Chemistry

Studying chemistry can lead to jobs in science and research using cutting-edge technologies as well as roles outside the laboratory

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Analytical chemist
• Biotechnologist
• Clinical research associate
• Colour technologist
• Crime scene investigator
• Food technologist
• Forensic scientist
• Medicinal chemist
• Nanotechnologist
• Oceanographer
• Palaeontologist
• Pharmacologist
• Radiation protection practitioner
• Research scientist (physical sciences)
• Science writer
• Toxicologist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Actuary
• Business analyst
• Civil service fast streamer
• Data analyst
• Environmental consultant
• Higher education lecturer
• Nuclear engineer
• Patent attorney
• Product/process development scientist
• Secondary school teacher

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Many degrees offer an industrial placement as part of the course and this can usually be tailored to your area of interest, for example, a role within medical research, pharmacology, manufacturing or environmental analysis. This will provide key practical experience that can be used when looking for a job.

If you're unable to do a placement as part of your degree, try searching for chemical (or other relevant) companies in your local area to see if they offer a formal scheme. If they don't, you can still try applying speculatively for any short-term opportunities.

Laboratory experience is highly valued but can be difficult to secure. If you're not able to get it you could look for work experience with the same company but in a different department. This will still allow you to get an understanding of the business and industry and how chemistry is applied in the workplace.

Volunteering is another way of enhancing your CV. Although you may not find many opportunities that directly relate to your chemistry degree, there are many schemes that focus on related areas such as the environment, sustainability, ethics and medicine. There may also be opportunities at your local hospital to work in a pathology lab.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

There are many different employers of chemistry graduates. Some are within the chemical and related industries, such as:

• agrochemicals
• metallurgical
• petrochemicals
• pharmaceuticals
• plastics and polymers
• toiletries

while others are in different sectors that have roles linked to chemistry, such as:

• the food and drink industry
• utilities and research
• health and medical organisations
• the government
• scientific research organisations and agencies.

You could also be employed in schools, colleges and universities, as well as by environment consultancies and water companies. Your analytical skills also mean you could find jobs within finance, IT and business.

Find information on employers in science and pharmaceuticals, engineering and manufacturing, teacher training and education, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

A chemistry degree allows you to develop excellent laboratory techniques and design your own experiments but as it overlaps with other degrees, it also gives you skills that are useful in the areas of biology and medicine, physics and engineering, and geology and earth science.

Chemistry is also studied in an environmental and social context, so you can gain awareness of its ethical implications and issues relating to environmental impact and sustainability.

As well as subject-specific knowledge, a chemistry degree also provides you with transferable skills, including:

• mathematical/numerical ability
• strong analytical skills
• problem solving and good reasoning
• time management and organisation
• written and oral communication, with the ability to share your findings and research clearly
• monitoring/maintaining records and data
• teamwork
• research and presentation
• IT and technology.

Further study

Continuing to study at Masters or PhD level is a popular choice for chemistry graduates. It gives you the chance to increase your knowledge in one of the branches studied during your degree, such as organic, medicinal, materials or analytical chemistry.

You may also specialise in areas of applied chemistry, such as cheminformatics or biochemistry, or develop knowledge in an area where chemistry graduates may be in demand, for example, forensic nanotechnology and forensic investigation.

Further study is highly valued by employers, particularly within scientific and technical fields, as you'll develop more advanced theoretical knowledge and practical sector-specific skills.

You may also choose to complete some vocational study to allow you to move into a certain career, for example a teaching qualification or engineering Masters.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in chemistry.

What do chemistry graduates do?

A fifth (21%) of chemistry graduates are working as chemical scientists. Other notable jobs include laboratory technicians, chartered and certified accountants, secondary education teaching professionals, programmers and software development professionals and engineering professionals.

Find out what other chemistry graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.