UCC Undergraduate courses

Chemistry

About This Course

Fact File

Course Outline

The BSc in Chemistry will educate you in core areas of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, as well as the more specialised areas of environmental, materials and pharmaceutical chemistry.

This broad-based course provides an excellent foundation for employment or for further study. On completion of the degree in chemistry, you will be able to:

  • identify, formulate, analyse and solve chemistry problems
  • outline fundamental aspects of chemistry
  • design and carry out an experiment to test a hypothesis or theory in chemistry
  • prepare written laboratory reports that provide a description of the experiment, explain the
  • experiment and the reasoning clearly, and provide an appropriate conclusion
  • communicate effectively with the chemistry communities

Many graduates work in industry, including microelectronics and pharmaceuticals, or in government laboratories. Others undertake further study in various specialised areas of chemistry.

Modules

Year 1 Modules:

Refer to CK402 and CK406

Year 2 Modules:

Core

Main Group & Transition Element Chemistry;  Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry;  Energetics & Kinetics;  States of Matter;  Structures & Reactions of Main Group Compounds; Aromatics, Carbonyls & Alkenes;  Spectroscopy;  Structure, Bonding & Quantum Mechanics

Electives

Numerical Methods and Programming;  Biomolecules;  Principles of Metabolic Pathways;  Crystallography, Optics and Mineralogy; Intermediate Calculus for Scientists; Linear Algebra, Molecular Biology;  Physiology;  Quantum Physics; Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics;  Biostatistics

Year 3 Modules:

Inorganic Chemistry; Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds;  Physical Chemistry; Analytical Chemistry; Environmental Chemistry and Analysis; Materials Chemistry; Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Scientific Communication and Information Literacy Skills (SCILS)

Year 4 Modules:

Core

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry; Advanced Organic Synthesis, Biosynthesis and Reactivity; Photochemistry & Spectroscopy; Interfaces, Microscopy & Modelling;  Advanced Analytical Chemistry;  Advanced Research Projects

Electives

Advanced Nano Materials; Advanced Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution 

See the College Calendar for additional information on the Programme and the  Book of Modules for Chemistry for further details on modules.

Course Practicalities

Expected lecture hours: Lectures and workshops normally take place in the morning with practical classes in the afternoons in Years 1, 2 and 3. Usually there are 12 to 15 hours of lectures/workshops per week.

Expected lab/practical hours: Usually 6-9 hours per week are spent in laboratory sessions.

Why Choose This Course

It fascinated me and convinced me that chemistry was really right for me...

Christina O'Neill, 3rd Year Chemistry

Find Out More
There are a lot of labs in this course but that's a good thing because you get to get practical experience in the lab and they're actually really enjoyable...

Louise Shanahan, Graduate, BSc Chemistry

BSc Chemistry provides a broad-based course in core areas of chemistry which provide an excellent foundation for employment or for specialised, further study.

All BSc Chemistry students take a short course in scientific communication skills and chemical information literacy.

In your final year you will undertake an original research project working as part of an existing research team within the School or in an associated research centre.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

There may be opportunities for summer projects in the School of Chemistry. The School is an active participant in undergraduate student-exchange programmes with numerous partner universities across Europe.

Skills and Careers Information

As a student on this course, you can expect to gain subject-specific skills, in particular laboratory techniques.

In addition, you will learn a range of transferable skills, including time management, communication, information-retrieval and problem-solving skills.

There are also opportunities to work as part of a team, thus developing your interpersonal skills.

Our graduates are employed in industry, including the microelectronics and pharmaceutical sectors, or in government laboratories. Others undertake further study in various specialised areas of chemistry.

The BSc Chemistry course is approved by the Institute of Chemistry in Ireland and is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Requirements

Refer to CK402 and CK406.

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.

To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements visit our qualification comparison page.

Refer to our International Office page for more information on how to apply to UCC.

Fees and Costs

The State will pay the tuition fees for students who satisfy the Free Fees Criteria. In 2022/23 the Student Contribution Fee will be €3,000 and the Capitation Fee will be €138. Full-time EU/EEA/Swiss State undergraduate students may be exempt from paying tuition fees.

For International Fees see our Fees Schedule page.

How Do I Apply

Refer to CK402 and CK406.

EU Applicants: The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes applications for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions. Refer to the CAO page for further information.

Mature Applicants (age 23 or over): See the CAO Mature Applicants page and the Mature Students Admissions Pathway (MSAP) page for essential information on the application process for mature students.

QQI FET: See our QQI FET Applicants page.

Non-EU Applicants: Non-EU applicants apply online via the UCC Apply portal. See our International Office page.

All Applicants: Please note that the modules listed are indicative of the current set of modules for this course and are subject to change from year to year. Please check the College Calendar for the full academic content of any given course for the current year. 

  • In UCC, we use the terms programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments. 

For queries regarding course content or timetables please contact

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