Studies & Degrees in Chemistry
Chemistry Study Programs
Chemistry is the study of matter: what substances are made of, how they are built at the level of atoms and molecules, and how they change when they react with one another. It is often called the central science, because biology, geology, materials science, pharmacy and medicine all rely on chemical principles.
Degree programmes are built around four traditional areas: organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry. Laboratory work takes up a large share of the timetable. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), undergraduate chemistry programmes typically require a number of chemistry courses, most of them with a laboratory component, together with mathematics, biological sciences and physics.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, 60 per year, so it takes four years. The Grado en Química of the Universidad de Navarra, for example, is an official degree of 240 credits taught over four years on campus in Pamplona, in Spanish and English, with 50 places; the university states that the degree holds the Chemistry Eurobachelor Label of the European Chemistry Thematic Network Association. In the United States a bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study. Binghamton University offers both a BA and a BS in Chemistry, with a BS option certified by the American Chemical Society and BS emphases in biological and materials chemistry.
- Professional accreditation. In the United Kingdom some degrees are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry. London Metropolitan University states that its Chemistry BSc (Hons) is accredited by the society and gives partial exemption from the academic requirements for Chartered Chemist status.
- Master's degrees and doctorates. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Graduate programmes commonly specialise in one subfield, such as analytical or inorganic chemistry, and a doctorate is the usual route into independent research. Some universities combine levels: Binghamton University has accelerated programmes that lead to a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years.
- Vocational training. Spain's vocational training (FP) system has a chemistry family. Its intermediate qualifications are Técnico en Operaciones de Laboratorio and Técnico en Planta Química. The higher qualifications are Técnico Superior en Laboratorio de Análisis y de Control de Calidad, Técnico Superior en Química Industrial and Técnico Superior en Fabricación de Productos Farmacéuticos, Biotecnológicos y Afines. These train laboratory and plant technicians rather than chemists.
Where to study chemistry
This directory lists 487 active schools that teach chemistry. Most are in the United States (211), followed by Spain (40), the United Kingdom (34), Canada (20), France (13), Germany (12) and Brazil (10). Nearly all are universities, because the subject needs teaching laboratories and research groups.
Examples include the Universidad de Navarra and the Universidad de Cádiz in Spain, Binghamton University and The Ohio State University in the United States, London Metropolitan University and the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, and the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada, which describes teaching in small classes and modern labs.
Chemistry is normally taught in the language of the country. Some universities in non-English-speaking countries teach part of the degree in English. At the Universidad de Navarra, students in the International Science Program take the whole first year, the electives and the final degree project in English. Ask each school which language level it requires and which certificates it accepts.
Careers
Chemists research and analyse the chemical properties of substances to develop new materials, products or knowledge. Graduates work in the pharmaceutical, petroleum and chemical industries, in private and public laboratories, in quality control, in environmental and food analysis, and in teaching. Binghamton University notes that chemistry graduates also find work in sales and marketing of instruments, chemicals and supplies.
In the United States, the BLS counted 93,500 jobs for chemists and materials scientists in 2025 and projects employment to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. A bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related field is the typical entry requirement. Some jobs, particularly research positions, require a master's degree or a PhD.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a chemistry degree take?
An official bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. A bachelor's degree in the United States is usually completed in four years of full-time study. A master's degree in Spain adds 60 to 120 ECTS credits.
Do I need a master's degree or a PhD to work as a chemist?
Not always. According to the BLS, chemists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related field. Some jobs, such as research positions, may require a master's degree or a PhD.
Can I study chemistry in English in Spain?
Partly, at some universities. The Universidad de Navarra teaches its Grado en Química in Spanish and English, and its International Science Program covers the first year, the electives and the final project in English. Most chemistry degrees in Spain are taught mainly in Spanish or in a co-official language.
Is there a vocational route into laboratory work?
Yes. In Spain the chemistry family of vocational training (FP) includes intermediate and higher qualifications for laboratory and chemical plant technicians, such as Técnico Superior en Laboratorio de Análisis y de Control de Calidad.