Chemistry with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

COURSE OVERVIEW

The second through to the fourth years of the programme are identical to the 3 year B.Sc. course. The first year (Foundation Year) will consist of 6 compulsory modules. In the first semester, students will take modules in Maths, Chemistry 1 and Chemistry Lab 1. In the second semester, they will take modules in Physics, Chemistry 2 and Chemistry Lab 2. The Maths and Physics modules will be such that the topics are taught with Chemistry context.

The separation of topics within the Chemistry 1 and 2 modules roughly mirror the Structure and Bonding and Chemical Reactions module sequence of the first year of the main chemistry courses so that students will be familiar with this non-traditional categorisation of concepts when they progress to the second year. The experiments in the Lab modules will illustrate the concepts in the parallel Chemistry 1 and 2 modules. The Chemistry content over all four modules will not simply match that of A-level but will begin to develop students' past the A- level conceptualisation and cognition levels. The ideal is that students will leave the Foundation year as prepared as possible for the mainstream chemistry modules without these latter being repetition.

CHEMISTRY WITH A FOUNDATION YEAR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Doing a chemistry degree doesn’t mean that you’ll be chained to a lab for the rest of your life. Chemists have a huge range of career options and the Chemistry degrees at Swansea University are designed so that you have the skills that today’s employers are looking for.

There are many sectors that you can go into after you graduate. A popular choice is medicine. Chemistry graduates research, develop and test new drugs and treatments.

If you are passionate about the environment and see your future career in this area, our staff are involved in projects to develop clean water and sanitation, and to develop sustainable forms of energy.

You’ll graduate with a range of transferable skills such as analysis, lab techniques, report writing and demonstrating and explaining.

Swansea University helps you to prepare for your future career by helping you to find work placements and relevant part-time jobs, offering year in industry options, as well as introducing you to employers such as Tata Steel, Fujitsu, Perkin Elmer and National Nuclear Laboratories. The Swansea Employability Academy also helps you with CV and interview preparation.

Professional Body Accreditation

This course is in the process of gaining accreditation from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.