many career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector. This course is also excellent preparation for a PhD, which is the next step for over 40 per cent of our chemistry graduates. It is also a pathway for graduate entry into medicine. Supporting your studies You’ll be part of a supportive Chemistry community, with a personal academic tutor to provide any extra help you need, both academically and personally. During the first two years we limit small group tutorials to a maximum of five students, so you’ll have plenty of time and attention from your tutors. Between classes, the Chemistry department will be your ‘home’ on campus, where you can grab a coffee in the common room, catch up with friends and talk to staff. CV and interview skills workshops will help you secure your placement and future employment after your degree, and we’ll support you with regular catch-ups throughout the six months that you’re on your placement. Outstanding undergraduate laboratories Study in recently refurbished laboratories, which opened in 2019 as part of a £12m investment in Chemistry’s facilities. In this spacious, bright and modern environment you’ll gain hands-on practical experience with equipment such as NMR and IR spectrometers and X-ray diffractometers. There are also laptops for each student to record their practical work. It’s the same high-tech equipment you’ll find in industry or academic labs, and you’ll learn to make and analyse your own samples, with full support and training – all excellent preparation for your placement and future career. For your biology studies, you’ll use purpose-built facilities in the Life Sciences Building, which have benefited from a recent £50m investment. Learn about research as it happens We’re a Russell Group university and Chemistry at Southampton is joint first in the UK for research intensity (Complete University Guide 2022). This means you’ll learn from staff who are changing the world through research – for example by designing new cancer drugs and developing synthetic DNA for use in COVID-19 testing. Our academics will share their expertise with you, bringing the most up-to-date knowledge to your seminars and lectures. In addition, the breadth of their research activities gives you plenty of choice for your third-year project topic.