Studies & Degrees in Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the branch of chemistry that finds out what a substance is made of and how much of each component it contains. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes analytical chemists as identifying the elements and compounds in a substance to determine its structure, composition and nature; some specialise in developing new methods of analysis. Their work has applications that include food safety and pollution control, and forensic chemists use the same techniques to test evidence in criminal investigations.
Students learn the main families of instrumental techniques and how to judge the reliability of a result. The master's courses at University College Cork name the typical content: separation science, sensors and spectroscopic techniques, together with chemometrics, the statistical treatment of chemical data. Laboratory work takes up a large part of the timetable at every level.
Qualifications and levels
Analytical chemistry is rarely a first degree in its own right. Most students meet it as a core subject of a bachelor's degree in chemistry and specialise at master's or doctoral level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that undergraduate chemistry programmes require several chemistry courses, most with a laboratory component, and that graduate programmes commonly include specialisation in a subfield such as analytical chemistry.
- Bachelor's degree in chemistry. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Grado en Química of the Universidad de Alcalá, for example, lasts four years and includes the study of analytical techniques, electrochemical and optical among them, and their applications.
- One-year master's degrees. University College Cork offers MSc courses in analytical chemistry, environmental analytical chemistry and pharmaceutical analysis. Its MSc in Analysis of Pharmaceutical Compounds lasts one year full-time or two years part-time, with six months of lectures and laboratory sessions followed by a six-month research project. At King's College London, the Analytical Toxicology MSc combines analytical science with clinical and forensic toxicology; students take modules worth 180 UK credits in a year, 60 of them for the research project and dissertation.
- Two-year master's degrees. The University of Jyväskylä teaches the Master's Degree Programme in Chemistry and Analytics for Circular Economy in English: a two-year full-time programme of 120 ECTS credits with a strong focus on analytical chemistry. At Sorbonne Université the two-year Master de Chimie has a specialisation area in analytical chemistry, theory, spectroscopy and electrochemistry, and includes two placements of at least three months in the first year and five months in the second.
- Doctorate. Research posts usually call for further study: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, chemists may need a master's degree or PhD for some jobs, such as research positions.
Admission and costs
Master's programmes expect a first degree in chemistry or a related science. University College Cork asks for a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in an honours degree in a related subject, typically chemistry, engineering or life sciences; Sorbonne Université addresses its master's degree to holders of a bachelor's degree (licence) in chemistry.
Fees vary widely. For the intake starting on 6 September 2027, University College Cork lists a full-time fee of €8,614 plus a €1,000 bench fee for EU students and €28,614 plus the same bench fee for non-EU students. The University of Jyväskylä lists a tuition fee of €14,000 for students from outside the EU and EEA. Check the current figures with each school.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 11 active schools for analytical chemistry. Two are in Spain and two in the United States; India, Finland, Ireland, Bermuda, France, the United Kingdom and Sweden have one each. In Spain the list includes the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. Elsewhere it includes University College Cork, King's College London, the University of Jyväskylä, Uppsala Universitet, Sorbonne Université, the University of Madras and the University of Colorado at Denver.
Bachelor's degrees are usually taught in the language of the country. English-taught options are more common at master's level, as in Cork, London and Jyväskylä.
Careers
Analytical chemists work in quality control and method development for pharmaceutical, chemical and food companies, in environmental and clinical testing laboratories, in forensic science and in research. In the United States, chemists held about 84,900 jobs in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest employers were chemical manufacturing (33%), scientific research and development services (16%) and testing laboratories and services (11%). The Bureau projects overall employment of chemists and materials scientists to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study analytical chemistry as a bachelor's degree?
Usually it is part of a bachelor's degree in chemistry rather than a separate degree. Specialised programmes with analytical chemistry in the title are mostly master's degrees.
How long does a master's in analytical chemistry take?
One or two years. The MSc in Analysis of Pharmaceutical Compounds at University College Cork lasts one year full-time, while the English-taught programme at the University of Jyväskylä takes two years (120 ECTS credits).
What do I need to be admitted to a master's programme?
A first degree in chemistry or a related science. University College Cork, for example, asks for a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in an honours degree in a related subject, and non-native speakers must meet its English language requirements.
Where do analytical chemists work?
In industry laboratories, testing laboratories, public agencies and research. In the United States the largest employer of chemists in 2025 was chemical manufacturing, with 33% of jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.