Undergraduate BSc (Hons)
Chemistry
with a Foundation Year
Choose chemistry to change the world and your future.
Come along to one of our autumn Open Days in October and November. Hear from staff and students about our courses, find out about our accommodation and see our stunning campuses for yourself.
Interested in developing chemical compounds? Curious about the structure of chemicals and the reactions they have with one another? Enter the fascinating world of Chemistry at Kent to gain the knowledge and practical skills to help tackle the challenges of the 21st century. From combating climate change and creating energy storage devices, to developing new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
This course is designed for students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to Stage 1 of our degree courses, and is an excellent conversion course for applicants who have shown academic ability in non-science subjects.
Our distinctive course includes a set of ‘chemistry in context’ modules where you can apply your knowledge to specific case studies - in our state-of-the-art facilities - as well as the opportunity to work with our leading research teams on your own project. You'll also benefit from our expert careers advice – we'll help you to achieve your ambitions.
This course is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
Your Chemistry degree opens the door to lots of exciting careers; taking a professional placement year helps you discover some of those options.
Study a wide range of modules from core chemistry concepts to how it can help build a better world with an introduction to chemistry and the environment.
Our lecturers are innovative teachers and active researchers: Professor Jennifer Hiscock is in a team that created a material that can stop supersonic impacts.
Spend a year studying abroad at one of our partner universities. We currently have links with institutions in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Australia.
You'll use industry-standard equipment from the start of your degree.
Our typical offer levels are listed below and include indicative contextual offers. If you hold alternative qualifications just get in touch and we'll be glad to discuss these with you.
For those with a relevant science qualification our standard offer is CDD with one of these to be Chemistry or Biology, for those without a relevant science qualification our standard offer is BB, OR CCC including at least two subjects from the following areas: humanities, computing, art and design, English language or literature.
The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR).
30 points overall or 11 at HL including HL Chemistry or Biology at 4 or SL Chemistry or Biology at 5.
N/A
Pass overall in Science with C or more in the core components.
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.
The following modules are offered to our current students. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation:
You’ll study mathematics, physics, electronics and computing, and take part in practical classes.
This module will introduce students to the fundamental components of life. Students will be introduced to the function of key cellular components and their organisation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Through the study of cellular processes, students will develop an appreciation and understanding of the key biological processes underpinning living organisms.
This module will cover chemical concepts and principles. Through lectures and workshops, student will learn about atoms and states of matter, valence and bonding, basic chemical reactions, molecular shapes and isomerism, writing chemical equations and thermodynamics. The application of these principles in chemistry, forensic science, biological and exercise science will be explored in workshops, illustrating their fundamental importance in the natural sciences.
This module will provide a fundamental academic framework the support students in the study of Natural Sciences. The curriculum will address the study of science in a higher education environment and support students in the transition to university. Within the context of the Natural Science subjects, students will undertake laboratory investigations, developing skills and confidence in experimental work. Student will also learn how to find and evaluate information relevant to scientific investigation and use key software packages and databases to do so. The module will provide training in the use of mathematics to develop skills and confidence in numeracy, mathematical and statistical evaluation and graphical presentation of quantitative information.
This module draws together different strands of biological, chemical, physiological and human sciences to explore how scientific investigations can address major global challenges. Practical experimental work involving equipment used in research investigations, creative and critical thinking workshops, and guided group work will explore the role of the natural sciences in addressing some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The module will provide insight into the degree pathways available after completion of the foundation year.
This module will build upon fundamental biological principles and processes and place them in the context of key human physiological systems. The function of human tissues will be explained and discussed. The module will explore key principles of genetic inheritance and the drivers of genetic variation. These key areas will provide the foundations for exploring homeostasis in humans, the maintenance of health and the onset of disease.
This module will introduce students to the scientific applications of fundamental sport and exercise sciences topics. This will include anatomy and physiology, as applied to sport, exercise and physical activity; the musculoskeletal system; biomechanics of human movements; psychology in sport and exercise; and how physical fitness, or components of fitness, are assessed in an objective and scientific way.
This module will cover chemical concepts and principles. Through lectures and workshops, student will learn about how chemical reactions occur and the fundamentals and uses of common transformations. This will be accompanied by an introduction to the methods by which these can be studied. The application of these concepts and techniques in chemistry, forensic science, biological and exercise science will be explored in workshops, illustrating their fundamental importance in the natural sciences.
You’ll focus on the broad base on which chemistry is founded and start to build your practical lab skills.
This module presents a unified understanding of the structure of matter, linking physical properties to bonding and energy, and providing the tools necessary to begin to describe and analyse chemical problems. Key concepts such as mass balance and bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic, and intermolecular) are linked to analytical methods to show how these fundamental ideas can be measured and used.
Organic chemistry underpins not only much of the chemistry of living things but also modern materials, dyes, medicines, and more. This module discusses the structure of organic molecules in detail, showing the shape of molecules dictates their properties, and how Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) can exploit this to determine the structures and thus properties of unknown molecules. Fundamental modes of reactivity of organic molecules are discussed, showing how simple mechanisms can be used to build complex and useful compounds.
Inorganic chemistry considers the rich and varied chemistry of all the periodic table. This module shows how the variation in bonding across the periodic table leads to predictable and useful trends in structure and properties. The fundamental properties and reactivity of the transition metals are examined in detail to show how their magnetic and spectroscopic properties may by understood and exploited, laying the groundwork for future applications.
This module discusses the key ideas of thermodynamics and kinetics in a chemical context. It shows how the universe may be understood in terms of the flow of energy from high to low, and how this allows not only an understanding of what transformations are possible but also how fast they will occur. These essential physical principles are then applied to real world phenomena such as batteries, showing that even the most fundamental theories have direct and important applications in the modern world.
An introduction to the core Mathematical skills required within the Chemical and Forensic Sciences. These core skills will be complemented with a variety of problem-solving applications in Chemistry and Forensic Science.
This module will provide an initial look into chemistry and the environment, introducing important concepts such as pollution and climate change. The effects of chemical disasters will also be considered. Additionally, this module will begin to provide students with the wider skills necessary to study chemistry at university.
Chemistry, as one of the physical sciences, is rooted in careful observation of the natural world and experimentation. This module teaches the key skills required to work in a chemical laboratory, analysing unknown systems and synthesising new ones, and learning how to apply the theories and ideas from lecture modules to socially and industrially relevant problems.
As scientific methods and instruments advance, computers become ever more important in data analysis and acquisition. This module introduces to the concept of programming languages and their uses, and presents a practically minded course on using simple programming to solve problems relevant to chemistry, and to automate the analysis and presentation of data.
One-on-one meetings and small group tutorials focused on academic progression and the development of key skills to support the core curriculum and future study or employment. Students meet with their Academic Advisor individually or in small groups at intervals during the academic year. Individual meetings review academic progress, support career planning etc. Themed tutorials develop transferable skills; indicative topics are essay and report writing, presentation skills, sourcing information, critical analysis etc. The tutorials are informal involving student activity and discussion. Year group events deliver general information e.g. on University resources, 4-year programmes, module selection etc.
You’ll further develop your knowledge of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry and continue to develop your lab skills.
One-on-one meetings and small group tutorials focused on academic progression and the development of key skills to support the core curriculum and future study or employment. Students meet with their Academic Advisor individually or in small groups at intervals during the academic year. Individual meetings review academic progress, support career planning etc. Themed tutorials develop transferable skills; indicative topics are essay and report writing, presentation skills, sourcing information, critical analysis etc. The tutorials are informal involving student activity and discussion. Year group events deliver general information e.g. on University resources, 4-year programmes, module selection etc.
This module will deepen your understanding of quantum mechanics and symmetry. We explore how this gives rise to quantisation and selection rules, and go on to apply this to spectroscopic methods to understand structure and bonding including: rotational (microwave) spectroscopy, vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy and electronic transitions (UV-vis).
In this module, you will study organic reactions and compounds encountered in organic chemistry in depth. In particular, you will look at the organic chemical reaction mechanisms (including aspects of physical organic chemistry) and the reactions of a variety of organic compounds. You will also look at strategies for synthesising target molecules. Topics may include carbon-carbon bond formation, aromatic chemistry, the kinetics of organic chemistry, and carbonyl chemistry.
Underpinning both modern industrial catalysis and many biological systems, the chemistry of metal-carbon bonds is both incredibly important and diverse. This module delves into the factors controlling structure, bonding, and reactivity in organometallic species across the periodic table. It teaches how the properties of organometallic systems can be understood, controlled, and applied to solve important problems in the modern world.
The functional properties of solids, which are widely used for their ability to conduct electricity and ions, is determined by their structure on the atomic scale. An understanding of this is vital to the development of new materials, including those required to enable the clean energy technologies of tomorrow. This module will provide you with an understanding of the structures of solids and how they're determined. We will also explore the properties of materials, including electronic and ionic conductivity, and the role solids play in energy-related technologies.
This course will introduce students to the key ideas and fundamental molecular components of biochemistry. The course will cover simple biomolecules and non-covalent interactions, building up to biological oligomers. This will lead to introductory pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, illustrated with medicinal chemistry case studies.
Analytical chemistry underpins all other aspects of the discipline, and covers not only how to find out what a thing is but how to design experiments and confirm results to quantify just how confident you can be that your answer is useful. This module takes a pragmatic, applications driven approach to sample preparation, analysis, and data validation.
Chemistry, as one of the physical sciences, is rooted in careful observation of the natural world and experimentation. This module builds upon the key skills developed in previous laboratory modules, working towards longer and open-ended experiments designed to prepare students for research projects in stage 3.
In your final year, alongside your modules, you complete an independent research project.
One-on-one meetings and small group tutorials focused on academic progression and the development of key skills to support the core curriculum and future study or employment. Students meet with their Academic Advisor individually or in small groups at intervals during the academic year. Individual meetings review academic progress, support career planning etc. Themed tutorials develop transferable skills; indicative topics are essay and report writing, presentation skills, sourcing information, critical analysis etc. The tutorials are informal involving student activity and discussion. Year group events deliver general information e.g. on University resources, 4-year programmes, module selection etc.
In this module you will be introduced to a variety of modern techniques used to understand the structure, properties and potential applications of materials. An illustrative list of potential analytical techniques covered include: atomic emission/absorption spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry and optical microscopy, electron microscopy.
During this module students will choose a research project from one of four areas: Computational Chemistry, Solid-State Chemistry, Synthetic (Organic) Chemistry, or Chemical Pedagogy. They will then independently plan and execute their experiments, simulations (computational chemistry) or pedagogical research with guidance from an academic supervisor. The module provides framework research training.
'Nanoscience will sculpt the scientific landscape of the 21st century.' Here, you will be exposed to the synthesis of nanomaterials spanning nanoparticles, nanorods and porous architectures. You will learn how to control their shape, size, functionalisation, and stabilisation for a wide range of applications. The synthesis of functional inorganic solid is also introduced, including conventional solid-state synthesis, the use of intercalation and high-pressure synthesis to prepare novel materials and how solid-state materials can be synthesised at lower temperatures via solution-based methods. You will also synthesise several functional inorganic solids and nanomaterials in our chemistry laboratory.
The nature of chemical bonding changes as you move across and down the periodic table. In this module, you will study how and why this bonding changes, and how we can use our understanding of this to understand the structure and reactivity of many classes of compounds. This is coupled to advanced analytical techniques for probing these often complex and flexible structures. The concepts developed then feed into the reactivities underpinning modern Organometallic catalysis, moving from pure fundamentals to application and showing how they let us understand the cutting edge of modern research and industrial syntheses.
A key component to chemical education is the exposure to more advanced aspects of chirality, and chemical transformations towards the synthesis of organic targets. Concepts relating to the synthesis of natural and unnatural target molecules through organic chemical transformations are essential to the students' chemical repertoire. In-depth exposure to chirality, exposure to asymmetric chemical transformations, carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, and their application in targeted small molecule synthesis will be covered.
Chemists and physicists are now playing an important role in the growing field of materials research. More recently, there has been a growing interest, driven by technological needs, in materials with specific functions and this requires a combination of physics and chemistry. For example, new materials are needed for the optics and electronics industry (glasses and semiconductors). The aim of this module is to introduce students to this area of modern materials and associated techniques. Examples of the topics that might typically be covered are: Crystals and crystallography; Molecular materials; Glasses; Magnetism and Magnetic Materials; Multiferroics; X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS).
This module covers a range of core chemical science that relates to fire and explosive events. The applied investigation of such events is also discussed to give students a wider appreciation of previous case studies and the complexities of post-fire and post-blast investigations.
This module comprises a range of contemporary topics covering methods of analysis and the interpretational issues associated with forensic DNA profiling. The materials take students through the evolution of forensic DNA processes and the practical issues of sample collection, processing and storage, DNA theory and practical DNA processing. Students will appreciate the difficulties associated with mixed samples and the statistical interpretation associated with both single source and mixture interpretation. The module draws upon the latest materials published by the Forensic Science Regulator and the latest quality and legal standards associated with DNA profiling. The module is contextualised throughout using a range of contemporary case studies.
There are approximately eight one-hour lectures each week, laboratory classes, project work and problem-solving seminars.
Assessment is by a combination of written examinations, continuous assessment and other assignments. You must pass the Stage 1 examinations in order to go on to Stage 2. Coursework assessments include practical laboratory skills, presentation skills as well as essay and report writing.
Please note that you must pass all modules of the foundation year in order to progress onto stage 1.
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
The programme aims to:
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
You gain transferable skills in the following:
You'll graduate with an excellent grounding in scientific knowledge and extensive laboratory experience, as well as a toolbox of transferable skills highly sought after by employers. These include excellent communication and problem-solving skills; the ability to work independently or as part of a team; analytical thinking; and effective time management. Typical graduate destinations include:
Within our first few weeks of being in the lab, we were able to use cutting-edge equipment.
The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can apply through UCAS or directly on our website if you have never used UCAS and you do not intend to use UCAS in the future.
We welcome applications from students all around the world with a wide range of international qualifications.
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