Subject pathways within the Natural Sciences degree (2025/26)

Chemistry is a central science that’s at the core of everything we can see, smell, taste and touch around us. From energy to the environment, groundbreaking medicine to cleaning products, chemistry is integral to all aspects of our life, which puts chemical scientists at the forefront of delivering invaluable solutions to global challenges such as climate change, sustainability and health.

If you decide to take the Chemistry subject pathway as part of your Natural Sciences degree, you'll take a series of optional and compulsory modules within this pathway. 

Please note: The modules listed below are indicative of typical options and some of these options may not be available, depending on other modules you have selected already.

Year 1

Compulsory module

Introduction to Modern Chemistry – 20 credits

Discover the principles of modern chemistry with an initial focus on a qualitative appreciation of electronic structure and how it determines the chemical and structural properties of matter. You’ll also get an introduction to chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, organic structures and mechanisms and the chemistry of transition metal-ligand complexes.

Optional modules

Fundamental Organic Chemistry for Biology and Synthesis – 10 credits

Build a broad foundation of knowledge in organic chemistry. You’ll cover the mechanistic basis and application of key organic reactions including nucleophilic and electrophilic substitution and addition reactions, eliminations, oxidation and reduction and key functional group interconversions.

Chemistry of the Material World – 10 credits

Explore both physical and inorganic chemistry, including analysis and understanding of the kinetics and thermodynamics of chemical reactions, molecular energy levels and their origin and transition metal chemistry for materials.

Year 2

For year 2, you’ll take modules from one of the following subject pathways:

• Organic and Biological Chemistry
• Inorganic and Materials Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry

Organic and Biological Chemistry pathway

Structural and Quantitative Analysis and Synthetic Laboratory – 20 credits

Module description coming soon.

Organic Chemistry: Structure, Reactions and the Science of Life – 20 credits

Examine how the shapes of organic molecules impact their physical properties and reactivity. You'll be introduced to new classes of reactions such as pericyclic reactions and enols/enolates as reactive carbon-centred nucleophiles. You’ll also cover heterocyclic chemistry principles which play a role in biological systems like DNA, enzymes and coenzymes.

Optional modules

Introduction to Drug Design – 10 credits

You’ll study the principle modes of binding of small drug molecules to biological macromolecules and learn how to identify key recognition features in drug molecules. You will gain an understanding of basic cell signalling pathways and the role of receptor agonists and antagonists in medicinal chemistry.

Chemistry of Materials: What They Are and How We Know – 10 credits

Gain an understanding of inorganic solid-state structures and materials and how they are synthesised, characterised and understood. Important characterisation and structure determination techniques will be addressed, with a focus on illustrative examples that highlight structure-property relationships and the importance and diversity of materials applications to be found in everyday life.

Organometallics: From Bonding to Catalysis – 10 credits

Build upon organic and inorganic chemistry learned in year 1, with focus on the structure and reactivity of organo-main group molecules and organo-transition metal complexes, and on the increasingly important application of these species as reagents and/or catalysts in synthetic organic chemistry.

Specialisms in Chemical Science – 10 credits

Gain a deeper understanding of some specialised areas within chemistry, including for example, polymer chemistry, molecular symmetry and spectroscopy and solution equilibria. 

Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics – 10 credits

Explore two fundamental parts of physical chemistry, namely chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. The module builds on the concepts of energy storage, states of matter and chemical change introduced in year 1. The module is concerned with the measurement and understanding of the rates and energetics of chemical reactions and illustrated using the context of societally important applications of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, for example atmospheric chemistry and combustion.

Molecules, Energy, Quanta and Change – 20 credits

The module has two components. One is concerned with chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, illustrated using societally important applications, for example atmospheric chemistry and combustion.

The other component covers quantum mechanics and molecular bonding. Starting from the postulates of quantum mechanics and building from simple models to atoms, to molecules, you’ll learn how and why chemical bonding occurs.

The module builds on concepts of energy storage, states of matter and chemical change.

Inorganic and Materials Chemistry pathway

Structural and Quantitative Analysis and Synthetic Laboratory – 20 credits

Module description coming soon.

Chemistry of Materials: What They Are and How We Know – 10 credits

Gain an understanding of inorganic solid-state structures and materials and how they are synthesised, characterised and understood. Important characterisation and structure determination techniques will be addressed, with a focus on illustrative examples that highlight structure-property relationships and the importance and diversity of materials applications to be found in everyday life.

Organometallics: From Bonding to Catalysis – 10 credits

Build upon organic and inorganic chemistry learned in year 1, with focus on the structure and reactivity of organo-main group molecules and organo-transition metal complexes, and on the increasingly important application of these species as reagents and/or catalysts in synthetic organic chemistry.

Optional modules

Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics – 10 credits

Explore two fundamental parts of physical chemistry, namely chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. The module builds on the concepts of energy storage, states of matter and chemical change introduced in year 1. The module is concerned with the measurement and understanding of the rates and energetics of chemical reactions and illustrated using the context of societally important applications of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, for example atmospheric chemistry and combustion.

Molecules, Energy, Quanta and Change – 20 credits

The module has two components. One is concerned with chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, illustrated using societally important applications, for example atmospheric chemistry and combustion.

The other component covers quantum mechanics and molecular bonding. Starting from the postulates of quantum mechanics and building from simple models to atoms, to molecules, you’ll learn how and why chemical bonding occurs.

The module builds on concepts of energy storage, states of matter and chemical change.

Organic Chemistry: Structure, Reactions and the Science of Life – 20 credits

Examine how the shapes of organic molecules impact their physical properties and reactivity. You'll be introduced to new classes of reactions such as pericyclic reactions and enols/enolates as reactive carbon-centred nucleophiles. You’ll also cover heterocyclic chemistry principles which play a role in biological systems like DNA, enzymes and coenzymes.

Specialisms in Chemical Science – 10 credits

Gain a deeper understanding of some specialised areas within chemistry, including for example, polymer chemistry, molecular symmetry and spectroscopy and solution equilibria. 

Introduction to Drug Design – 10 credits

Module description coming soon.

Physical Chemistry pathway

Chemical Specialisms, Physical and Analytical Laboratory – 20 credits

Module description coming soon.

Molecules, Energy, Quanta and Change – 20 credits

The module has two components. One is concerned with chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, illustrated using societally important applications, for example atmospheric chemistry and combustion.

The other component covers quantum mechanics and molecular bonding. Starting from the postulates of quantum mechanics and building from simple models to atoms, to molecules, you’ll learn how and why chemical bonding occurs.

The module builds on concepts of energy storage, states of matter and chemical change.

Optional modules

Chemistry of Materials: What They Are and How We Know – 10 credits

Gain an understanding of inorganic solid-state structures and materials and how they are synthesised, characterised and understood. Important characterisation and structure determination techniques will be addressed, with a focus on illustrative examples that highlight structure-property relationships and the importance and diversity of materials applications to be found in everyday life.

Organometallics: From Bonding to Catalysis – 10 credits

Build upon organic and inorganic chemistry learned in year 1, with focus on the structure and reactivity of organo-main group molecules and organo-transition metal complexes, and on the increasingly important application of these species as reagents and/or catalysts in synthetic organic chemistry.

Molecular Signatures: Spectroscopy and Chromatography – 10 credits

Develop the skills to interpret NMR and mass spectra to determine structures of small molecules, building on skills developed in year 1. The module will also provide a theoretical basis for quantitative and qualitative analytical chemistry, in particular analysis by chromatographic methods such as GC and HPLC. 

Organic Chemistry: Structure, Reactions and the Science of Life – 20 credits

Examine how the shapes of organic molecules impact their physical properties and reactivity. You'll be introduced to new classes of reactions such as pericyclic reactions and enols/enolates as reactive carbon-centred nucleophiles. You’ll also cover heterocyclic chemistry principles which play a role in biological systems like DNA, enzymes and coenzymes.

Introduction to Drug Design – 10 credits

Module description coming soon

Year 3

For year 3, you’ll take modules from the same pathway you chose in year 2.

• Organic and Biological Chemistry
• Inorganic and Materials Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry

Organic and Biological Chemistry pathway

Optional modules

Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry – 30 credits

Explore material such as advanced synthetic methods including use of protecting groups and chemical technologies including flow chemistry and parallel chemistry. You’ll study topics including reactive intermediates, solvent and solvent effects, process optimisation, bio-organic chemistry, synthesis, analysis and commercial application of polymers, and polymeric materials.

Advanced Chemistry Laboratory for Natural Scientists – 10 credits

Module description coming soon.

Advanced Chemistry Laboratory for Natural Scientists – 20 credits

Module description coming soon.

Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry – 20 credits

Learn core material such as advanced organometallics and catalysis, including homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. You’ll study topics including, for example, electrochemistry, f-block chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and properties and applications of inorganic solid-state materials.

Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry – 20 credits

Cover areas in statistical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and dynamics whilst studying topics like computational and theoretical chemistry, soft matter including amphiphile self-assembly, electronic spectroscopy of atoms and molecules and atmospheric chemistry.

Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Development – 10 credits

Explore key aspects of the drug development process (including the processes required to optimise a drug candidate, and how drug candidates progress through late-lead optimisation to clinical trials) using examples from the pharmaceutical industry.

Quantum Mechanics and Bonding – 10 credits

Apply the principles of quantum mechanics, building from simple models, to atoms, to molecules. You'll learn how and why chemical bonding occurs, and how it impacts our understanding of chemistry.

Inorganic and Materials Chemistry pathway

Optional modules

Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry – 20 credits

In this module you'll cover the same core as in the module below, but choose a subset of the available topics.

Extended Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry – 30 credits

Learn core material such as advanced organometallics and catalysis, including homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. You’ll study topics including, for example, electrochemistry, f-block chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and properties and applications of inorganic solid-state materials.

Advanced Chemistry Laboratory for Natural Scientists – 10 credits

Module description coming soon.

Advanced Chemistry Laboratory for Natural Scientists – 20 credits

Module description coming soon.

Quantum Mechanics and Bonding – 10 credits

Apply the principles of quantum mechanics, building from simple models, to atoms, to molecules. You'll learn how and why chemical bonding occurs, and how it impacts our understanding of chemistry.

Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry – 20 credits

In this module you'll cover the same core as in the module below, but choose a subset of the available topics.

Extended Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry – 30 credits

Explore material such as advanced synthetic methods including use of protecting groups and chemical technologies including flow chemistry and parallel chemistry. You’ll study topics including reactive intermediates, solvent and solvent effects, process optimisation, bio-organic chemistry, synthesis, analysis and commercial application of polymers, and polymeric materials.

Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry – 20 credits

Cover areas in statistical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and dynamics whilst studying topics like computational and theoretical chemistry, soft matter including amphiphile self-assembly, electronic spectroscopy of atoms and molecules and atmospheric chemistry.

Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Development – 10 credits

Explore key aspects of the drug development process (including the processes required to optimise a drug candidate, and how drug candidates progress through late-lead optimisation to clinical trials) using examples from the pharmaceutical industry.

Physical Chemistry pathway

Optional modules

Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry – 30 credits

Cover areas in statistical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and dynamics whilst studying topics like computational and theoretical chemistry, soft matter including amphiphile self-assembly, electronic spectroscopy of atoms and molecules and atmospheric chemistry.

Advanced Chemistry Laboratory for Natural Scientists – 10 credits

Module description coming soon.

Advanced Chemistry Laboratory for Natural Scientists – 20 credits

Module description coming soon.

Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry – 20 credits

Learn core material such as advanced organometallics and catalysis, including homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. You’ll study topics including, for example, electrochemistry, f-block chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and properties and applications of inorganic solid-state materials.

Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry – 20 credits

Explore material such as advanced synthetic methods including use of protecting groups and chemical technologies including flow chemistry and parallel chemistry. You’ll study topics including reactive intermediates, solvent and solvent effects, process optimisation, bio-organic chemistry, synthesis, analysis and commercial application of polymers, and polymeric materials.

Medicinal Chemistry in Drug Development – 10 credits

Explore key aspects of the drug development process (including the processes required to optimise a drug candidate, and how drug candidates progress through late-lead optimisation to clinical trials) using examples from the pharmaceutical industry.

Year 4 (MNatSci, BSc)

Optional modules

Advanced Topics in Chemistry – 15 credits

Module description coming soon.

Advanced Topics in Chemistry – 30 credits

Module description coming soon.

Advanced Topics in Chemistry – 45 credits

Module description coming soon.