Why study chemistry at UQ?

If you’re wondering where to study chemistry, we recommend a world top 50 university (hi, that’s us 👋).

You may be thinking our opinion is a little biased, but hear us out. Not only is UQ one of the best universities to study chemistry at because of our passionate and engaging lecturers, but we also offer unrivalled learning, leadership and research opportunities, a vibrant campus life, and a range of scholarships to get you there.

Let’s delve deeper into the benefits of studying chemistry at UQ.

World-class reputation

We’ve got the rankings to back up our assertion that UQ is one of the best places to study chemistry.

According to the Australian Financial Review's Best University Ranking, UQ is Australia's top university. And on a global scale, the 2025 QS World University Rankings placed UQ #40 in the world.

Considering there are 42 universities in Australia, and more than 25,000 universities around the globe, we think we’re tracking quite well.

At the subject level, UQ is:

• #1 in Queensland for Chemistry (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
• #2 in Australia for Chemistry (2023 NTU Rankings).

If you want to study chemistry at a university ranked highly on both a national and global scale, you can’t go past UQ.

Learn from the best

At UQ, you can learn about organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and computational chemistry from experts in these fields.

We have award-winning teachers and researchers in our School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, and across a variety of outstanding research centres:

• The Institute for Molecular Biosciences (IMB) takes a unique approach to drug discovery and agricultural innovation, harnessing our knowledge of nature to create sustainable cures for diseases that plague people, animals and plants.
• The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) translates research into new products, processes and devices for improving human health and quality of life in areas such as medicines and clean energy systems.
• The Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) is the only facility of its type in Australia and one of only a handful in the world. It contains over $50M of imaging and spectroscopy equipment, putting UQ's researchers at the forefront of a field that is advancing swiftly.
• The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is one of the world’s leading research providers in tropical and sub-tropical agriculture and food production, working across crops, horticulture, animals, and nutrition and food sciences.

You can choose research-intensive courses and take part in summer and winter research projects in these centres, as well as industry partner projects, placements and internships. These types of experiences will help you gain invaluable skills as a budding chemist and give you an idea of what type of work you’d like to pursue after you graduate.

A vibrant campus life

At UQ, you'll join a diverse and inclusive community where you can take part in a range of events and activities to enrich your student experience. With more than 200 student clubs and societies, you'll make new friends and expand your peer network. 

The UQ Science Students Society (UQ SASS) is a club for students of all disciplines of science, while the UQ Chemistry Club assists students with a specific interest in chemistry connect with one another. Both clubs host a range of social, academic and careers events throughout the year to help you socialise with like-minded people and find exciting extracurricular opportunities.

Build your leadership skills

UQ offers more than an education, with an array of opportunities to prepare you for life after uni.

The UQ Leadership and Mentoring Program in Science (LaMPS) is an extracurricular program that mixes online learning with in-person events to enhance your personal and professional development and build your employability skills.

UQ LaMPS is a pathway to membership of the exclusive UQ Science Leaders Academy, where you can learn leadership skills, actively shape the future of the science community at UQ and access paid opportunities in your field. Membership, in turn, will help you apply for a UQ Science Leaders Award and the UQ Employability Award, a learning program that will guide you through a range of experiences and reflections to unlock your potential.

All these extracurricular opportunities look great on your resumé and will help set you apart from other graduates when you start applying for jobs.

Scholarships aren't just for high achievers

We offer a variety of scholarships for students interested in studying chemistry at UQ. Some of them are specific to the study area, while others are broader in nature.

There are, of course, scholarships for students who have achieved academic excellence in high school. But there are also scholarships for those experiencing financial hardship, students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or from regional or remote areas of Australia, and scholarships that can help with tuition, accommodation, mentoring, experiences and employability, and more.

With such a wide range of scholarships on offer, it’s worth checking if there’s one for you.