Katrina's story
'My interest in chemistry blossomed after watching 'The Rock' where Nicholas Cage plays an FBI chemical weapons specialist who saves the world from total annihilation. Now, I use green chemistry to solve mining waste issues that might also save the Earth.'
Katrina is a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman and the first member of her family to go to university. She was awarded the 2025 QLD Young Australian of the Year for transforming the consumer goods sector by harnessing the power of green chemistry while inspiring others to step into STEM.
Charlotte's practical experience
'I enjoyed the practical components of my degree. We were given a lot of freedom to plan and conduct experiments and I found this allowed me to appreciate the theory on a deeper level. All of my lecturers were more than willing to help connect students with potential internship and employment opportunities. In my third year, I completed an internship within the chemistry lab at Caltex; an opportunity I might not have considered had my lecturer not suggested it to me.'
Student stories from the chemistry lab
Want to know what it's like to study chemistry at QUT? Hear from two QUT Bachelor of Science students who decided to major in chemistry.
Katrina's story
'My interest in chemistry blossomed after watching 'The Rock' where Nicholas Cage plays an FBI chemical weapons specialist who saves the world from total annihilation. Now, I use green chemistry to solve mining waste issues that might also save the Earth.'
Katrina is a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman and the first member of her family to go to university. She was awarded the 2025 QLD Young Australian of the Year for transforming the consumer goods sector by harnessing the power of green chemistry while inspiring others to step into STEM.
Charlotte's practical experience
'I enjoyed the practical components of my degree. We were given a lot of freedom to plan and conduct experiments and I found this allowed me to appreciate the theory on a deeper level. All of my lecturers were more than willing to help connect students with potential internship and employment opportunities. In my third year, I completed an internship within the chemistry lab at Caltex; an opportunity I might not have considered had my lecturer not suggested it to me.'
Highlights
- Learn the basics before developing a more detailed understanding of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry.
- Complete a research project in your final year and take field trips to major industrial sites.
- Choose a degree employers recognise for its analytical chemistry component and focus on safe laboratory practices.
- Prepare for a career as an industrial chemist, materials scientist, environmental chemist, quality control analyst, laboratory supervisor, food chemist, or organic/inorganic chemist.
- Learn in our new multimillion-dollar research and teaching facilities,
- QUT is ranked eighth for chemistry in Australia (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024).
Highlights
- QUT is ranked eighth for chemistry in Australia (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024).
- Learn the basics before developing a more detailed understanding of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry.
- Complete a research project in your final year, and take field trips to major industrial sites.
- Choose a degree that's recognised by employers for its analytical chemistry component and focus on safe laboratory practices.
- Prepare for a career as an industrial chemist, materials scientist, environmental chemist, quality control analyst, laboratory supervisor, food chemist, or an organic/inorganic chemist.
- Learn in our new multimillion dollar research and teaching facilities.
Why choose this course?
The QUT chemistry degree is a qualification that is known and respected by employers. Many employers prefer QUT chemistry graduates, especially those with an extension minor in analytical chemistry, because of their advanced technical skills, their experience with modern instrumentation and their training in scientific communication. Our training in analytical chemistry throughout the chemistry degree is renowned nationally.
You will undertake comprehensive laboratory work including experiments using modern computer-based analytical instruments and gain knowledge and experience in the health and safety aspects of handling chemicals. You will be guided by highly respected lecturers, many actively involved in cutting-edge research.
Explore this course
Chemists are involved in most areas of science, technology, environment and industry; for example, medicinal drugs, nanotechnology, water and air quality and energy production. Manufacturing industries rely on chemists to ensure that quality and safety standards are maintained. The development of better and safer drugs depends heavily on the input of chemists.
Chemistry principles are fundamental to many other disciplines, including biotechnology, environmental science, geosciences, materials science and food science.
At QUT, you will study analytical, physical, organic and inorganic chemistry with an additional focus on modern applications such as nanotechnology, analytical chemistry and spectroscopy.
Customise your degree
Study a double degree to gain a broader skill set, enhanced career opportunities, and personal growth and satisfaction. Explore your double and vertical double-degree options.
Undergraduate double degrees
- Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) (Landscape Architecture)/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) (Urban and Regional Planning)/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Busines
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Data Science
Vertical double degrees
Careers and outcomes
Employment opportunities are diverse and, you may become an industrial chemist, materials scientist, environmental chemist, quality control analyst, laboratory supervisor, food chemist or an organic/ inorganic chemist. Your interaction with QUT experts in drug development, clay and minerals chemistry, renewable energy sources, nanotechnology, environmental monitoring and applications of modern analytical instrumentation, may lead to careers in these areas.
QUT graduates are sought after by police and other forensics laboratories because of their extensive practical training using modern analytical instrumentation. You could consider undertaking a graduate-entry teacher education program after your degree to pursue a teaching career.
*Check entry requirements for graduate-entry teacher education programs to ensure you have the discipline knowledge required for your chosen teaching areas.
Possible careers
- Analytical chemist
- Biochemist
- Chemical technologist
- Chemist
- Environmental health officer
- Forensic chemist
- Industrial chemist
- Inventor
- Laboratory assistant
- Laboratory technician (chemistry)
- Policy officer
- Research and development chemist
To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Science, you must complete a total of 288 credit points, made up of:
- Core units - 60 credit points
- A Major – 120 credit points
- QUT You - 24 credit points
- Complementary studies - 84 credit points, made up of:
- a second major (84 credit points), or
- a minor (48 credit points) and elective units (36 credit points).
To meet the course requirements of the Bachelor of Science, you must complete a total of 288 credit points, made up of:
- Core units - 60 credit points
- A Major – 120 credit points
- QUT You - 24 credit points
- Complementary studies - 84 credit points, made up of:
- a second major (84 credit points), or
- a minor (48 credit points) and elective units (36 credit points).
- ATAR/selection rank threshold
- 70.00
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2024.
Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?
- Course code
- ST01
- QTAC code
- 418011
- CRICOS code
- 077696D
-
- Gardens Point
-
- Gardens Point
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
- Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
Year 12 early offer scheme
If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.
Helping you to get into your course
If you don't think your ATAR or selection rank is high enough to get into this course, you can guarantee your entry with guaranteed advanced standing by upgrading through one the following programs which you can select as one of your QTAC preferences:
Dual TAFE-Qld Brisbane/QUT award
If you enrol in a QTAC offer in the following dual TAFE-Qld Brisbane/QUT award you will automatically receive a QUT conditional offer in June after your enrolment at TAFE-Qld Brisbane is confirmed.
Upon completion of the TAFE-Qld diploma you will be able to enrol at QUT. You will also automatically receive half a year (48 credit points) credit transfer and be able to complete the degree in 2.5 years as a full-time student (or equivalent part-time). More details will be provided in your QUT conditional offer letter.
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2024
The figures listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent ATAR students. The entry thresholds box at the top of this page shows the lowest adjusted ATAR/selection rank required to receive an offer for all applicants for the most recent January QTAC offer round.
Excluding adjustments | Including adjustments | |
---|---|---|
Highest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
99.00
|
Selection rank
99.95
|
Median ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
78.80
|
Selection rank
81.90
|
Lowest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
63.45
|
Selection rank
70.05
|
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
I completed my studies outside of Australia
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
Assumed knowledge
- Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
You must have achieved this study at a level comparable to Australian Year 12 or in recognised post-secondary studies.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:
- Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
- ATAR/selection rank
- 70.00
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
TOEFL iBT | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2025: CSP $9,000 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2025 fees
2025: $44,600 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: CSP $8,800 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: $41,800 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Equity scholarships scheme
A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Struggling financially
QUT Elite Sport Scholarship
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding sporting achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Sporting excellence
International Merit Scholarship
A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Oodgeroo Noonuccal Undergraduate & Postgraduate Scholarship
The Oodgeroo Scholarship Program promotes the pursuit of Indigenous Australian studies by supporting the education of Indigenous Australians.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Indigenous Australian
QUT Budding Entrepreneur Scholarship
A scholarship for innovative individuals who are engaged in their passion for entrepreneurial action.
- Scholarship eligibility
QUT Rising Sports Scholarship (including esport)
Opportunities exist for aspiring esports players to be part of an Oceanic leading program that embraces skill-acquisition, culture and academics.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Sporting excellence
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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