Study chemistry in Cambridge 2025

All levels are available:

Bachelor's degree,
Postgraduate education (Master's degree, Doctoral degree).
The duration of the Bachelor's degree is 3-4 years. In the 1st year, students study chemistry as one of the experimental sciences, exploring the relationship between the structure of a molecule and its chemical properties, which has implications for thinking about the physical and biological worlds. Ideas and concepts are relevant to all areas of molecular science, from biochemistry to materials science, forming a strong foundation for more in-depth study of chemistry in the 3rd and 4th year.

Practical exercises, which take place in the university laboratory, form an integral part of the course: this is how students try and experience the consequences of the ideas presented in lectures. Some of the practical sessions involve experiments, others involve making and interpreting quantitative measurements.

Schools with Chemistry at Cambridge offer lectures on the topics:

• Introduction to Chemistry,
• Physical Chemistry,
• Organic Chemistry,
• Inorganic Chemistry,
• Mathematics for Chemists,
• Spectroscopy,
• Energetics,
• Kinetics, etc.

Students study:

• Forms and structures of molecules,
• Kinetics of chemical reactions,
• Energetics and equilibrium, etc.

Studying Chemistry at Cambridge for international students assumes knowledge of the subject at GCE Advanced (or equivalent) level, elementary calculus. For students whose knowledge is insufficient, Cambridge organizes additional courses in chemistry and elementary mathematics for biologists.

2nd year of undergraduate study
The study of Chemistry at Cambridge in Year 2 consists of 2 foundational courses:

Chemistry A - includes topics in theoretical and physical chemistry, concentrating on molecular quantum mechanics and its application to understanding molecular structure and reactivity,
Chemistry B - offers topics in organic and inorganic chemistry with special emphasis on structure determination, organic mechanism, major group and transition metal chemistry. The course also includes an introduction to biological chemistry.
By studying both courses, students gain a broad introduction to chemical topics and the opportunity to specialize in year 3. Within IB Natural Sciences, Cambridge offers many subjects to complement the two chemistry courses:

Physics,
Mathematics,
Materials Science and others.

Year 3 undergraduate course
The study of chemistry at Cambridge universities for international students in Year 3 builds on previous topics, but students are already concentrating on an area of interest to them - chemical biology, chemical physics and other topics from a wide range. An important place is given to practical work which develops skills in carrying out complex and open-ended experiments. In the senior year, skills will be useful for students to conduct a research project as part of a group under the supervision of a professor.

During the summer vacation, students gain industrial experience by working in industrial or academic laboratories. Many choose the Erasmus program and spend time working in laboratories in Europe and beyond.

4th year undergraduate course
Studying Chemistry at Cambridge in Year 4 is different from previous experiences: it is a challenging year dedicated to lectures and research. Students study a wide range of topics that involve an impressive amount of research work, helping to bring them to the forefront of research. There are 16 weeks to complete a project in a research group. The experience gained by students in practical classes and in the computer lab over the past 3 years should provide a solid base of skills and abilities that are applied when working on an original research topic. Lectures consist of subjects that fall outside the traditional boundaries between chemistry, physics, earth sciences and geography, providing a good opportunity to broaden their horizons.

4th year specializations:

Chemical Physics,
Theoretical Chemistry,
Biological Chemistry and others.

A degree in chemistry is excellent preparation for an in-demand profession in the global labor market. Studying chemistry at Cambridge universities for international students is an opportunity to acquire a wide range of skills, in-depth knowledge of ideas and concepts that address important issues in modern science.

Chemistry graduates are employed:

Business,
Journalism,
Accounting,
Law,
Teaching,
Management consulting,
Chemical and pharmaceutical industries and other fields,
Research at Cambridge, other universities and laboratories.