A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if:- You don’t have the grades for a full degree course- You have non-traditional qualifications or experience- You’re starting university after some time away from education- You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study.

During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course.As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support.

• Benefit from our research-active academics and strong professional links, gaining the confidence to translate your ideas into practice.
• Our chemistry courses offer one of the best staff-to-student ratios in the country, with 91.7 per cent of our students saying that they are satisfied with the teaching on their course in the National Student Survey 2023.
• Our award-winning Professional Training placements gives students industry work experience opportunities with leading organisations in the UK and abroad.

Our courses combine core chemistry modules with topics such as forensic evidence, the toxicology of drugs and DNA profiling. You’ll also benefit from our excellent links with leading companies, where you can choose to complete a Professional Training or Industrial Research placement.You can apply to study for either a BSc or an MChem. The MChem builds on the BSc with a masters year and is a direct route to a masters qualification, known as an integrated masters. If you study for an MChem, you’ll spend a year doing industry-based research before returning for a final year of masters-level modules.