Innovative and research-led teaching

Our ground-breaking research has an international reputation for excellence, and this cutting-edge research informs our teaching and course content.

Innovations in teaching and learning are also central to our approach. Context and Problem Based Learning enables students to apply their subject understanding to solve open-ended problems based around real world contexts. Our approach has been designed in cooperation with industry partners as well as our leading researchers, in order to ensure that learning activities mimic the types of activities that professional chemists engage in at the workplace.

We boast world-class facilities and state-of-the-art equipment in the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL), which equip our undergraduates with the skills and understanding to meet the challenges of the 21st century. You will have opportunities to carry out novel research projects with our academics and internships with industry. Our new £80 million home for the School of Chemistry, will house sector-leading research facilities to take us even further to the cutting edge and beyond.

World-leading research

Professor Andrew Dove and Dr Para Rodriguez discuss their research into recycling plastics and carbon dioxide-based fuel.

Our internationally leading researchers investigate some of the most important issues on the planet today, such as designing sustainable materials, innovative ways to recycle plastics, new drugs and liquid fuels based on recycled carbon dioxide. Discover more about research in the School of Chemistry.

Research projects

Every student in Chemistry undertakes a novel research project with personal supervision from one of our academics in their final year.

Students who spend their third year in Birmingham can undertake innovative mini research projects using the state-of-the-art facilities in the CTL. Our MSci students also undertake a major research project in year 4, after which many students go on to PhD research in Birmingham and other leading research institutions.

By undertaking your MSci project in Birmingham you will make best use of the research and project skills that you have established in year 3, whether from our mini research projects or a year in industry experience. You will work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary academic research environment alongside postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers as well as other MSci students. You will choose your individual research project from the wide range of research projects on offer in the School and be based in new research labs in our £80 million Molecular Sciences Building.

Research-led teaching

The Molecular Science building

Our School is home to internationally leading researchers pioneering research into environmentally sustainable energy sources, healthcare and drug development, to help combat global issues including pollution and climate change and healthcare crises. Your degree will be shaped by their scientific findings, providing you with cutting-edge content for your degree.

Outstanding facilities

Student working in one of our CTL labs

Our outstanding £40 million Collaborative Teaching Laboratory has been designed to provide our undergraduate students with access to the very latest equipment and technologies and has enhanced our ability to deliver our innovative practical chemistry course.

Mini-Projects in the CTL

Hear from our staff and students about the third-year mini projects taking place in the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory.