Why Study Advanced Level Chemistry?

Chemistry underpins our everyday existence. It is responsible for advances in the quality and comfort of our lives and is central to our understanding of the natural world. Everyday items we take for granted such as washing powders, cosmetics, perfumes, toothpaste and toiletries were developed with the help of chemists. Exciting products such as new fabrics for sportswear, laptops and state of the art mobile phones are equally dependent on chemistry. Many of the challenges facing today’s society will be overcome with the help of chemical scientists. Their work will be central to the development of new sustainable energy resources and new medicines to treat and cure diseases. Chemistry is an exciting, challenging subject with the potential for significant personal and financial rewards. Financial rewards for chemistry and physics graduates can be excellent – on average these graduates earn over 30% more during their working lifetimes than A Level holders. Graduates in subjects such as psychology, biological sciences, linguistics and history can expect to earn only 13 to 16% more than A Level holders over their lifetimes. Chemistry graduates possess an excellent range of skills, including numeracy, problem-solving, data handling, analysis, observation, team working, report writing and laboratory skills. These are highly valued by graduate employers and they can open the door to a huge range of job opportunities.