Our teaching, research and enterprise activities in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering are changing the way the world and society works. Sustainability is at the centre of what we do, from tackling untreatable diseases to harnessing renewable energy sources.
100%
of our research outputs are world-leading or internationally excellent
We’re committed to providing a supportive and welcoming community for all.
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About us
Learn about our staff, our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and understand how our supportive community works in practice.
At the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering we are passionate about discovery and innovation. We deliver world-class teaching and research that addresses global challenges, from sustainable energy to advanced healthcare solutions.
As a community of 150 academics, technicians and professional services staff. We are proud to provide a supportive, inclusive environment where every person is able to thrive.
The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is strongly committed to the principles of the Athena SWAN Charter, which promotes gender equality in higher education and research. These values shape our culture, policies, and everyday practices as we work to support career progression and improve the representation of women across all levels of science and engineering.
We are proud of our long-standing achievements in this area. Chemistry at Southampton received its first Athena SWAN Bronze award in 2006, and now retain our third Silver awarded in 2023, recognising our continued commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and staff.
Our ongoing work reflects our belief that diverse perspectives strengthen scientific innovation and create a vibrant, welcoming community where everyone can thrive.
Our commitment to gender equality is demonstrated by Athena San Silver Award
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Education
Studying in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Southampton is underpinned by outstanding teaching, flexible Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses, and a wide range of scholarships and funding designed to make a real difference to your student experience.
Our degrees are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Chemical Engineers, with opportunities for industry placements and study abroad. Students can gain full RSC professional membership status when they graduate. We are 5th in the UK for Chemical Engineering in the Times University Rankings 2026.
Our £17 million investment in cutting-edge laboratories and facilities ensures students gain hands-on experience with the latest technologies.
Our staff are all active researchers at the forefront of their fields. This means they can pass on the latest research findings to students through their teaching. Four chemistry lecturers have senior fellowships from the Higher Education Academy and we have a research group dedicated to the constant enhancement of chemistry and chemical engineering teaching.
Within our school we offer scholarships to support students at all stages of their education.
Excellence in Chemistry undergraduate scholarship
An undergraduate scholarship of £1,000 is available to any UK or EU applicant achieving A*AA grades in their A levels (or equivalent in alternative qualifications), with the A* in chemistry.
Denis Henry Desty undergraduate scholarships
This scholarship supports students from under-represented backgrounds. Applicants who meet our eligibility criteria have the opportunity to apply for £2,000 per year, for a total of 3 years.
Southampton Chemistry Deans International Scholarship
Southampton Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Postgraduate International Scholarship
A scholarship of £3,000 is available to international students studying an eligible postgraduate master’s in chemistry. Learn more about eligibility and applying for the Postgraduate International Scholarship.
An undergraduate uses a rotary evaporator to remove solvent from their sample.
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Outreach
Our outreach section shows how we inspire the next generation of scientists through hands‑on activities, work shadowing programmes, and lectures. There’s also information on how to get in touch and take part.
We aim to inspire the next generation of chemists and chemical engineers and encourage them to consider a future career in chemistry or chemical engineering and the physical sciences. We answer questions like:
what do chemists do?
what’s the difference between a chemist and a chemical engineer?
how does chemistry help achieve sustainability?
where do chemists work?
how do you become a chemistry or a chemical engineer?
why did we become chemists?
why should you study chemistry?
Our activity programme includes our annual Year 12 "Twilight Practical". During these sessions, students gain experience in a range of organic chemistry techniques. Our work shadowing programme sees visiting students spend a day in a lab with one of our researchers.
We also run lectures for Year 8, 9 and 11 students, as well as a natural products masterclass for Year 10 students.
Learn about our research community, exploring the work of our research groups and centres and discovering their latest highlights and achievements.
Our research is recognised globally, with 100% of our outputs ranked world leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021, reflecting our commitment to excellence and impact across science and engineering.
We work with disciplines including biology, medicine, physics, engineering and computing. Our staff and students publish hundreds of research articles every year in world-renowned, high impact, scientific journals.
We're also a founding member of the Faraday Institution, which is central to the UK’s industrial strategy for electrochemical energy storage.
We provide outstanding support for early career fellowship holders. Read about the experiences of past fellows, how to apply, and funding opportunities on our Early Career Research Fellowships webpage.
Several advisory boards support our education and research programmes across chemistry and chemical engineering. They include members from industry as well as University staff.
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Join a thriving research community. From independent fellowships to postgraduate research opportunities, we support the next generation of research leaders with world-class facilities, expert mentoring and research that delivers real-world impact.
Fellowships
Our School is committed to nurturing the next generation of research leaders in the chemical sciences. We highly value the contributions of early career researchers and actively support their development across all areas of the discipline, offering tailored guidance and mentoring to help them build successful, long-term research careers. We welcome applications from researchers interested in applying for funding for independent fellowships.
Our work spans fundamental scientific discovery through to real-world application, tackling global challenges with practical solutions and driving advances that benefit industry, government, public services and society as a whole.
Why choose us?
Outstanding research excellence: 100% of our research outputs were rated World Leading or Internationally Excellent in REF 2021.
Advanced research facilities: Benefit from £17 million investment in specialist laboratories, including advanced spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and flow chemistry systems.
Collaborative environment: Work alongside leading scientists in multidisciplinary projects spanning chemistry, engineering, medicine, and environmental sciences.
Graduate school support: Access tailored training, mentoring, and professional development to help you thrive as a researcher.
Graduate prospects: The School holds an annual careers fair that attracts major companies and it has been placed 2nd for Graduate prospects in the Complete University Guide 2025.
Discover how we collaborate with business, including knowledge and technology transfer, our successful spin-out companies, and state-of-the-art facilities. We are home to a specialist consultancy and project delivery service, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Enterprise Solutions (CChES).
The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering hosts a variety of facilities, including:
We work closely with industry to turn research into real-world impact, providing consultancy and access to our advanced laboratories and facilities. This collaboration has led to a number of successful spin-out companies, driving innovation and economic growth.
A member of the National Crystallography Service team centres a sample on one of our advanced single crystal X-ray diffractometers.
I’m proud to lead our School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering where every student and member of staff have the opportunity to thrive in a supportive community.
The School has a collaborative research culture, within which our staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students make leading contributions from fundamental to applied areas of chemistry and chemical engineering.
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Enterprise Solutions (CChES) makes a bold step forward in how we connect our research and expertise with the needs of industry and society.
