Chemistry and Physics

Chemistry and Physics - BSc (Hons)

Develop solutions to society's global challenges and help make a difference to the world. Challenge your imagination and gain insight into how the world works. From saving habitats, improving technology and contributing to medical advances, to discovering sustainable energy sources to medical diagnostic techniques the applications of chemistry and physics are endless.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2024 entry see here - for 2023 entry see here

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences

UCAS code

FF13

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

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Why study Chemistry and Physics at Keele University?

Professional accreditation pathways are available

Top 20 in the UK for Physics (Guardian University League Table, 2022)

Use a wide variety of research-grade experimental chemistry equipment in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

Engage with award-winning academics who are known nationally for their innovation in teaching

Enhance your employability with our work placement year in chemistry

Course overview

Studying a combined honours in Chemistry and Physics at Keele will enable you to study two fascinating scientific subjects whilst developing the practical skills and knowledge base required for a wide range of careers.

From the technology we use to how we treat illness, chemistry is essential to our modern life and offers a wide variety of career opportunities in many fields from pharmaceuticals and food technology to forensics and teaching. You will develop the skills to enable you to become a professional chemist building a strong grounding in core chemistry knowledge. You will examine the political, social and economic impacts and explore topics such as nuclear chemistry and energy, geochemistry, health and toxicology and green chemistry. You will study more in depth spectroscopic techniques for analytical and physical chemistry, as well as named reactions for chemical synthesis. This is embedded in your practical sessions, during which you will learn advanced experimental techniques including handling air-sensitive reagents.

Physics helps us to identify the connections between seemingly different phenomena. It provides the quantitative and analytic skills needed for analysing data and solving problems and makes an enormous contribution to a range of industries such as power, nuclear, electronics, IT, and data-mining. This combined honours Physics programme meets the standards required for accreditation by the Institute of Physics. Our programme will provide you with a solid grounding in the underpinning theory, including mathematics, of Chemistry and Physics and plenty of hands-on practical experience in Keele's state-of-the-art laboratories .

Particular attention is paid to developingand refining your practical skills. In the chemistry component of the programme you will have access to various types of research standard equipment you are likely to use within a chemistry related career. This experience in the lab will enable you to gain a variety of practical and transferrable skills that employers value. Some practical teaching will take place our state-of-the-art, Central Science Laboratories (CSL).

Chemistry Industrial Placement Year

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. Between years two and three of your degree, you will have the opportunity to spend a year gaining practical experience with a chemistry-focused company or organisation. This will enable you to become familiar with the professional working environment and apply the chemistry skills and theories you have learnt during your studies.

International year

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity will enable you to experience different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Student Support

We offer a multi layered student support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. Our open-door policy enables you to engage with us directly, meaning you can seek support, gain feedback or discuss any matters relating to your course. You will also benefit from the support of an assigned academic mentor and Keele's dedicated Student Experience and Support team.

Next Steps

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Related Courses

Accreditation and professional recognition

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Physics or the Royal Society of Chemistry if you specialise in Chemistry in your final year.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Placement year International year Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBC
A level Chemistry at grade B and Physics or Maths at grade B or above. If Maths is presented without Physics, please contact us.
Plus a Pass in the Chemistry Science Practical (England)

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Language or English Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DMM
You must have taken sufficient Chemistry, Physics and Maths units, please contact us for advice

International Baccalaureate

29 points to include:
Higher Level Physics at 6 or above OR Higher Level Maths at 6 or above plus Higher Level Physics at 4 or above
AND
Higher Level Chemistry at 6 or above

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must have taken sufficient Maths/Physics and Chemistry units, please contact us for advice.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Next Steps

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Additional information

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBC
A level Chemistry at grade B and Physics or Maths at grade B or above. If Maths is presented without Physics, please contact us.
Plus a Pass in the Chemistry Science Practical (England)

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Language or English Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DMM
You must have taken sufficient Chemistry, Physics and Maths units, please contact us for advice

International Baccalaureate

29 points to include:
Higher Level Physics at 6 or above OR Higher Level Maths at 6 or above plus Higher Level Physics at 4 or above
AND
Higher Level Chemistry at 6 or above

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must have taken sufficient Maths/Physics and Chemistry units, please contact us for advice.

English Language Requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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"Studying Physics at Keele is a very enjoyable experience filled with opportunity and self-progression. Support is there for every turn whenever it is needed. Whenever I got so stuck on a problem or module that it seemed impossible, a lecturer has always been able to provide a clear, understandable explanation which has greatly helped me progress."

Sam, Physics

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What is it like to be a Chemistry student at Keele?

Student testimonials

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SECTOR-LEADING IN SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION

At Keele we're leading the sector in sustainability, not just in our ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2030 but also through our teaching and our ground-breaking research into climate change and renewable technologies. In 2021 we were awarded the prestigious title of Global Sustainability Institution of the Year (International Green Gown Awards, 2021).

Within the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences our award winning staff promote sustainability through their teaching to raise awareness of the environmental issues within chemistry. On the programme you will explore how chemistry is placed within the social, political and economic context of 'the real world' with a heavy emphasis on environmental sustainability and the implications for humanity. You will also discover how chemistry associated with industrial processes has changed to become more sustainable and how it must continue to change to further this progress.

Find out more about Keele’s commitment to sustainability.

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Your future career

95% of our students are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2019/20)

You will graduate from our Chemistry and Physics BSc with a strong grounding in laboratory techniques and will have acquired an excellent set of transferable skills including; advanced problem-solving, numeracy, computation, communication and strong laboratory techniques. Graduates of this programme enter a wide range of professions, both in and out of the laboratory. Many also further their knowledge by undertaking further study at Master's or PhD level.

Roles that are related to your degree include:

academic chemist
analytical chemist
associate scientist
chemical engineer
environmental scientist
forensic scientist
medicinal chemist
research assistant
science teacher
synthetic chemist
toxicologist
academic researcher
engineer
physicist
scientist

Please note you may need to take further postgraduate study to enter some of the professions listed above.

Keele Careers and Employability Team

Our Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offer a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability. From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

Next Steps

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Learn from inspiring and award-winning academics

A dynamic group of staff with a broad range of expertise teach on the programme and bring a wealth of experience acquired through fundamental and applied research across a diverse range of areas.

In Chemistry, many of our teaching staff are Fellows or Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy, the professional body for teachers in Higher Education. Fellowship provides individuals with recognition of their practice, impact and leadership of teaching and learning.

A number of our academic staff have also achieved national recognition for their excellence and innovation in teaching and hold awards from a variety of institutions, including the Royal Society of Chemistry.
In testament to our teaching excellence, many of our teaching methods have been adopted by other chemistry departments in the UK and beyond.

Chemistry department award

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Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching in Chemistry

To ensure you receive a high-quality learning experience, teaching will be delivered through a range of authentic methods.

Methods of teaching include:

audio feedback
case studies
computer-aided learning (simulations and animations, online activities and exercises)
demonstrations
detailed personalised, generic written and face-to-face feedback
electronic submission and return of marked coursework (with feedback)
group work
interactive personal response systems
IT instruction (spreadsheets, word-processing, chemical structure drawing, databases and processing of spectroscopic data)
laboratory classes
lectures
pre-laboratory and post-laboratory exercises
problem-based and context-based activities
recorded lectures
research projects
screencasts
self and peer-assessment for learning
seminars
small group tutorials
tablet PCs
team based learning
use of e-learning/the Keele Learning Environment (KLE)

Assessments in Chemistry

Our methods include a mix of examinations and a variety of authentic assessments that mirror the type of tasks you may be asked to complete in your future career working in the field of chemistry.

Methods of assessment include:

class tests
design exercises
information retrieval exercises
laboratory reports and diaries
oral and poster presentations
practical and oral examinations
pre-laboratory exercises
problem sheets
research projects and scientific papers
unseen written examinations
video/screencast presentations

Teaching in Physics

Our small cohort size enables you to gain a more personalised learning experience and as a result we will have the resource to get to know you better and give you customised guidance throughout your studies. The student voice is at the heart of our teaching. We regularly seek the opinion of our student body to enable us to continually improve our Physics programme. In addition to our variety of teaching methods, great emphasis is placed on teaching in smaller groups and collaborative working. This is supported by a diverse mixture of digital learning materials that are available on our Keele Learning Environment (KLE) and the assistance of PhD student demonstrators during practical sessions.
Learning and teaching methods used on the programme vary according to the subject matter and level of the module.

Methods of teaching include:

computational laboratory classes
directed reading and independent study
exercise/problem-solving classes
group and individual projects
individual progress interviews
laboratory classes
lectures
literature research tasks
problem sheet assignments
tutorials
use of e-learning/the Keele Learning Environment (KLE)

Assessments in Physics

The wide variety of assessment methods used on this programme at Keele reflects the broad range of knowledge and skills that are developed as you progress through the degree programme. Teaching staff pay particular attention to specifying clear assessment criteria and providing timely, regular and constructive feedback that helps to clarify things you did not understand and helps you to improve your performance.

Methods of assessment include:

assessed problem sheets
dissertation
end of module examinations
engagement with problem classes
group oral presentations and reports
in-class exercises and tests
laboratory and project reports
mini-projects
observation of laboratory skills and laboratory notebooks
oral and/or poster presentations

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Central Science Laboratories

Develop your practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

The Keele University Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Chemistry and Physics degree. For example, the Foundations of Physics module will introduce you to the mathematical skills needed to solve problems in physics at level 3 while studying fundamental equations and concepts in classical physics. In addition, the Advancing Chemsitry module aims to increase your knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of chemistry in a theoretical context, while also demonstrating the application of concepts in a practical environment. All of the modules you take will prove useful in your degree and professional career. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester One Modules

FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits
FYO-00205	Foundations of Physics	15 credits
FYO-00215	Foundations of Mathematical Methods	15 credits
FYO-00189	Foundations of Chemistry	15 credits

Semester Two Modules

FYO-00191	Advancing Chemistry	30 credits
FYO-00209	Advancing Physics	15 credits
FYO-00231	Advancing Mathematical Methods	15 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

Applicants will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Chemistry with Foundation Year (UCAS code F103) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct Entry Students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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