Chemistry
Find out what you can do with your Chemistry degree and what other Sussex graduates have done
Explore your options
Use your degree to get you started. Look at career areas that might fit with what you are studying. Find out about the job roles available, the entry routes and how to gain experience:
Environment - Food, Drink and FMCG - Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Health Science - Alternative Science Careers - Energy and Utilities - Medicine
Most graduate opportunities are open to graduates from any degree discipline. If you want to look at other career areas, try looking at our sector guides for information and inspiration.
What do Sussex Chemistry graduates do?
Find out what previous Sussex Chemistry graduates went on to do.
15 months after graduating in 2019, 64% of respondents from Chemistry were in work or further study. 88% of those in work were in graduate jobs.
Here are some examples of job roles, employers and further study that Chemistry graduates have gone on to do over the last few years:
Employers: Jaytee Biosciences - Evotec - BOC - Camlab - PrimeVigilance - Springer Nature - Surrey Nanosystems - CPL Aromas
Job roles: Product Performance Chemist - Graduate Research Scientist - IT Analyst - Publishing Assistant - Marketing Executive - Technical Sales Executive
Further study: MSc Science and Technology Policy (Sussex) - MSc Computing with Digital Media (Sussex) - PGCE Secondary Science with Chemistry (Sussex) - MSc Food and Nutritional Science (Reading) - MSc Process Systems Engineering (Surrey)
- What can I do with my degree? Chemistry - an in-depth look at relevant job options, career areas and further study, from Graduate Prospects
- What Our Graduates Do - find out what Sussex Chemistry graduates have done (ITS login required)
- Careers Support - support offered to members of the Royal Society of Chemistry, including a career toolkit
- Sussex Connect - make connections with Sussex graduates from around the world. Find out what a job or sector is really like and how they got where they are today
- University of Sussex Students & Alumni on Linkedin - search Sussex alumni by location, employer, sector, degree subject and skills. Really useful for getting ideas and making contacts (Linkedin login required)
- Networking and social media - look at different ways to network, from information interviews to social media
Build your experience
Building experience while you are at Sussex will be invaluable when you come to apply for graduate jobs. It can also help you to figure out what you like doing and what sort of things you are good at. Part-time work, insight days, summer internships and placements are a great way to start. You could also try volunteering or joining a student society.
When writing your CV and covering letter for work experience, don't forget about the transferable skills you are developing on your course. Just a few skills you will get from Chemistry include analysis and problem solving, independent thinking, laboratory skills, numerical and data analysis, verbal communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills.
Find out more about identifying and writing about your skills.
Finding opportunities
- Graduate jobs, schemes and internships - start here for jobs in the UK and internationally
- Further study - postgraduate study in Chemistry or another subject