chemistry prospects

Studying chemistry allows you to develop a range of both subject-specific and transferable skills valued by employers.
As well as gaining knowledge in traditional fields of chemistry (organic, inorganic, physical and analytical), most chemistry degrees now also include modules in interdisciplinary areas (chemical biology and physics) and some may include modules in applied chemistry (medicinal, environmental). This gives a good balance of scientific knowledge, both specialist and general.
Courses which incorporate industrial placements provide you with experience of how this theoretical knowledge can be used in a business context and an appreciation of the wider application of your subject.
Chemistry is also studied in an environmental and social context, so you gain awareness of its ethical implications, as well as issues relating to environmental impact and sustainability.
In addition to developing strong mathematical and numerical ability, you also build up a range of other transferable skills, including:

• analytical and problem-solving - examining and interpreting results and making evaluations based on limited information;
• time management and organisation - planning and executing experiments, undertaking individual and team project work and completing your dissertation;
• written and oral communication - sharing your research findings via written reports and oral presentations to different audiences, assimilating scientific theories and arguments for discussion and debate;
• monitoring - systematically recording chemical properties, events and changes;
• teamwork - undertaking group project work;
• IT and technology - understanding and using computer software/models, processing data, using spreadsheets, word-processing and internet communication.

Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes.

• Analytical chemist - uses a diverse range of methods to investigate the chemical nature of substances. The aim of such work is to identify and understand the substance and how it behaves in different conditions.
• Clinical biochemist - analyses and interprets data relating to patients' samples to assist with the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
• Forensic scientist - provides impartial scientific evidence for use in courts of law to support the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations.
• Research scientist (physical sciences) - studies non-living systems to increase our understanding of how the physical world works. Disciplines include astronomy, chemistry, earth science, materials science, meteorology and physics.
• Chemical development engineer - involved in the development of industrial processes for the production of a diverse range of products, as well as in commodity and specialty chemicals.
• Science writer - researches, writes and edits scientific news articles and features for business, trade and professional publications, specialist scientific and technical journals, and the general media.
• Toxicologist - plans and carries out laboratory and field studies to identify, monitor and evaluate the impact of toxic materials and radiation on human and animal health, the environment, and the impact of future technology.
• Process engineer - develops economical industrial processes to make the huge range of products on which modern society depends, including food and drink, fuel, artificial fibres, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, plastics, toiletries, energy and clean water.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Patent agent - obtains and enforces intellectual property rights on behalf of either individual inventors or organisations. Patents are granted by the government and give inventors the right to prevent the commercial use of inventions by other parties for a limited period. Chemists may tend to specialise in pharmaceutical patent law.
• Environmental consultant - works on commercial or government contracts to address a variety of environmental issues for their clients. Covers a wide range of disciplines such as assessment of air, land and water contamination, environmental impact assessment, environmental audit, waste management and the development of environmental policy and environmental management systems.
• Secondary school teacher, Further education lecturer or Higher education lecturer - as well as teaching chemistry to students, lecturers in particular may also undertake academic or industry research and may be involved in school or departmental management.
• Chartered certified accountant - responsible for developing and maintaining financial and accounting systems, financial forecasting, auditing financial records and investigating financial anomalies. May appeal to chemists because of the numerical and analytical content of their degree.