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Key details

Course areas
A LevelsScience
Student types
16 - 18 coursesA Levels
Course type
A Level course
Course level
Level 3
Start date
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Location
High Pavement Sixth Form Chaucer Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LP
Course code
Parent course code:C000450 Child course code: Q000525
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Course introduction

Chemistry is the study of the composition, structure, properties and change of the matter which makes up our world. You will study the world right down to its molecular and atomic structure, discovering more about the elements and compounds which surround us in our daily lives.

Cooking is chemistry. Everything you can touch or taste or smell is a chemical. Chemistry explains why detergent works better in hot water and how one pain killer will be better than another if you’ve got a headache. It enables you to understand the world around you on a deeper level.

Famous chemists include Nobel Prize winning Marie Curie who discovered Radium and Polonium, Louis Pasteur who created early vaccines for anthrax and rabies and Alfred Nobel who invented dynamite and went on to give his name to one of the most prestigious prizes in the world.

This course will give you a great theoretical base, but will also cover the practical application of chemistry in our everyday lives.

As a student of this subject, you will have free access to an online platform called Uplearn to support your studies. 

You will study this course alongside 2 or 3 other A Levels and you will be able to select your chosen subjects when you apply online.

Topics include:

  • General chemistry
  • Inorganic chemistry
  • Organic chemistry
  • Physical chemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • and many more advanced topics
A student using a Bunsen burner in a science lab.

You will be encouraged to participate in a 30-hour work placement while you are studying.

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Course information

2 years

AQA A Level Chemistry

To study 3 A Levels, including A level Chemistry, you’ll need at least 5 GCSE’s at grades 9-4 including GCSE English at grade 4 or above and Maths at grade 6 or above.

To study 4 A Levels you’ll need at least 6 GCSE’s at grades 9-7 including GCSE English and Maths at grade 7 or above.

One of your GCSEs must be a Grade 6 or above in GCSE Maths plus Grade 6 or above in GCSE Chemistry. This includes a 6/6 in Combined Science/Science Trilogy.

The following qualifications are NOT accepted:

  • GCSE Applied Science
  • GCSE Combined Science: Synergy
  • BTEC Science

If you are choosing to study A Level Chemistry and do not wish to study A Level Biology or A Level Physics alongside, you will need to discuss this with a chemistry tutor before enrolling. You can choose any A Level combination, but it is strongly recommended that you take A Level Chemistry alongside another science or maths-based subject. If you do not meet the entry requirements in science and maths at GCSE but have a grade 4 in these subjects, we recommend you do applied science as an A Level equivalent option, alongside two other A Levels. This includes biology, chemistry and physics and is a mixture of exams and coursework. We can switch you to this option at enrolment, if you have applied to do Chemistry but do not meet the entry requirements (and still want a science option).

There will be three written papers of two hours duration.

You could progress to a related higher education course such as medicine, agriculture, materials technology, energy, pharmacy, physiotherapy or chemical biochemistry.

There are also a lot of careers open to you such as:

  • Dentist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Doctor
  • Forensic scientist
  • Biochemist

Students aged 16-18 don't have to pay tuition fees.

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information.

Gallery

Meet Brian, one of our Science lecturers!
Meet university level science student Louise
Meet Rose - a Science student at Nottingham College.
Student support at Nottingham College

Careers related to this course

Select career:

Chemical Scientists

Potential Earnings

£53,648.76

Average Earnings

£31,716.00

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Pathways

Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing

People in these occupations diagnose, assess, and treat health problems, operate medical technology, and care for patients.

Natural Sciences

People in these occupations observe the natural order, formulate theories, run tests, and conduct experiments.

Engineering

People in these occupations use scientific principles to solve practical problems across a variety of engineering disciplines: civil, chemical, mechanical, etc.

Skills

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

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