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Chemistry teacher and class

Professional Certificate in Chemistry

In studying this certificate, you’ll gain a foundation in the main branches of chemistry and an appreciation of chemistry in all aspects of our lives. You’ll explore synthesis of organic compounds, spectroscopic analysis, the Periodic Table and reactivity, bonding and molecular shape, thermodynamics and kinetics. Online and remote experiments, combined with a short laboratory-based residential school at our Milton Keynes campus, will build your investigative and practical skills. This certificate is particularly useful if you're required to teach chemistry up to Key Stage 4, but your background is in another science, or if you're thinking about training to be a chemistry teacher.

Key features of the course

  • Gain a foundation in organic, inorganic and analytical chemistry.
  • Develop investigative, practical and academic skills.
  • Build confidence in your laboratory skills.

Course Summary

Certificate

Certificate

  • Qualification unique to The Open University.
  • Focus on a particular profession or subject area.
  • Study for interest or career development.
  • A wide range of subjects and levels.
Course code
S34
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
90
How long it takes
Part time – 1 year
Full time – N/A
Time limit – 6 years
Study method
Distance learning
Enquire about this course
Register now
Course details Entry requirements Fees and funding Careers

Course details

This certificate has one stage, comprising 90 credits.

Stage 1 (90 credits)

You’ll study a 60-credit module covering essential concepts in chemistry and attend a lab school. You’ll also study a further 30-credit chemistry module.
ModulesCredits
You'll study all three of the following:
Chemistry: essential concepts (S215)60
Laboratory skills for chemistry (SXS021) – planned for April 20210
Investigative approaches in biology and chemistry (S285) – planned for October 202130

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 17 March 2020.

Accessibility

We make all our qualifications as accessible as possible and have a comprehensive range of services to support all our students. This qualification uses a variety of study materials and has the following elements:

  • studying mainly online material. Online learning resources may include websites, audio/video media clips, and interactive activities such as online quizzes
  • using mathematical and scientific expressions, notations and associated techniques
  • undertaking practical work using campus-based and online laboratories
  • working with specialist reading material such as scientific journals
  • using specialist software
  • working in a group with other students
  • using and/or producing diagrams and/or screenshots
  • finding external/third party material online.

For more detailed information, see the Accessibility Statements on individual module descriptions. If you feel you may need additional support, visit Disability support to find more about what we offer.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

  • Knowledge and understanding.
  • Cognitive skills.
  • Practical and professional skills.
  • Key skills.

The level and depth of your learning gradually increases as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; elearning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.

Read the detailed learning outcomes here

On completion

On completion of this undergraduate course, we'll award you the Professional Certificate in Chemistry.

Recognition in your country

If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Read recognition in my country.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website. 

Entry requirements

  • UK bachelors degree (or equivalent) in a STEM subject, or
  • A level Chemistry at Grade C or above (or equivalent).

How much time do I need?

  • Most of our students study part time, completing 60 credits a year.
  • This will usually mean studying for 16–18 hours a week.
In this section:
How much will it cost?
Ways to pay for your qualification and other support

How much will it cost in England?

We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to achieving your potential. That’s why we work hard to keep the cost of study as low as possible and have a wide range of flexible ways to pay to help spread, or even reduce, the cost.

  • Fees are paid on a module-by-module basis – you won't have to pay for the whole of your qualification up front.
  • A qualification comprises a series of modules, each with an individual fee. Added together, they give you the total cost.
  • If, like most OU students, you study part time at a rate of 60 credits a year, you'll take six years to complete an honours degree.
  • Our current fee for 60 credits is £3,096*.
  • Our current fee for 120 credits – which is equivalent to a year's full-time study – is £6,192*.
  • At current prices, the total cost of your qualification would be £4,644*.
    • .

*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2021. Fees normally increase annually in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees.

Residential schools

This qualification includes one or more compulsory residential/laboratory schools. There may be an additional charge to cover costs such as tuition, accommodation and meals (see module description for more information). You must also pay for your travel to and from the venue. If you’re in receipt of benefits or have a household income of £25,000 or less, you could be eligible for a bursary to cover the cost of tuition, accommodation and meals.

This qualification may also include other science modules that include or are associated with an optional residential/laboratory school. For each school you choose to attend, you must pay an additional charge to cover costs such as tuition, accommodation and meals (see individual module descriptions for more information). You must also pay for your travel to and from the venue.


Skills for career development

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice – including online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point (note that some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree):

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point (note that some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree):

  • science teacher
  • science technical writer
  • analytical scientist
  • forensic scientist
  • nanotechnologist
  • food technologist
  • pharmaceutical development scientist
  • science communicator
  • environmental consultant
  • patent attorney.

Career relevance

Chemistry graduates are well placed to enter both scientific and non-scientific jobs. The logical, reasoned approach needed for science study is relevant to a wide range of financial, business and public sector employment, so graduates – particularly those who have good communication and interpersonal skills – are in demand.

Growth areas are predicted to be: environment, energy and sustainability; biotechnology and biomedical engineering; healthcare; telecommunications; pharmaceuticals; bioinformatics; and technology transfer (transfer of scientific expertise to commercial products).

Employers include central and local government, the NHS, the water industry, food and drink companies, media and communications, the horticultural industry, multinational oil companies, the pharmaceutical industry, conservation bodies and universities – in roles such as:

  • research and investigation
  • product design and development
  • analysis and diagnostics
  • science information management
  • science communication
  • scientific sales
  • exploration and extraction of natural resources
  • health and healthcare related professions
  • waste management, recycling and sustainability
  • environmental management, protection and conservation
  • teaching (science is a shortage subject at secondary school level, so there may be incentives to train as a chemistry teacher).

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice – including online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point (note that some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree):

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point (note that some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree):

  • science teacher
  • science technical writer
  • analytical scientist
  • forensic scientist
  • nanotechnologist
  • food technologist
  • pharmaceutical development scientist
  • science communicator
  • environmental consultant
  • patent attorney.

Register

It is not possible to register for this qualification at the moment. We expect to open for registrations on 18 March.

Download a prospectus

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