As well as having the opportunity to undertake a PhD and work in academia, chemistry graduates are frequently employed in industries such as oil, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, public health and environmental protection, research, teaching, journalism, forensic science, medicine, commercial research and developing, technical consulting, science policy, scientific writing and journalism, and many more. Your transferable skills also open up opportunities in non-chemistry related occupations too such as management, commerce, finance or the Civil Service. Chemistry graduates can also apply to become Chartered Chemists; this qualification is recognised worldwide and is highly valued by employers.

Our annual careers event provides our students with the opportunity to hear from the Royal Society of Chemistry and from guests working in a variety of science based jobs. They will hear an overview of their chosen career and the path they took to get there, followed by the chance to talk informally and ask questions.  We also provide an opportunity to attend a CV clinic for one-to-one advice and to attend a practice interview.

According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, graduates are also often employed in the following areas:

Preparing you for work

The North West has a deep heritage within the chemical industry and our strong links with businesses means that you will have ample opportunity for work experience and paid and voluntary internships, which are invaluable in an increasingly competitive jobs market. We are one of only a few UK universities to have dedicated facilities for Science and Technology-based businesses, which allow companies to co-locate alongside academic departments on-campus and to collaborate with our staff and students. Examples of companies that we have worked with include Cobra Biologics and DEFRA, and we collaborate with over 100 businesses in our new cTAP facilities. Employment, internship and work experience opportunities are posted regularly on our Chemistry Careers Site.

Careers Service

As a student at Lancaster, you will also have access to our Careers Service, who will be happy to give you any help and advice you may need. This might include researching potential opportunities, developing skills for employment, meeting employers and more. Staff are available for one-to-one appointments in The Base; alternatively, you can email ‘Ask Careers’ for answers to specific questions, or search the Knowledge Bank for information about where your degree can take you. The service also holds a number of employability events throughout the year, which students find invaluable.