Chemistry with Study in Industry (MChem)

Industrial placement is an important first step on the career ladder.




  • UCAS Code: F106
  • Type of course: MChem
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Entry requirements: Grades ABB with A in chemistry
  • A minimum of GCSE Maths Grade B is required for this course

This course is designed for students who seek to enhance their experience of Chemistry by spending a year studying in industry. The single honours MChem course provides the core of this four year programme, and additional material is provided in the form of talks by visiting industrialists. These take place before the year in industry, and attendance is compulsory for all students on this course.

For the year in Industry, there are considerably reduced fees. In addition, industrial placements can attract quite substantial salaries. Salaries are at the market rate (typically from between £12,000 and £20,000 per annum as of 2007). They also gain an inside track into possible future employment (if they perform well and impress their employers). Our Department has an excellent record of finding placements for third year students and permanent jobs for our graduates. We are in the part of a group of Civic Universities regularly visited by major firms seeking graduate employees.

Student View

I am currently in my third year at Sheffield studying Chemistry with Study in Industry and this year I am on my year-out placement. I am working at AstraZeneca (Charnwood) as an analytical chemist. This course is a good idea particularly for people who think they might want to go into chemistry as a career. The year in industry helps you a lot, it shows you what work in the "real world" is really like, and whether or not you are going to be suited to it. I am finding it enjoyable and hard work. We have to work full time and also do three lots of coursework, a project and presentation as well. It sounds like an awful lot, but generally you get time in your placement to do most of it. The placement is paid, so there is that as a benefit but I think the biggest benefit is that you have gained a years experience in a job that the other students not doing the placement haven't got, making you more employable. Sally Robinson

Teaching & Learning

Teaching is by lectures and tutorials, problem classes, laboratory practicals and computer-aided learning, such as WebCT with online course support and assessment.

Further Information

For more detailed information on course structure, click on the links below.

View modules for this course

If you require any further information please email Professor Iain Coldham, the course director.

email : Chemistry Admissions