Chem degree jobs?

I am in year 12, and we have started doing a bit of work on UCAS

I really want to do dentistry but teachers are saying for dentistry and medicine a back up option is needed, as I will be applying for one non dentistry course. Is chemistry a good option? I really enjoy chemistry a lot especially the organic side. However what are the job prospects like for chemistry? Like i get it i should pick a course i enjoy, but i still should be able to get a job with it :').and not be flat out broke lmao especially with the cost of living in the UK its so scary.

Like i keep hearing people say 'a lot of people with a chem degree go into finance' but then i watched a video online where someone said that its hard to go into finance with a straight up science degree as employers would rather hire someone who acc studied economics bc its less training blah blah....

It would be really helpful if someone could let me know about this bc i keep seeing so many mixed answers online.

Reply 1

jasmineva3128

14

I think that if you enjoy chem it's a good idea for a back up course.

From a chemistry degree you could become a chemist, chemical engineer, forensic scientist, pharmacologist, toxicologist, lab technician, science writer, teacher, and researcher, among many other careers.

If you enjoyed chemistry, you could always go back to uni for a (postgraduate) degree in pharmacology or drug discovery and become a pharmacist.

And, if you decided after doing a chemistry degree that you were stil interested in medicine, you could always use it to go into a medicine degree (it may give you an edge and make you stand out).

In summary, there's lots that you could do with a chemistry degree.

Reply 2

jg.10x

OP

10

Thank youuuu (*^▽^*)
But whats the difference between pharmacology and pharmacy? I keep seeing both of these courses mentioned?

Reply 3

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by jg.10x

Thank youuuu (*^▽^*)
But whats the difference between pharmacology and pharmacy? I keep seeing both of these courses mentioned?

Pharmacy is a health professions course that prepares people to work as dispensing pharmacists, registered with the relevant professional body.

Pharmacology is a bioscience degree studying drug interactions with (usually human) physiology.

Pharmacy is to pharmacology as medicine is to biomedical sciences.

Original post by jg.10x

I am in year 12, and we have started doing a bit of work on UCAS

I really want to do dentistry but teachers are saying for dentistry and medicine a back up option is needed, as I will be applying for one non dentistry course. Is chemistry a good option? I really enjoy chemistry a lot especially the organic side. However what are the job prospects like for chemistry? Like i get it i should pick a course i enjoy, but i still should be able to get a job with it :').and not be flat out broke lmao especially with the cost of living in the UK its so scary.

Like i keep hearing people say 'a lot of people with a chem degree go into finance' but then i watched a video online where someone said that its hard to go into finance with a straight up science degree as employers would rather hire someone who acc studied economics bc its less training blah blah....

It would be really helpful if someone could let me know about this bc i keep seeing so many mixed answers online.

Finance jobs don't preferentially hire those with degrees in management, accounting, finance, economics etc. They really don't care what you studied, plenty of people go into investment banking with degrees in e.g. classics, music, philosophy, sociology, politics, etc as well.

In terms of job prospects for chemistry they're basically the same as any other degree, although you could also apply to some lab based roles focused on chemical lab work. @CheeseIsVegcan probbaly give some insight into working with a chemistry degree :smile:

Note in terms of applying to medicine or dentistry, yes you can only apply to a maximum of 4 such courses (out of 5) in UCAS. You don't need to elect a 5th option however if you don't want to, and typically applicants to med/dent who don't get in on the first try will reapply in a gap year rather than take their non-med/dent 5th option. If dentistry is your primary goal, I would suggest just doing that.

That aside though it's also worth noting - you only get one personal statement for all your courses, and it will need to be tailored to dentistry for your application there. While some courses accept medicine or dentistry personal statements without prejudice, not all do - some might require you to write a second personal statement and send to them, aligned to that course, and some may not accept such an application at all. I'd suggest checking with any chemistry courses you might want to apply to if they will accept a dentistry PS to start with.

Reply 4

McGinger

20

Look at Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacy or Pharmacology and not just 'Chemistry' -
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry BSc (UCAS F121)
Choosing between Pharmacy and Pharmacology

PS. Ignore the post above about 'postgrad' Pharmacy - there are no postgrad Pharm conversion courses, everyone has to take the full 4 year undergrad degree to qualify. And graduate Medicine (GEM) is ludicrously competitive - never a sensible route to Medicine.

Chem degree jobs?

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