Employers recognise Waikato Chemistry graduates for their analytical and problem solving skills as well as for their high-level of practical abilities – including hands-on bench and modern instrumentation skills.
A Chemistry qualification from Waikato appeals to a wide range of employers including analytical, forensic, industrial, environmental and medical laboratories. There is a shortage of Chemistry graduates in New Zealand and overseas and a critical shortage of qualified Chemistry teachers.
Better building materials and textiles, improved medical aids, new alloys, more productive agriculture, better environmental control and remediation – all rely on the chemical expertise you'll gain from studying at Waikato.
The structure of our chemistry major includes a range of highly theoretical, highly applied, quantitative and qualitative aspects. It will develop your analytical and problem-solving skills, which can be applied to many other disciplines.
Facilities
The University of Waikato’s School of Science is home to a suite of well-equipped laboratories. Most science papers include weekly laboratory sessions, giving you the chance to put what you’ve learnt in lectures and tutorials into practice. Our undergraduate students also have the opportunity to use complex research equipment and techniques, such as NMR spectroscopy.
Career opportunities
- Biochemist
- Biosecurity Officer
- Chemical Technologist
- Environmental Scientist
- Food Technologist
- Forensic Scientist
- Marine Studies
- Material Science
- Microbiologist
Qualifications
Study Chemistry in any of these qualifications
Major subject:
Minor subject:
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Or any other Bachelor degree within the University
Postgraduate subject:
Papers
100 level
| Chemistry in Context | CHEMY100 | 15.0 Points |
| Structure and Spectroscopy | CHEMY101 | 15.0 Points |
| Chemical Reactivity | CHEMY102 | 15.0 Points |
200 level
| Organic Chemistry | CHEMY201 | 15.0 Points |
| Physical Chemistry | CHEMY202 | 15.0 Points |
| Inorganic Chemistry | CHEMY203 | 15.0 Points |
| Analytical Chemistry | CHEMY204 | 15.0 Points |
300 level
| Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry 2 | CHEM311 | 20.0 Points |
| Organic and Physical Chemistry 2 | CHEM312 | 20.0 Points |
| Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory 2 | CHEM313 | 10.0 Points |
| Organic and Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2 | CHEM314 | 10.0 Points |
Prescriptions for the GradCert(Chem) and GradDip(Chem)
A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Chemistry at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Prescriptions for the PGCert(Chem), PGDip(Chem), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc (Research) and MSc(Tech)
Students in masters degrees are normally required to take a thesis and a selection of papers. Enrolment in papers towards the BSc(Hons) is by invitation of the Head of School. Candidates for these graduate qualifications should select their papers in consultation with the Graduate Convenor.
To complete a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry, students must complete 120 points at 500 level, including at least 60 points from the papers listed for Chemistry, of which at least 30 points must be in research (normally CHEM591).
| Advanced Organic Chemistry (Structural Characterisation) | CHEM511 | 15.0 Points |
| Topics in Advanced Physical Chemistry | CHEM512 | 15.0 Points |
| Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis | CHEM513 | 15.0 Points |
| Special Topics in Chemistry A | CHEM514 | 15.0 Points |
| Isotope Geochemistry | CHEM516 | 15.0 Points |
| Applied and Environmental Analytical Chemistry A | CHEM517 | 15.0 Points |
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | CHEM521 | 15.0 Points |
| Computational Chemistry | CHEM522 | 15.0 Points |
| Inorganic Materials Chemistry | CHEM523 | 15.0 Points |
| Structural Characterisation Techniques | CHEM524 | 15.0 Points |
| Applied and Environmental Analytical Chemistry B | CHEM527 | 15.0 Points |
| Directed Study: Chemistry Topics | CHEM589 | 15.0 Points |
| Directed Study | CHEM590 | 30.0 Points |
| Dissertation | CHEM591 | 30.0 Points |
| Dissertation | CHEM592 | 60.0 Points |
| Chemistry Thesis | CHEM593 | 90.0 Points |
| Chemistry Thesis | CHEM594 | 120.0 Points |
| Chemistry Thesis | CHEM595 | 150.0 Points |
| Research Methods in the Sciences | SCIE501 | 15.0 Points |
Prescriptions for the MPhil
The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
| Chemistry MPhil Thesis | CHEM800 | 120.0 Points |
Prescriptions for the PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
| Chemistry PhD Thesis | CHEM900 | 120.0 Points |
Scholarships and prizes
School of Science Postgraduate Study Scholarship
For students who qualify to enrol at the University of Waikato, and are intending to enrol part or full-time in semester B 2016 in the School of Science in either a 180pt masters, the taught components of a masters degree or the research component of a masters degree. The Scholarship will have a value of $5,000 per year for two years.
Closing Date: 2016-07-18 23:59:00Science Admission Fees Scholarship
For school leavers who are intending to enrol full-time (120 pts) in the first year of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science(Technology) in the Faculty of Science & Engineering and are performing well academically in their final year of secondary school. The Scholarship has a value of up to $4,000.
Closing Date: 2017-08-31 23:59:00Science and Engineering Masters Fees Awards
For students enrolling full-time in the first year MSc (research), MSc, MSc (Tech) ME or MEnvSci programme in the faculty of Engineering. Part-time applicants may be considered but any scholarship awarded will be on a pro-rata basis. The Scholarship will have a value of up to $2,000.
Closing Date: 2017-03-15 23:59:00Documents
Contacts
Faculty of Science & Engineering
Phone: +64 7 838 4625 / 0800 438 254
Email: science@waikato.ac.nz
Website: sci.waikato.ac.nz
Facebook: facebook.com/WaikatoScienceEngineering