Chemistry with Materials Chemistry

Chemistry with materials chemistry is a degree that places the study of materials at the heart of a rigorous chemical education. Chemistry provides the molecular understanding that underpins all materials science: bonding theory, thermodynamics, kinetics, and spectroscopy illuminate why materials have the properties they do and how those properties can be controlled and modified. Materials chemistry extends this into the design and synthesis of functional materials, from polymers and ceramics to semiconductors, nanomaterials, and the advanced materials that are central to renewable energy and electronics.

At Keele, this MChem programme has been awarded Gold in both the 2017 and 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, one of only a small number of universities in England to achieve this standard across both exercises, demonstrating consistent excellence in teaching quality. The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you a rich combination of professional, international, and research experience within the five-year full-time degree structure. You will study the full breadth of chemistry, from organic and inorganic chemistry through to physical chemistry and spectroscopic methods, with the materials chemistry specialisation developing expertise in the synthesis and characterisation of functional materials.

The typical entry tariff is 104 points.

Graduates of chemistry with materials chemistry programmes work in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and materials industries, in academic research, and in the technology sector. The MChem provides the foundation for postgraduate research in chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering, and for professional development towards Chartered Chemist status with the Royal Society of Chemistry. The combination of chemical rigour and materials expertise is particularly valued in sectors developing new energy technologies, electronic devices, and advanced functional materials.