Chemistry, Pharmacology and Drug Discovery

Chemistry students conducting a lab experiment

Turn your scientific curiosity into a career that changes lives.

From the materials that shape our daily lives to the medicines that transform healthcare, chemistry is at the core of scientific discovery.

Chemistry explains how substances interact, drives innovation in areas like food safety, renewable energy and sustainability, and underpins breakthroughs in engineering and medicine.

Pharmacology and drug discovery take this knowledge further, combining chemistry and biology to understand how medicines work and create new treatments.

At UEA, we’ll provide you with a supportive environment both in and out of the classroom. With flexible degree options, you can tailor your degree to match your interests and career ambitions - whether you’re solving industrial problems or advancing life-changing medicines.

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Why choose Chemistry, Pharmacology and Drug Discovery at UEA?

6^th

for Graduate Prospects for Chemistry

Complete University Guide 2026

top10

for "Career after 15 months'"

The Guardian 2025

Tailor your degree to your interests and ambitions

Our degrees give you the flexibility to explore different aspects of chemistry, pharmacology and drug discovery. Whether you want a broad scientific education or a focused route in pharmaceuticals, our degrees allow you to shape your studies to fit your interests.

Chemistry provides a comprehensive understanding of molecular science, from applying materials to making pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacology and Drug Discovery focuses on understanding how medicines work and developing new treatments.
Medicinal Chemistry bridges chemistry and pharmacology, concentrating on the design and action of new drugs.

Many students start university unsure which route to take. Our degrees allow you to explore, specialise and even switch pathways as your interests evolve.

Open doors to diverse career opportunities

A degree in chemistry, pharmacology and drug discovery, or medicinal chemistry prepares you for a range of exciting careers.

Our graduates go on to work in:

Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
Chemical research and development
Environmental science and sustainability
Science communication and policy
Teaching

We integrate employability skills into our degrees with sessions on CV writing, interview techniques and business skills. Many of our students choose to do placements in industry, research or healthcare settings to gain valuable experience.

Chemistry lecturer conducting a lab experiment

Benefit from industry-standard facilities

You’ll study in our modern new science building, home to industry-standard laboratories and teaching spaces. Our facilities are designed for hands-on learning and include:

Spacious, high-tech chemistry and pharmacy labs
Dedicated research areas with advanced analytical equipment
Inclusive design features, such as wheelchair-accessible fume hoods

Find the right course for you

Your study options

Year in Industry options

Explore courses with a year in industry

Year Abroad options

Explore courses with a year abroad

Foundation Year option

Explore Foundation Year course

Learn directly from world-leading experts

Our teaching staff are active researchers. They are tackling some of the biggest scientific challenges, from developing new cancer drugs to addressing environmental pollution. This means you’ll learn directly from those who conduct world-leading research.

Our research projects include:

Removing waste materials from the environment using biological and chemical techniques
Developing new ways to combat antibiotic resistance
Using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect food fraud
Investigating the impact of microplastics on human health

As part of UEA, you’ll also benefit from connections to the Norwich Research Park - a research hub for scientific innovation and collaboration.

Join a community

At UEA, you’ll be part of a close-knit community. Our small class sizes mean you’ll get to know your teaching staff and they’ll know you by name. Our open-door policy ensures support is always available and our adviser scheme provides dedicated academic and personal support throughout your degree.

There are plenty of opportunities to connect outside the classroom. Joining student-led societies like the Pharmacology Society or Chemistry Society (ChemSoc) helps you meet like-minded people who share your passion for science. These societies host a range of events from talks with industry experts to social activities to build friendships and expand your network.

In every aspect of your degree and student life, you’ll form strong connections with fellow students and staff, making UEA a great place to learn and grow.

Accreditation

Our BSc Chemistry courses, along with their year in industry and year abroad variants, are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for partially meeting the academic criteria for Chartered Chemist (CChem).

Our MChem Chemistry courses, along with their year in industry and year abroad variants, are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for fully meeting the academic criteria for Chartered Chemist (CChem).

The UEA Chemistry lecturers are very thoughtful, methodical and varied in their approaches to teaching, which I have found helps students understand what works well for them individually. They are always willing to guide you and provide advice on a range of academic and industry-based topics. From my experience, a good portion of degree time is spent on laboratory work, which allows you to develop core skills that can be carried forward to a variety of careers and internship opportunities available. The teaching staff, laboratory technicians and PhD students are always happy to help students develop, which I feel has made the degree much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Loren, BSc (Hons) Chemistry

UEA has been a brilliant place for me to study. The Pharmacology and Drug Discovery degree is tailored to the ever-growing scientific environment, and allows students to gain an insight into the field they may be working in. The staff are helpful and create a space to ask questions on both academic and future endeavours. Not only am I growing academically, but I am also developing into a well-rounded person.

Nana, BSc (Hons) Pharmacology and Drug Discovery

Pharmacology is no doubt a challenging course, but doing it here at UEA with the immense support and encouragement from the faculty, it now becomes an academic joy to stretch oneself this way. The course is set up to stay up-to-date with real world topics and provides space to focus on employability after graduating. It's an academically stimulating course, with the support of experts in the field and the serene background of nature's wildlife on campus. UEA has been wonderful.

Priscilla, BSc (Hons) Pharmacology and Drug Discovery

Your next steps

Ready to explore the courses we offer in Chemistry, Pharmacology and Drug Discovery?

Or join us for a subject taster session to get a feel for what it's like to study Chemistry, Pharmacology and Drug Discovery at UEA.

We also hold regular webinars on a broad range of topics about university, like personal statements, student finance, and life as a student.

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