Chemistry / Chemistry (Professional Practice) MSc

Start year

Apply now Book an open day Get email updates

Level of study:
Masters
Entry Requirements:
More information
Start date:
January 2026, September 2026 and January 2027
Duration:
One year full-time / Two years full-time with one year placement / Two years part-time
Attendance:
Full-time, Part-time, Placement year
Course delivery:
On-campus (Clifton Campus)

Accredited

Information for 2026/27

About this course

You can take this accredited MSc Chemistry degree as a one-year full-time study option, or alternatively, you can undertake this course as a one-year full-time study with a year-long work placement for the MSc Chemistry (Professional Practice) route.

Your satisfaction is very important to us so we make sure you're taught by experts - the Chemistry team is comprised of academic and support staff that are subject experts in organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry, who have won awards and recognition for this aspect of their work.

As well as working and studying under the direction of world-leading pharmaceutical and medicinal science staff, you will gain hands-on experience in a variety of modern instrumentation including:

multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR)
mass spectrometry
transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Supporting you
As a postgraduate Chemistry student, you'll receive tailored support to help you develop the advanced laboratory skills needed for your research and future career.

When you choose your research project, you won’t be doing it alone. You'll work closely with your academic supervisor to identify the specific techniques and skills required for your project – whether that's analytical chemistry, synthesis, instrumentation, or something more specialised. From there, you’ll receive guidance and training to build those skills with confidence.

This personalised approach ensures you’re fully prepared to carry out your research to a high standard, while also developing practical expertise that’s highly valued in both academic and industrial settings.

Learn from industry experts

Alongside our teaching staff, who are all involved in our cutting-edge research, some of our modules are delivered by scientists from AstraZeneca and Vectura, as well as other guest lecturers.
High quality accredited courses

Our courses are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. We work closely with industry and know what they want from graduates. With that in mind, we’re constantly developing our Chemistry courses to meet these needs.
Top quality facilities

As well as studying under the direction of world-leading pharmaceutical and medicinal science staff, you will gain hands-on experience in a variety of modern instrumentation including NMR, HPLC and SEM.
Get professional experience

Take a one-year placement on our Professional Practice route. Apply your knowledge, get industry experience and make valuable connections.

Masters Research Conference
As a postgraduate Chemistry student, you'll have the opportunity to take your research beyond the lab and into the spotlight at our prestigious Masters Research Conference – a highlight of the course and a unique platform to present your project work.

This event isn’t just an academic showcase – it’s a professional networking opportunity. Leading employers from across the industry are invited to attend, offering you the chance to discuss your research, exchange ideas, and make valuable connections that could shape your future career.

Top industry representatives also judge the event, awarding prizes for the most innovative and impactful projects – giving you the chance to stand out and get noticed.

Whether you're looking to continue into a research role or step into industry, this event is a powerful way to build your profile, gain feedback from professionals, and start building your network before you even graduate.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

Core modules

Optional modules - choose two

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Kathryn Sneade

Chemistry student

“NTU has a fantastic range of equipment which is accessible throughout your time as a student.”
Read Kathryn's profile

This programme is delivered by a combination of traditional lectures, seminars and tutorials, together with laboratory classes and laboratory-based research projects.

If you are a full-time student, you will have the opportunity to carry out a research project in a chemistry research group at Nottingham Trent University or with one of our industrial, academic or health sector partners. If you are a part-time student, you will normally conduct the research project in your own workplace.

Learn a new language

Alongside your study, you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have. Find out more about the ULP.

How you're assessed

You will be assessed on a variety of components:

written exam
verbal presentation
assignment
poster presentation
research project.

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in labs, lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Gareth Cave

Professor

Gareth Cave
Visit Gareth Cave's staff profile
John D Wallis

Associate Lecturer

John D Wallis
Visit John D Wallis's staff profile
Ray Leslie

Senior Lecturer

Ray Leslie
Visit Ray Leslie's staff profile
Valeria Puddu

Senior Lecturer

Valeria Puddu
Visit Valeria Puddu's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

Academic entry requirements: UK honours degree (minimum 2.2) or equivalent in a chemistry-related subject (including forensic science, pharmacology, and pharmacy, subject to an assessment of your course content by the admissions tutor).

Applicants with relevant employment experience or other relevant qualifications will also be considered.

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Other qualifications and experience

We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Applicants with relevant employment experience or other relevant qualifications will also be considered.

We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional requirements for international students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

Other qualifications and experience

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

Getting in touch

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

Full-time - £10,300
Full-time with placement year - £10,300 + £1,905 for placement year
Part-time - £5,150

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Postgraduate loans

There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees. The loan contributes towards costs of study, and students can put it towards tuition fees, maintenance costs or other costs at their discretion. Find out more about postgraduate loans.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

Full-time - £18,300
Full-time with placement year - £18,300 + £1,905 for placement year

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

Alumni discount

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money, the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Scientific Calculator

You will require a scientific calculator for use in examinations (e.g. any A-level approved calculator such as Casio 83 or 85 series, approximately £15).

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Masters research project

Students will be required to pay additional costs for printing, poster preparation and final research project copies - estimated costs approximately £20 - £50.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

Our graduates have gone on to work in a wide variety of job markets including:

pharmaceuticals
petrochemicals
polymers
food and drinks
liquid crystals
advance materials engineering
defence
teaching
finance and sales

Many graduates choose to undertake further study and this course provides a good basis for progressing onto a PhD.

Professional Practice

Placement

NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. That’s why all of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a work experience opportunity. Our experts help build and support your future with a range of career programmes and events.

In this course, you have the opportunity to take a year’s placement after you have completed your taught modules (nine months). If you take a placement the course will be two years full-time.

The school of Science and Technology will work closely with you to help find a placement and strengthen your CV and interview techniques. You'll be supported and assessed throughout your placement year and will write a reflective report and diary at the end of your placement. When you successfully complete your placement and submit your placement report, you will be eligible to receive an additional award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice.

You will then return to NTU for three months to complete your research project.

Re:search Re:imagined

To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From conservation management to sustainable farming, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).
Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.
NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

Our first-class facilities support our high-quality teaching and world-leading research across subjects and disciplines. As a Chemistry student you will have access to :

state-of-the-art research laboratories, exclusively used by our chemistry research students
a modern electron microscope suite.
gas and liquid chromatography
mass spectroscopy
atomic absorption spectroscopy
structure determination, including powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction
solution and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR)
infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy.

Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures. Catch up with your course mates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!

You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

Applying

UK students

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Apply now

International students

Apply online through our NTU applicant portal.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.