Why Study / Key Benefits

• Chemistry at Swinburne covers applications across forensic and environmental science, polymer formation, water analysis, new-material development, agricultural chemistry and analytical chemistry.
• Students receive laboratory exposure from first year and study in small, hands-on classes.
• The degree includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL), with three professionally focused, industry-linked projects as part of the Bachelor of Science.
• Students develop practical skills in laboratory experimentation, safe chemical handling, critical data analysis, research and information gathering, problem solving and technical report writing.
• The Chemistry major is accredited by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), recognising the programme against the minimum Threshold Learning Outcomes for a bachelor's degree in chemistry.
• Swinburne currently highlights its Top 5 in Australia ranking for Physics in the ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025 and Top 50 worldwide for Space Science in the US News Best Global Universities Rankings 2025–2026. These are university/subject-level indicators rather than rankings specifically for the Chemistry major.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The published Bachelor of Science structure contains 8 core units, 8 Chemistry major units and 8 units of other studies. The following is the current indicative 2026 sequence published by Swinburne and may change in future study plans.

Year 1 – Science Core and introductory Chemistry:

• Data Science Principles – COS10022
• Concepts of Biology – BIO10001
• Chemistry 1 – CHE10001
• Energy and Motion – PHY10001
• Calculus and Applications – MTH10012 or an approved mathematics alternative
• Preliminary Mathematics / Essential Mathematics / other approved mathematics options
• Sustainability Challenges in Science – NPS10003
• Chemistry 2 – CHE10002
• Elective study as permitted by the course structure.

Year 2 – Chemistry major:

• Analytical and Forensic Chemistry – CHE20006
• Spectroscopy and Instrumentation – CHE20009
• Investigative Organic Chemistry – CHE20008
• Inorganic Chemistry – CHE30010
• Societal Challenges in Science – NPS20011
• Elective units.

Year 3 – Advanced Chemistry:

• Advanced Analytical Chemistry – CHE30005
• Surface and Colloid Chemistry – CHE30009
• Computational Chemistry: Methods and Applications – CHE30006
• Grand Challenges in Science – NPS30004
• Elective units.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The selected discipline is:

• Chemistry

The Chemistry major covers areas including:

• Analytical chemistry
• Forensic chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Inorganic chemistry
• Spectroscopy and instrumentation
• Surface and colloid chemistry
• Computational chemistry. 

Programme Highlights

• 3-year Bachelor of Science degree.
• Chemistry major with 8 dedicated major units.
• 300 credit points.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• Guaranteed industry experience through Swinburne's WIL approach.
• Three professionally focused industry-linked projects.
• Laboratory experience from first year.
• Practical chemistry training including analytical, forensic, organic, inorganic, computational and surface/colloid chemistry.
• RACI accreditation for the Chemistry major.
• Optional professional placement of 6 or 12 months, subject to competitive selection.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies career opportunities including:

• Chemical researcher
• Analytical forensic scientist
• Pharmaceutical scientist
• Agricultural scientist
• Environmental scientist.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The currently published 2027 intakes are 1 March 2027 and 2 August 2027.
• The published international tuition fee currently available on the course page is for 2026; the 2027 tuition fee has not been published on the course page yet.
• Chemistry is RACI-accredited.
• The mathematics prerequisite must be met; Swinburne may require MathsLink: General if the prerequisite is not satisfied.
• Professional placement is optional and competitively selected rather than automatically guaranteed.
• The indicative study sequence is specifically identified by Swinburne as the Semester 1, 2026 sequence and can change. Students should use the current course planner after enrolment.
• Exact 2027 unit availability and any future structural changes: Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant Australian visa is the Student visa (subclass 500).

Key current requirements include:

• Students must be enrolled in a full-time CRICOS-registered course and provide a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required unless an exemption applies.
• Applicants must satisfy the Genuine Student requirement and demonstrate that study in Australia is the primary reason for the Student visa.
• Health and character requirements apply, together with applicable financial and documentary requirements.
• The Student visa can allow a stay of up to 6 years, depending on the course and enrolment period.
• Current Student visa application charge starts from A$2,500, with limited concessions; the exact amount should be checked using the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before applying.
• During periods when the course is in session, a Student visa holder can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight. During scheduled course breaks, students can generally work unlimited hours, subject to their visa conditions.
• Students cannot begin working before their course starts unless an applicable exception applies.
• Mandatory course-related work experience that is specified as a compulsory component of the CRICOS course can be treated differently under the work limitation rules; optional/non-mandatory work experience can count toward the 48-hour restriction.