BSc Chemistry and Mathematics

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

Chemistry is a central science, at the core of everything we can see, smell, taste and touch around us. From energy to the environment, groundbreaking medicine to cleaning products, chemistry is integral to all aspects of our life, which puts chemical scientists at the forefront of delivering invaluable solutions to global challenges such as climate change, sustainability and health.

Chemistry is a central science at the core of everything we can see, smell, taste and touch around us while mathematics has always played an intrinsic role in helping comprehend chemistry and unlocking new perspectives in the chemical world. It’s for this reason that these two fundamental disciplines have become invaluable in tackling global challenges faced by society today such as climate change. This is also why a joint honours degree in both could equip you with skills highly sought after by a wide range of industries worldwide and delivering invaluable solutions to global challenges such as climate change, sustainability and health.

This Chemistry and Mathematics BSc degree at Leeds will enable you to understand the fundamental concepts of each field alongside a variety of optional modules available, so you can tailor your degree to what really interests you the most. You will be taught by expert academics, with the unique opportunity to get involved in real-world research happening in the Schools of Chemistry and Mathematics.

You'll have access to specialist facilities right here on campus, alongside exciting opportunities like studying abroad and industrial work placements to ensure you have the best grounding to head out into your professional career.

In your first year you will undertake an even split of work across both disciplines developing the fundamental concepts and principles that underpin both chemistry and mathematics, along with the ability to apply you mathematical understanding to chemical problems.

In year two you will then choose independent pathways in both chemistry and mathematics that allow you to focus your work on the topics that interest you and to develop a deeper understanding of both subjects while also developing your skills as an interdisciplinary scientist, advancing your skills in research, scientific writing, scientific and professional ethics, personal development, planning, and scientific programming

In your final year (either third year or fourth year for programmes with placements) you will have access to a range of options which allows you to follow your interests and investigate a topic at the cutting edge of chemistry and mathematics, while allowing you to focus in on one of these areas through the choice of your research project.

To advance your skill set and boost your experience, you can also apply to take an industrial placement or study abroad at one of the many universities we’re in partnership with worldwide between years 2 and 3.

Year 1

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM1102	Chemistry in Action: Atoms, Molecules, Matter	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM1204	Fundamental Organic Chemistry for Biology & Synthesis	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CHEM1205	Chemistry of the Material World	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CHEM1302	Introduction to Modern Chemistry	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM1403	Practical and Research Skills for Chemistry and Maths	10	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
MATH1000	Core Mathematics	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
MATH1700	Probability and Statistics	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Year 2

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Optional Modules

Students will be required to study a minimum of 60 credits in Chemistry and 50 credits in Maths.

In order to progress to year 3 of the honours programme, students must pass at least 100 credits including at least 40 level 2 credits in each subject

CHEMISTRY

Students taking the Organic Chemistry pathway will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM2131	Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM2192	Molecular Signatures: Spectroscopy and Chromatography	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM2321	Organic Chemistry: Structure, Reactions and the Science of Life	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM2403	Further Practical, Professional and Research skills for Chemistry and Maths	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students taking the Inorganic and Materials Chemistry pathway will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM2112	Chemistry of Materials: what they are and how we know	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM2131	Chemical Kinetics and Thermodynamics	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM2192	Molecular Signatures: Spectroscopy and Chromatography	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM2212	Organometallics: from bonding to catalysis	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CHEM2403	Further Practical, Professional and Research skills for Chemistry and Maths	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students taking the Physical Chemistry pathway will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM2192	Molecular Signatures: Spectroscopy and Chromatography	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM2293	Specialisms in Chemical Science	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CHEM2331	Molecules, Energy, Quanta and Change	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM2403	Further Practical, Professional and Research skills for Chemistry and Maths	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

MATHEMATICS

Students taking the Applied Mathematics pathway will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH2350	Vector Calculus and Partial Differential Equations	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2380	Calculus of Variations	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH2400	Mathematical Modelling	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students taking the Applied Mathematics pathway are required to study exactly one module from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH2440	Optimisation	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2702	Stochastic Processes	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students taking the Statistics and Applied Mathematics pathway will be required to study the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH2350	Vector Calculus and Partial Differential Equations	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2701	Statistical Methods	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students taking the Statistics and Applied Mathematics pathway required to study exactly one module from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH2440	Optimisation	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH2702	Stochastic Processes	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students taking the Statistics and Applied Mathematics pathway required to study exactly one module from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH2380	Calculus of Variations	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH2703	Time Series	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

.

Discovery Modules

Year 3

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Optional Modules

CHEMISTRY

Students taking the Organic Chemistry pathway, and who did not take CHEM2331, will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3132	Classical and Quantum Pharmacology	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM3321	Extended Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students taking the Organic Chemistry pathway, and who did take CHEM2331, will be required to study exactly 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3212	Big Data, Big Science	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM3320	Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM3321	Extended Topics in Organic, Bioorganic and Interdisciplinary Chemistry	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM3330	Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students taking the Inorganic and Materials Chemistry pathway, and who did not take CHEM2331, will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3132	Classical and Quantum Pharmacology	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM3311	Extended Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students taking the Inorganic and Materials pathway, and who did take CHEM2331, will be required to study exactly 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3212	Big Data, Big Science	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM3311	Extended Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM3312	Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM3330	Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students taking the Physical Chemistry pathway, and who did not take CHEM2212, will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3212	Big Data, Big Science	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM3331	Extended Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students taking the Physical Chemistry pathway, and who did take CHEM2212, will be required to study exactly 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3212	Big Data, Big Science	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CHEM3312	Topics in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM3330	Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM3331	Extended Topics in Physical, Theoretical and Environmental Chemistry	30	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

MATHEMATICS

Students taking the Applied Mathematics pathway will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH3300	Methods of Applied Mathematics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students taking the Applied Mathematics pathway required to study exactly one module from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH3400	Fluid Dynamics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3410	Nonlinear Dynamical Systems and Chaos	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3425	Mathematical Biology	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3430	Entropy and Quantum Mechanics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students taking the Statistics and Applied Mathematics pathway will be required to study exactly one the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH3300	Methods of Applied Mathematics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MATH3701	Statistical Modelling	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students taking the Statistics and Applied Mathematics pathway required to study exactly one module from the following optional modules.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH3425	Mathematical Biology	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3430	Entropy and Quantum Mechanics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MATH3702	Multivariate Analysis and Classification	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students should then decide between:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3412	Advanced Chemistry Laboratory Work for Natural Science and Joint Honours (extended)	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CHEM3483	Project and Research Skills for Chemistry and Maths	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Or:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MATH3002	Project in Mathematics	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Or...

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CHEM3482	BSc Research Project	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Last updated: 12/05/2026 17:13:23

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