Study Chemistry - Bachelor of Science
Study the Chemistry major in the Bachelor of Science and explore environmental, biological, organic, physical, inorganic, food and analytical chemistry.
Developing new products and processes, and experimenting with the make-up and behaviour of different chemicals are some of the challenges chemistry graduates get to take on. A degree in chemistry opens the door to a wide range of career options, both in and out of the laboratory.
You gain essential practical laboratory skills needed to be successful in scientific employment – here and overseas. AUT chemistry graduates have careers in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, petrochemicals, toiletries, plastics and polymers. There are also opportunities in the food and drink industry, health and medical organisations and scientific research organisations.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Science.
With the Chemistry major you’ll develop an understanding of chemical properties and processes of chemical change, and practical skills in the synthesis and analysis of chemical systems. You’ll be also become familiar with the role of chemistry in contemporary issues of national and global significance.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.*
*Depending on your chosen combination of majors and minors it may take you longer than three years to complete your degree.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Science students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Choose one of:
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices
- SCIE504 Science and Society
And choose one natural sciences course
- ASTR500 Introductory Astronomy
- BIOL500 Foundations of Life
- BMED500 Introduction to Biomedical Science
- CHEM500 Chemistry in Our World
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
- CHEM502 Biological and Solution Chemistry
- CONS500 Biodiversity
- EASC500 Our Dynamic Earth
- ENVS502 Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS503 Our Total Environment
- FOOD502 Food Science
- FOOD503 Food Technology
- GESC500 Mapping Our Environment
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology
- HEAL507 Health and Environment
- MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment
- MASC500 Introduction to Marine Science
- MASC501 Marine Science Techniques
- MELS501 Histology and Cytology^
- MICR501 Microbial Life
- PHYS501 Physics for Scientists and Engineers
- SOSC585 Climate Action
And one mathematical and computer sciences course
- COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques*
- COMP503 Object Oriented Programming*
- MATH502 Algebra and Discrete Mathematics
- MATH504 Introductory Mathematics for Science
- MATH505 Algebra and Calculus I
- STAT500 Applied Statistics
- STAT502 Introductory Probability and Statistics
^Not offered in 2025
*Only available to students in the Analytics and Mathematical Modelling and Computation majors
And one course from either the natural sciences or mathematical and computer science courses above.
Complete the following course:
- SCIE606 Vision Mātauranga: Science Practice in Aotearoa
And one of:
- CHEM604 Instrumental Analysis
- SCIE600 Scientific Inquiry
In Year 3, you complete a project in an area related to your major. This project gives you an important competitive edge for your career, and is good preparation for postgraduate study.
Courses you complete for this project:
- SCIE707 Science Capstone Project A
- SCIE708 Science Capstone Project B
Chemistry courses
If you're majoring in chemistry, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight chemistry-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 courses
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
- CHEM502 Biological and Solution Chemistry
Year 2 courses
Choose three from:
- CHEM601 Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM602 Biochemistry
- CHEM603 Organic Chemistry
- CHEM605 Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics
Year 3 courses
Choose three from:
- CHEM702 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
- CHEM704 Organic Synthesis and Molecular Design
- CHEM705 Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy*
- CHEM706 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM707 Protein and Metabolic Chemistry
*Not offered in 2025.
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-science/chemistry-major
Students who started at AUT before 2023
If you started your studies at AUT before 2023, the courses you need to study to complete the requirements for your programme are a little different. Find out more about what courses you should take.
Career opportunities if you study chemistry
- Analytical chemist
- Biotechnologist
- Chemical engineer
- Clinical scientist
- Biochemist
- Forensic scientist
- Nanotechnologist
- Pharmacologist
- Laboratory technician
- Toxicologist
- Public service
- Management consulting
- Science communication
- Science teacher*
*After an additional year of teacher training
The Chemistry major also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in chemistry and disciplines like microbiology, biomedicine, food science or nanoscience.
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Science
- Analytics
- Biological Science
- Biomedical Science
- Environmental Science
- Food Science
- Marine Science
- Mathematical Modelling and Computation
Postgraduate study options
Study Chemistry at AUT
Video series: Chemistry Matters
Join AUT's Professor Allan Blackman as he explains some of the fundamental concepts of chemistry to help you in your university studies.
- Develop skills relevant to a wide range of industries
- Progressive environmental and food chemistry knowledge
- Flexibility: tailor your degree with a second major, minor or electives of your choice
- Complete an industry-related project in your final year
- Accurate and objective
- Enquiring and observant
- Analytical and creative
- Organised with an eye for detail
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.