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Chemistry

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Central area campus
More about The University of Edinburgh

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Chemistry is the study of atoms, molecules and ions, their structures, properties, synthesis and interactions with each other.

The subject covers a wide range, from simple compounds like sodium chloride to complex molecules such as DNA.

The importance of chemistry

A knowledge of chemistry informs understanding of science, technology and engineering.

A modern chemist can make significant contributions to a sustainable and healthy future. Some examples of contributions include the development of:

  • efficient renewable energy sources

  • smart materials and devices

  • targeted medicinal therapies

Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree programme

The BSc degree programme covers topics in all areas of the field, from the basics to the most advanced understanding and applications.

In the early years of your degree programme, you will study core courses in chemistry and mathematics.

In addition, there is also a flexible curriculum to suit your personal interests. This means you may be able to combine courses in other sciences, arts or humanities with your core chemistry content. This flexibility means you may be able to potentially transfer to an alternative degree programme within science or engineering at the end of Year 1.

You will have scope to specialise in Year 4 through your option courses and research project topic with one of our cutting edge research groups. Alternatively, you may opt to take a science education project. You will also develop greater leadership and organisational skills through group-based learning and open-ended projects.

Programme benefits

  • All our chemistry programmes are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

  • You will have the opportunity to combine the study of chemistry with a wide range of other subjects in Years 1 and 2.

  • The School of Chemistry scored 75% in the National Student Survey 2024 for overall student satisfaction.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Central area campus

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 14 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
F100
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

How to apply

This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
  • EU
  • Wales
  • England
  • International
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Republic of Ireland

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
F100
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
AAA - ABB

AAA - ABB. These grades should be achieved in one set of exams. Required subjects: A levels: Chemistry at B; Mathematics at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

Scottish Higher
AAAB

AAAB by end of S5 or AAAA by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: Mathematics at A; Chemistry at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. Advanced Higher Mathematics and Chemistry are recommended. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
37 - 32 points

from 37 points with 666 at HL to 32 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: Chemistry at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5. SL: English at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 6 (if not at HL).

Direct entry to second year is available; see our website for entry requirements. We normally make offers to the highest qualified applicants. If competition for places is high this may mean that offers will only be made to applicants who are predicted, or who have achieved, above the single set of grades or the upper grade level in a range. Any conditional offer made may require you to achieve grades above the upper grade level. Therefore, achieving the top of our standard entry requirements does not guarantee a place on the relevant degree.

Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

UCAS Tariff Not accepted

A level ABB

ABB. Required subjects: A levels: Chemistry at B; Mathematics at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

Scottish Higher AABB

AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: Mathematics at A; Chemistry at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. Advanced Higher Mathematics and Chemistry are recommended. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 32 points

32 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: Chemistry at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 5. SL: English at 5; Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) at 6 (if not at HL).

Find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL (iBT)92total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English Advancedtotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Cambridge English Proficiencytotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISEISE II with distinctions in all four components.
You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies. This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals. You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher: SQA National 5: English at C; GCSE: English at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate: English at C; International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level: English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements. We also accept other qualifications from around the world. If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the English language tests, at the specified grade or higher, as detailed above. Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of your programme, regardless of your nationality: IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT. All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of your programme. If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, as defined by UKVI, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.

Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website:https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.

Learn more on the The University of Edinburgh website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) students commencing or continuing their studies in September 2026, the tuition fees will be £9,790. This is subject to Parliamentary approval and is an increase of £255 on the fee rate for academic year 2025-2026.

EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.

Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme

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