Materials Chemistry with Work Placement MSci
ABB – BBB at A level, A-level Mathematics and Chemistry; graduates earn a median £28,500 three years on.
A-level Mathematics and Chemistry · 85% of entrants came with A levels · 90% stay on after year 1 · Glasgow course page, Discover Uni
What do you need to get in?
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. A contextual offer can be lower for applicants from under-represented backgrounds; none is published for this course.
Glasgow course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
- 1A-level Mathematics and Chemistry
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications2
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Highers | ABBBminimum from S5: BBBB | Higher Mathematics and Chemistry at BB. |
| IB | 32 (5,5,5) | HL Mathematics (Analysis & Approaches) and Chemistry. |
What do you study?
Compulsory modules this year: natural sciences 75% · mathematics & statistics 25%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Glasgow course page · optional modules vary by year
- Chemistry 1
What you learn (4)
- describe fundamental facts and experimental foundations of modern chemistry
- solve basic numerical problems in chemistry contexts
- solve basic logical problems in chemistry contexts
- perform standard chemical laboratory techniques
Year 2 · 2 core · 60 credits ≈ 600 hours
- Chemistry 2X
What you learn (5)
- describe key facts underlying modern molecular chemistry
- explain experimental evidence supporting molecular chemistry theories
- solve numerical problems within a chemistry context
- solve logical reasoning problems within a chemistry context
- perform standard laboratory techniques used in chemistry
- Chemistry 2Y
What you learn (5)
- describe fundamental facts of natural chemistry
- explain experimental basis underlying chemical phenomena
- solve basic numerical problems in chemistry
- solve basic logical problems in chemistry
- perform standard chemical laboratory techniques
Year 3 · 17 core · 430 credits ≈ 4,300 hours
- Inorganic Chemistry 3
What you learn (6)
- describe key facts underpinning modern inorganic chemistry
- solve numerical problems in inorganic chemistry
- solve logical problems in inorganic chemistry
- perform practical laboratory techniques used in inorganic chemistry
- retrieve relevant information from printed and digital sources
- interpret information gathered from written and electronic sources
- Organic Chemistry 3
What you learn (6)
- describe key facts and experimental basis of organic chemistry
- solve numerical problems in organic chemistry
- solve logical problems in organic chemistry
- perform practical chemical techniques used in organic chemistry
- retrieve relevant information from written and electronic sources
- interpret information gathered from written and electronic sources
- Physical Chemistry 3
What you learn (6)
- describe core facts and experimental foundations of physical chemistry
- solve numerical problems in physical chemistry
- solve logical problems in physical chemistry
- perform laboratory techniques used in physical chemistry
- retrieve information from written and electronic sources
- interpret information gathered from archived sources
- Chemistry Special Topics 4H
What you learn (3)
- describe core facts and experimental foundations of advanced chemistry topics
- solve numerical and logical problems related to advanced chemistry concepts
- retrieve and critically evaluate chemistry information from written and electronic sources
- Inorganic Chemistry 4H (Half)
What you learn (3)
- describe core facts and experimental foundations of advanced inorganic chemistry topics
- solve numerical and logical problems related to inorganic chemistry concepts
- evaluate written and electronic sources to extract relevant chemical information
- Physical Chemistry 4H
What you learn (3)
- describe key facts and experimental foundations of advanced physical chemistry
- solve numerical and logical problems in physical chemistry contexts
- critically evaluate information retrieved from written and electronic sources
- Functional Materials 4H
What you learn (9)
- identify key physical properties of solid state materials
- relate structure and bonding to material properties
- describe methods for synthesising organic semiconductors
- describe techniques for characterising organic semiconductors
- identify applications of organic semiconductors
- explain the operating principles of electronic and photonic devices
- evaluate the performance and efficiency of electronic and photonic devices
- describe the structure of novel carbon-based materials
- describe the physical and chemical properties of carbon-based materials
- Materials Characterisation 4H
What you learn (6)
- describe the fundamental concepts underlying diffraction-based characterisation techniques
- identify the capabilities of different materials characterisation techniques
- identify the limitations of different materials characterisation techniques
- interpret experimental data generated by characterisation techniques
- apply characterisation data to solve practical materials problems
- compose a written essay reviewing a characterisation technique's use in current research
- Materials Chemistry MSci: Work Placement Year
What you learn (14)
- present an oral summary of experimental work and its conclusions
- compose a detailed written report of an experimental study
- apply logical reasoning to solve problems
- define initial goals for an open-ended project
- revise project goals and strategies based on progress and setbacks
- write a report on extended project work including critical evaluation
- compare project findings with previous research in the field
- draft a scientific abstract summarising project outcomes
- produce an audio-visual presentation of project results
- identify open-ended problems typical of business contexts
- collaborate constructively with colleagues in a group setting
- apply teamworking skills to solve a complex group problem
- integrate personal contributions with group members' work
- contribute to managing a project team's activities
- Chemistry Special Topics 4M (A)
What you learn (3)
- explain central facts and experimental basis of advanced chemistry topics
- solve numerical and logical problems related to advanced chemistry concepts
- retrieve relevant information from written and electronic archival sources
- Chemistry Problems 4M (A)
What you learn (2)
- solve numerical problems across advanced chemistry topics
- resolve logical problems arising in advanced chemistry contexts
- Frontiers Of Chemistry 3M
What you learn (8)
- identify current hot topics in modern chemistry research
- organise information gathered from multiple sources for written work
- design audio-visual materials to support a group presentation
- deliver a concise group presentation suited to the audience
- identify examples of scientific malpractice that raise ethical dilemmas
- discuss ethical dilemmas faced by professional scientists
- explain ownership rights over research outputs
- describe legal and commercial protection of research results
- Inorganic Chemistry 4M (C)
What you learn (3)
- explain core concepts in selected advanced inorganic chemistry topics
- solve numerical and logical problems in advanced inorganic chemistry
- retrieve relevant information from written and electronic archival sources
- Physical Chemistry 4M (A)
What you learn (3)
- explain core concepts of advanced physical chemistry
- solve numerical and logical problems in physical chemistry
- evaluate information from academic literature sources
- Functional Materials 4M
What you learn (6)
- relate the structure of functional materials to their special properties
- describe functions that can be engineered into materials
- describe manufacturing methods used to produce functional materials
- evaluate the performance of functional materials
- analyse case studies of newly developed materials with special properties
- assess the potential future applications of novel functional materials
- Materials Characterisation 4M
What you learn (6)
- identify major materials characterisation techniques across diverse analytical methods
- analyse data obtained from characterisation techniques
- interpret experimental observations from characterisation instruments
- present findings from characterisation experiments clearly
- evaluate suitable characterisation methods for specific material problems
- write an essay reviewing a characterisation technique's use in current research
- Nanostructured Materials 4M
What you learn (9)
- describe fundamental concepts of solid state materials
- describe properties of surfaces in materials science
- describe key concepts of nanomaterials
- apply advanced chemical techniques to design new materials
- propose synthesis routes for novel materials
- explain the link between nanoscale structure, composition and material behaviour
- analyse how size and morphology influence material functionality
- discuss the societal impact of nanoscale materials
- discuss the environmental impact of nanoscale materials
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
Where does it lead?
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 145 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 13, 11, 21
Half of graduates earned between £22,000 and £33,000. Five years on, the median is £35,000. 90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 60% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 18% left | 90% | 70 |
| In work or study, 15 months on10% studying | 90% | 25 |
| Professional or managerial job | 60% | 15 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £30,000 | 25 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £28,500 | 145 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £35,000 | 170 |
What do students say?
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 51% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 25 students answered
Highest: 96% agreed on question 15; lowest: 58% on question 24.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 92% |
| Question 2 | 81% |
| Question 3 | 92% |
| Question 4 | 85% |
| Question 5 | 92% |
| Question 6 | 85% |
| Question 7 | 88% |
| Question 8 | 73% |
| Question 9 | 77% |
| Question 10 | 69% |
| Question 11 | 92% |
| Question 12 | 81% |
| Question 13 | 88% |
| Question 14 | 73% |
| Question 15 | 96% |
| Question 16 | 92% |
| Question 17 | 65% |
| Question 18 | 76% |
| Question 19 | 85% |
| Question 20 | 84% |
| Question 21 | 81% |
| Question 22 | 81% |
| Question 23 | 65% |
| Question 24 | 58% |
| Question 25 | 71% |
| Question 26 | 65% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Glasgow’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Glasgow is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.