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Chemistry (International Programme) MSci

London, Bloomsbury

This four-year programme provides a complete education in chemistry together with the option of taking modules in other areas, and the opportunity to spend a year abroad studying at a selected university in counties such as Australia, Canada, the USA, New Zealand, or Singapore.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 academic years
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,535
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£39,800
Programme starts
September 2026
Application deadline
14 Jan 2026
UCAS course code
F105
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
AAA
Subjects
Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics and Mathematics required. Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science or Psychology preferred as third subject.
GCSEs
English Language at grade C or 4, plus Mathematics at grade B or 6.

Contextual offer information

Grades
ABB more about contextual offers
Subjects
A in Chemistry, B in Biology, Mathematics or Physics. Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science or Psychology preferred as third subject.
GCSEs
English Language at grade C or 4, plus Mathematics at grade B or 6.
Points
38
Subjects
A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects including 6 in Chemistry and 6 in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics, with no higher level score below 5. For Mathematics, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation' at higher level. Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science or Psychology preferred as third subject.

Contextual offer

Points
34 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including 6 in Chemistry and 6 in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics, with no score below 5. For Mathematics, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation' at higher level. Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science or Psychology preferred as third subject.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 33 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we will review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science or Psychology preferred as third subject.

AAA at Advanced Highers (or AA at Advanced Higher and AAA at Higher). A in Chemistry and A in at least one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics required at Advanced Higher. Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science or Psychology preferred as third subject.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

In the first year, all students will be exposed to the full breadth of chemistry with an emphasis on developing core chemical skills. You will also take modules in mathematics appropriate to your prior qualification, together with further optional modules.

In the second year, the three main themes of chemistry are again developed in individual modules, leaving you free to choose two options, one of which can be selected from options outside of chemistry.

You will spend the third year at an overseas university in an English-speaking country, for example the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) or the University of Toronto. The third-year modules are primarily lecture-based, and are taught in English.

In your final year you will undertake a extended project in one of our world leading research groups. You will also study some advanced optional modules of your choosing.

What this course will give you

Consistently regarded as one of the best Chemistry departments in the UK (ranked 5th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Chemistry), we offer you an excellent education with high standards of teaching.

You will benefit from our outstanding research profile as you are taught by lecturers who are experts in a wide range of chemistry-related fields.

You will have an opportunity to study at a selected overseas (but who teach in English) during the third year of your programme.

We offer access to state-of-the-art facilities, enhanced by our strong affiliation to other centres of excellence such as the London Centre for Nanotechnology.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a MSci (Hons) in Chemistry (International Programme).

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Chemistry: International Programme is offered only as a four-year MSci. The third year of the degree is spent studying abroad at an approved University that teaches in English. Examples of institutions that previous students have gone to for their third year include Caltech, the University of Sydney, and the National University of Singapore.

In the first year, you will take several compulsory modules including Chemical Foundations. This serves to consolidate A level (or equivalent) Chemistry and generate an awareness of modern chemistry. You will also select one optional module and take a module in mathematics that is appropriate to your ability.

In the second year, the main themes of chemistry (Physical, Inorganic and Organic) are further developed in compulsory modules, leaving you free to choose two options, which can be chemical or non-chemical.

The third year is spent studying abroad before returning to UCL for the fourth year. The main component of the fourth year is the Advanced Research Project; giving you the chance to work in one of the internationally renowned research groups in the department.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Compulsory modules







Optional modules











Compulsory modules





Optional modules















Compulsory modules








Compulsory modules



Optional modules



Your learning

Your learning will combine lectures, practical classes, group workshops and online material, guided reading, and your own personal study.  In addition, you will attend small group tutorials which provide specialised support for the core modules. You will encounter several innovative blended learning experiences which ensure that the contact time we have with you is engaging, interactive and productive.

Typical contact hours with teaching staff for Chemistry degree programmes are ~20 hours per week. These hours will consist of lectures (typically 8 hours per week), tutorials and workshops (typically 4 hours per week) and laboratory classes (typically 8 hours per week). The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the term and at different points during the degree programme. In addition to timetabled sessions students are expected to undertake approximately 15-20 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

Your learning will be assessed using a variety of methods including end-of-year examinations, laboratory reports, problem sheets, essays, posters and presentations. In the final year your research project will be assessed by a combination of reports, presentation and oral examination.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Chemistry (AM)

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This online event is a great chance to find out more about your chosen course, the department and studying at UCL. You'll have the opportunity to hear from academic staff and ask any questions you might have about life at UCL.

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Chemistry (PM)

—

This online event is a great chance to find out more about your chosen course, the department and studying at UCL. You'll have the opportunity to hear from academic staff and ask any questions you might have about life at UCL.

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Mathematical and Physical Sciences student Q&A (AM)

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This event is a great chance to hear from current students from the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. You'll have the opportunity to ask them about studying in the Faculty, student life in London and why they chose to study at UCL.

The foundation of your career

On completion of your degree, you will have the option of pursuing a career within the chemical industry. This is recognised as one of the most exciting and successful contributors to the UK economy in numerous areas such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.

This programme prepares you to continue in research including PhDs at universities such as UCL, Imperial, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Edinburgh, Harvard, and NUS Singapore. The knowledge and skills gained on the programme can also be used in fields including management, the financial sector, information technology, scientific journalism, patent law, the civil service, and education.

Employability

As a UCL Chemistry graduate you will have developed both discipline-based and highly sought after analytical skills, for example in logical thought and numeracy.

Accreditation

The Chemistry MSci (International Programme) has been accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) as fully meeting the academic requirements for the award of Chartered Chemist (CChem). Graduates have straightforward access to professional development programmes leading to chartered status.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,535
Tuition fees (2025/26) £39,800

Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

Students on this programme have free access to electronic copies of over 100 textbooks and free laboratory coats. Outside of purchasing books or stationery, printing, thesis binding or photocopying the only additional costs associated with this programme are linked to studying abroad during the 3rd year.

Please note that study abroad during your programme at UCL is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

UCL Chemistry offers a number of scholarships which will be advertised on the departmental website as appropriate.

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We are looking for applicants who have demonstrated an interest in the chemical sciences and shown the self-motivation to learn more about the subject. Academic performance is important, but we also would like to see evidence that applicants have used their own initiative to broaden their knowledge and experience of chemistry.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

All applicants will be invited to attend an online admissions event where they can ask questions of staff and current undergraduate students and find out more about the different degree programmes that we offer. Offer holders will be invited to in-person open day events where they will meet staff and students and will be able to see all the facilities on site at the UCL Department of Chemistry. While attendance at either of these events is not compulsory, they do provide an excellent opportunity to get to know the department and UCL and allow you to make an informed decision about your application.

Apply via UCAS
Application guidelines
Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

Chemistry
Chemistry

admissions.chem@ucl.ac.uk

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