As a Chemistry graduate from Birmingham, you’ll be highly sought after by a wide range of industries. Whether you choose to continue on a purely scientific path as a professional scientist or use your transferable analytical skills in a more diverse career, you will be a talented and valuable addition to any workplace.
My time at Birmingham gave me transferrable skills such as problem solving and team leadership which have opened the door to a broad array of opportunities- I really didn’t think I’d be working at Mars developing Maltesers and Mars bars when I applied!
Fergus, MSci Chemistry with Industrial Experience graduate
Careers in Industry
Chemistry degrees at Birmingham not only provide students with the all-important transferrable skills that employers look for, but also enable them to develop practical lab skills needed for a career in science.
Thanks to our strong research links with a range of chemical companies, you can gain industrial experience during your studies, giving you an extra competitive edge.
Careers in Academia
Many of our graduates go on to PhD studies in Birmingham or beyond. Your research projects give you real experience of working at the cutting-edge of science, equipping you for careers in academic research, publishing and more.
Having enjoyed my final year research project, I stayed at Birmingham to complete my PhD which was extremely challenging but gave me resilience, drive, data analysis and communication skills that I now use in my career in the energy sector assessing market trends and risks for customers.
Gemma, MSci Chemistry graduate
Beyond Chemistry
BSc Chemistry graduate Carly talks about what her time at Birmingham meant to her and how her degree prepared her for life after graduation
Your degree in Chemistry at Birmingham will give you several transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers across a range of sectors. Want to work in law, finance, management or consulting or elsewhere? Chemistry opens up numerous options for you. You hear more from alumni like Carly on our Chemistry Graduates page.
Work Experience
The University's unique careers service, Careers Network, offers exclusive work experience opportunities, one-to-one support with CVs and applications, and our employer-endorsed Personal Skills Award to help give you the edge. We have the Birmingham Undergraduate Internship Programme, the Work Experience Bursary Scheme and mentoring schemes that give you real-world insights into the world of work.
Example employers
- AstraZeneca
- Johnson Matthey
- AkzoNobel
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Marks & Spencer
- Procter & Gamble
- Ernst & Young
- Reckitt Benckiser
- Severn Trent Water
- RBS
- HSBC
Example careers
- Analytical scientist
- Chemist
- Lawyer
- Accountant
- Business retailer
- Marketing executive
- Public service manager
- Web designer
- Computing and IT expert
- Investment analyst
- Publisher