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School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Academic school or department
Chemistry
29 October 2023
Chemistry deals with the composition, structure, and behaviour of atoms and molecules that make up all forms of matter. UC's School of Physical and Chemical Sciences (SPCS) is one of the best places to study Chemistry in New Zealand. Find out how to study Chemistry at UC.
HOW TO APPLY
The central discipline in science, Chemistry is the study of substances and their transformation.
It is the science that deals with the composition, structure and behaviour of the atoms and molecules which make up all forms of matter. Chemistry is interdisciplinary, merging with Biology, Physics, and other subjects in certain aspects.
A basic knowledge of Chemistry is essential in order to appreciate and understand the material world in which we live. It also provides a means of making the world a better place.
Chemistry has an important role to play in solving the world's major problems in energy, food supply, health and the environment. Modern society relies on chemists for everything from medicine to materials.
Chemistry is also a popular choice for students pursuing double majors or double degrees. Common combinations include Chemistry 滄勳喧堯泭Physics,泭Biochemistry,泭Environmental Science, or泭Law. Students of Engineering, Biology, Forestry and the Earth Sciences may need to study Chemistry as a support to their main discipline.
Studying Chemistry at undergraduate level will open the door to a broad range of泭careers. Our泭researchers泭are engaged in internationally recognised work and泭postgraduate students泭have opportunities to take part in meaningful projects.
Study Chemistry at UC
At 100 level there are two core courses,泭泭硃紳餃泭, which are intended for students with a solid background in Year 13 Chemistry.
泭is intended for students with fewer than 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 Chemistry and will lead into the core courses.
- 啦堯梗泭Science Headstart泭programme offers a bridging course.
- A Certificate in Science泭is a good option for those who don't want to commit to a full-time degree.
- Check the entry requirements on the泭Chemistry subject page.
- International students should refer to UC's International web page.
Let's Talk Chemistry is a泭is an introduction to the basic泭concepts, vocabulary and language of Chemistry.泭It is written for all students who need or wish to study Chemistry泭for its own sake or need it as the basis of another discipline (Biological Science, Medicine, Physics, Engineering) at first-year泭University level.
It will also provide reinforcement for those who have a basic background and can be a useful resource for teachers.
1.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter one
2.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter two
3.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter three
4.泭Let's Talk chemistry chapter four
5.泭Let's Talk chemistry chapter five
6.泭Let's Talk chemistry chapter six
7.泭Let's Talk chemistry chapter seven
8.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter eight
9.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter nine
10.泭Let's Talk chemistry chapter ten
11.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter eleven
12.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter twelve
13.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter thirteen
14.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter fourteen
15.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter fifteen
16.泭Let's Talk Chemistry chapter sixteen
Chemistry is an important component in many other fields of study including Agriculture, Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Consumer and Applied Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Forestry, Horticulture, Human Nutrition, Law, Optometry, Pharmacy, Nuclear Chemistry, Veterinary Science and many others.
At UC, degrees in Biology, Biochemistry, Engineering and Forestry also include 100-level courses in Chemistry.
The core courses for a degree in Chemistry are泭,泭,泭,泭,泭,泭,泭, or泭,泭泭棗娶泭.
At 300 level students choose courses that focus on a particular pathway within Chemistry. You can also focus on Biology with Medicinal Chemistry or泭, or a Physics-oriented Chemistry degree with Materials Science and Nanotechnology.
See the泭degree regulations for the BSc泭and then view the options for different pathways below.
Chemistry study pathways
Chemical Biology and Biological Chemistry are the study of the chemical principles underlying biological processes, and the application of chemical techniques and tools to the study and manipulation of the molecular processes taking place within cells. This combination of courses provides a solid background for careers in pharmaceutical research, drug development, health, forensic science, biotechnology and proteomics. 泭It is also an important avenue to postgraduate study and research.
泭
Year 1
泭
Required泭
- 泭Chemical Principles and Process
- 泭Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry
泭
May be required泭
- 泭Foundations of Chemistry (this is an alternative entry point for students with a weaker background in chemistry)泭
泭
Recommended泭
- 泭Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
- 泭Diversity of Life
- 泭Human Biology
- 泭Methods of Mathematics
泭
Year 2
泭
Required泭
- 泭Molecules
- 泭Chemical Reactivity (equiv泭BCHM 212)
- 泭Organic Chemistry (equiv泭BCHM 206)
- 泭Foundations of Materials Science and Nanotechnology
泭
And either:
- 泭Practical Chemistry
泭
OR
- 泭Practical Biochemistry
泭
Recommended
- 泭Contemporary Chemistry: Technology, Environment, and Health
- 泭Cell Biology泭
- 泭Biochemistry泭
- 泭Foundations in Molecular Biology (equiv泭BIOL 231)
- 泭Microbiology and Genetics
泭
Year 3
泭
Required泭
- CHEM 338泭Chemical Biology (equiv BCHM 338)
- 泭Bioinorganic and Bioorganic Chemistry (equiv BCHM 339)
- 泭Advanced Synthetic Techniques
- At least 15 points from other泭泭level courses.
泭
Recommended泭
- 泭Organic Synthesis
- 泭Protein Science
- 泭Biochemical Pathology
- 泭Biochemical Techniques
- 泭Molecular Genetics
- 泭Advanced Molecular and Industrial Microbiology
Environmental chemists undertake research and provide advice on how chemicals move through the environment and their effects on human health and the environment.
Graduates find careers in environmental consulting, environmental testing, education and policy development. There are a range of opportunities in postgraduate study and research.
(If you are interested in Chemistry and environmental chemistry/science, there are two pathways you can follow: i) a BSc with a major in Chemistry that emphasises environmental chemistry (described below) and ii)a BSc with a double major in Chemistry (any pathway can be chosen) and Environmental Science. This double major is described on the tab below.)
泭
Year 1
泭
Required泭
- 泭Chemical Principles and Process
- 泭Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry
泭
May be required泭
- 泭Foundations of Chemistry (alternative entry point for students with a weaker background in chemistry)
泭
Recommended courses from other science subjects, such as MATH, STAT, BIOL, GEOG and PHYS
- 泭Introduction to Environmental Science
- 泭Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (equiv BCHM111)
- 泭Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- 泭Global Environmental Change
- 泭Physical geography. Earth, Ocean, Atmosphere
- 泭The Dynamic earth System
- 泭Environmental Geohazards
- 泭Antarctica; The cold climate
- 泭Antarctica: Life in the cold
- 泭Introductory Physics for Physical Sciences and Engineering
- Methods of Mathematics and/or泭泭Mathematics 1A
- 泭Statistics 1
泭
Year 2
泭
Required泭
- 泭Molecules
- 泭Chemical Reactivity (equiv泭BCHM 212)
- 泭Foundations of Materials Science and Nanotechnology
- 泭Organic Chemistry (equiv泭BCHM 206)
泭
And either:
- 泭Practical Chemistry (preferred)
泭
OR
- 泭Practical Biochemistry
泭
Recommended泭
- 泭Contemporary Chemistry: Technology, Environment, and Health
- 泭Introduction to Biological Data Analysis
- 泭Environmental Science and Practice
- 泭Resource and Environmental Management
- 泭Applied Statistics
- 泭Freshwater Resources
泭
Year 3
泭
Required泭
- 泭Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
- 泭Instrumental Methods
- At least 30 points from other泭泭level courses
泭
Recommended
- 泭Water Resource Management
- 泭Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology
Environmental scientists study how the earth works, how people are affecting the environment and how to solve environmental problems.泭 Environmental scientists with skills in chemistry are highly sought after.泭 Example careers include helping businesses to be more sustainable, working with engineering firms to reduce impacts of major projects and advising government agencies on environmental risks.
If you are interested in Chemistry and environmental chemistry/science, there are two pathways you can follow:
i) a BSc with a major in Chemistry that emphasises environmental chemistry (described on the tab above) and
ii) a BSc with a double major in Chemistry (any pathway can be chosen) and Environmental Science. This double major is described here.
泭
Year 1
泭
Required泭
- 泭Chemical Principles and Process
- 泭Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry
- 泭Introduction to Environmental Science
- 泭Global Environmental Change
- 泭Statistics 1泭or泭泭or equivalent
泭
May be required泭
- 泭Foundations of Chemistry (alternative entry point for students with a weaker background in chemistry)泭
- 泭Methods of Mathematics
泭
Recommended
- 泭Introductory Physics for Physical Sciences and Engineering
泭
Year 2
泭
Required泭
- 泭Molecules
- 泭Chemical Reactivity (equiv泭BCHM 212)
- 泭Foundations of Materials Science and Nanotechnology
- 泭Organic Chemistry (equiv泭BCHM 206)
- 泭Practical Chemistry (preferred);泭OR泭泭Practical Biochemistry
- 泭Environmental Science and Practice
- 泭Introduction to Biological Data Analysis
- 泭Resource and Environmental Management
Note:泭泭(Contemporary Chemistry: Technology, Environment, and Health) can be taken instead of CHEM 211 or CHEM 242 with approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
泭
Year 3
泭
Required泭
- 60 points from泭泭level courses, including at least one of泭泭棗娶泭
- ENVR 301泭Environmental Science: Cities and Coasts
- 泭Research Methods in Geography
泭
Recommended
- 泭Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
Materials science and nanotechnology develop knowledge and understanding of material structure and properties.
Understanding the behaviour of atoms, molecules and nanoscale objects paves the way to rational design and synthesis of functional materials with desired compositions and structures needed for specific applications. This underpins discovery and development of new materials needed by high-tech industries.
Materials science and nanotechnology are strongly interdisciplinary and offer opportunities to work with physicists, biologists, geologists and engineers.
Depending on your interests, your Chemistry courses can be complemented by courses in Physics (giving a strong background in the origins of the physical properties of materials and behaviour at the nanoscale), in Geology (expanding your knowledge of the properties of geological materials (rocks etc)) or Biology (providing a background relevant to bionanotechnology and biomaterials).
泭
Year 1
泭
Required泭
- 泭Chemical Principles and Process
- 泭Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry
泭
May be required泭
- 泭Foundations of Chemistry (this is an alternative entry point for students with a weaker background in chemistry)泭
泭
Recommended泭
- 泭Methods of Mathematics
- 泭Mathematics 1A
- 泭Mathematics 1B
泭
Complementary Physics courses
- 泭Engineering Physics A: Mechanics, Waves, Electromagnetism and Thermal Physics
- 泭Engineering Physics B: Electromagnetism, Modern Physics and 'How Things Work'
- 泭Introductory Physics for Physical Science and Engineering (if required)
泭
Complementary Geology courses
- 泭Planet Earth: An Introduction to Geology
- 泭The Dynamic Earth System
泭
Complementary Biology and Biochemistry Courses
- 泭Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
泭
Year 2
泭
Required泭
- 泭Molecules
- 泭Chemical Reactivity
- 泭Foundations of Materials Science and Nanotechnology
- 泭Organic Chemistry泭
- 泭Practical Chemistry
OR
- 泭Practical Biochemistry
泭
Recommended泭
- 泭Contemporary Chemistry: Technology, Environment, and Health
泭
泭Complementary Physics courses
- 泭Relativistic and Quantum Physics
- 泭Electromagnetism and Materials
泭
Complementary Geology courses
- 泭Rocks, Minerals and Ores
- 泭Structural Geology and Global Geophysics
泭
Complementary Biology and Biochemistry Courses
- 泭Foundations in Molecular Biology (equiv. BCHM 202)
- 泭Cell Biology I (equiv. BCHM 253)
- 泭Microbiology and Genetics
泭
Year 3
泭
Required
- 泭Materials and Interactions
- 泭Advances in Chemical Technology
- 泭Instrumental Methods
- At least 15 points from other泭泭level courses
泭
Recommended
- 泭Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis
- 泭Supramolecular Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
- 泭Advanced Synthetic Techniques
泭
Complementary Physics courses
- 泭Advanced Electromagnetism and Materials
泭
Complementary Geology courses
- 泭Engineering and Mining Geology
泭
Complementary Biology and Biochemistry Courses
- 泭Biochemical Techniques
- 泭Advanced Molecular and Industrial Microbiology
- 泭Biochemistry 3 (equiv. BCHM 301)
- 泭Molecular Genetics
- 泭Cell Biology 2
- 泭Plant Development and Biotechnology
Semester 1 courses
泭
Year 1
泭
- CHEM111
- PHYS101
- MATH102/EMTH118
- COSC121
泭
Year 2
泭
- 泭Molecules
- 泭Chemical Reactivity (equiv泭BCHM 212)
- CHEM247 or PHYS 205*
- PHYS285
* PHYS205 required for PHYS319 (runs alternate years)
泭
Year 3
泭
- CHEM343
- CHEM336
- CHEM340
- CHEM381
泭
Semester 2 courses
泭
Year 1
泭
- CHEM112
- PHYS102
- MATH103/EMTH119
- SCIE101
泭
Year 2
泭
- CHEM251
- CHEM242
- PHYS206
- BCHM281
泭
Year 3
泭
- CHEM333
- CHEM335
- PHYS330 or PHYS319* or CHEM3XX
- CHEM382
If your Chemistry interests do not neatly fit into any of the focussed pathways: no problem! To complete a Chemistry major you must include the compulsory courses at 100 and 200 level, and then you can choose any 60 points (or more) from CHEM 300 level courses, including at least one of CHEM 381 or CHEM 382.
泭
Year 1
泭
Required泭
- 泭Chemical Principles and Process
- 泭Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry
泭
May be required泭
- 泭Foundations of Chemistry (alternative entry point for students with a weaker background in chemistry)泭
泭
Recommended
- 泭Methods of Mathematics泭or泭泭Statistics 1泭or泭泭Mathematics 1A
泭
Year 2
泭
Required泭
- 泭Molecules
- 泭Chemical Reactivity (equiv泭BCHM 212)
- 泭Foundations of Materials Science and Nanotechnology
- 泭Organic Chemistry (equiv泭BCHM 206)
- 泭Practical Chemistry (preferred);泭
OR
- 泭Practical Biochemistry
泭
Recommended泭
- 泭Contemporary Chemistry: Technology, Environment, and Health
泭
Year 3
泭
Required泭
At least 60 points from泭泭level courses, including at least one of泭泭棗娶泭
This pathway enables students to graduate with a BSc after 3 years, and after a further 2 years they can graduate with a BE(Hons) CAPE (5 years in total for both degrees).泭 It gives CAPE graduates a better and deeper foundation in the science behind their Engineering qualification, and science graduates a more practical framework to complement their discipline-based knowledge.
To enter 2nd泭Professional year CAPE, BSc graduates typically need at least a B average and must have appropriate mathematics courses.泭 All students require the approval of the Dean of Engineering to enter the BE(Hons) programme.
The tables below outline BSc structures optimised for this pathway.泭
Note:
- All degrees must meet the general requirements for a BSc;
- SCIE101 must be one of the electives in your BSc;
- It is expected that MATH courses are taken in all of years 1-3, however only 200 level MATH courses are required;
- MATH101 may be required for entry to MATH102;
- CHEM114 may be required for entry to CHEM111 and CHEM112 (equiv. BCHM112);
- In all cases students will be required to take ENCH199 during their BE(Hons) 2nd泭Professional year.
泭
A. Starting with BE(Hons) CAPE Intermediate: plan for BSc with CHEM major, followed by direct entry to 2nd泭professional year BE(Hons).
泭
Year 1
泭
- BE(Hons) CAPE intermediate
- CHEM112
- Elective:泭PHYS101 and PHYS102 recommended to support materials chemistry pathway; BCHM111 (BIOL111) required for a biochemistry major and is recommended for the bioprocessing minor in Chemical and Process Engineering.
泭
Year 2
泭
- 泭Molecules
- 泭Chemical Reactivity (equiv泭BCHM 212)
- 泭Foundations of Materials Science and Nanotechnology or泭泭Organic Chemistry (equiv泭BCHM 206)
- 泭or BCHM281
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- MATH201 or MATH 202 or MATH270
- Elective
泭
Year 3
泭
- CHEM 300 or BCHM3380 or BCHM339
- CHEM381 or CHEM382
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- 300-level CHEM, MATH, PHYS
- Elective
泭
B.泭Starting with BE(Hons) CAPE Intermediate: plan for BSc with BCHM major, followed by direct entry to 2nd泭professional year BE(Hons).
泭
Year 1
泭
- BE(Hons) CAPE intermediate
- CHEM112 (BCHM112)
- BCHM111 (BIOL111)
泭
Year 2
泭
- BCHM202
- BCHM222
- BCHM212
- BCHM253
- CHEM281 or BCHM281
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- Elective:泭SCIE101 (must be included in year 2 or 3), 200 or 300 level BCHM, BIOL or CHEM course.
泭
Year 3
泭
- BCHM305
- BCHM306
- BCHM338
- BCHM339
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- 300-level BCHM, MATH, CHEM
- 300-level CHEM, MATH, BIOL
- Elective
泭
C.泭Plan for BSc with CHEM major, followed by direct entry to 2nd泭professional year BE(Hons).
泭
Year 1
泭
- CHEM111
- CHEM112 (BCHM112)
- MATH102
- MATH103
- EMTH171 or MATH170
- Elective:泭PHYS101 and PHYS102 recommended to support materials chemistry pathway; BCHM111 (BIOL111) required for a biochemistry major and is recommended for the bioprocessing minor in Chemical and Process Engineering.
泭
Year 2
泭
- CHEM211
- CHEM212
- CHEM251
- CHEM242
- CHEM281 or BCHM281
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- Elective
泭
Year 3
泭
- CHEM300 or BCHM338 or BCHM339
- CHEM381 or CHEM382
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- 300-level CHEM, MATH, PHYS
- Elective
泭
D. Plan for BSc with BCHM major, followed by direct entry to 2nd泭professional year BE(Hons).
泭
Year 1
泭
- CHEM111
- CHEM112 (BCHM112)
- MATH102
- MATH103
- EMTH171 or MATH170
- BCHM111 (BIOL111)
- Elective:泭BIOL112 and BIOL113 recommended for BCHM major; PHYS102 generally useful.
泭
Year 2
泭
- BCHM202
- BCHM222
- BCHM212
- BCHM253
- CHEM281 or BCHM281
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- Elective
泭
Year 3
泭
- BCHM305
- BCHM306
- BCHM338
- BCHM339
- MATH201 or MATH202 or MATH270
- 300-level BCHM, MATH, CHEM
- 300-level CHEM, MATH
- Elective
