Welcome to the School of Chemistry

The School of Chemistry is a leading centre for both teaching and research excellence in chemistry in Australia.
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UNSW chemistry students

Most employable students

UNSW Sydney

#1 in Australia for employment outcomes QS World University Rankings, 2027 and #1 in the AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards.

Australia’s #1 Chemistry School and #38 Worldwide

QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026

#1 in Australia, top 20 globally

UNSW Sydney

QS World University Rankings, 2027

Latest news

Could wastewater algae become a new material for manufacturing?

A UNSW project with Sydney Water and Pacific Bio is exploring whether algae that has already helped clean wastewater can be put to work again, this time giving discarded textiles a new life.

Oct 02, 2026
Science Division of Equity Diversity & Inclusion School of Chemistry SDG SDG9 SDG12 SDG17 Science & Tech General Research Sustainability

Study areas

Students working on experiments in the Chemical Science building UNSW.

Chemistry

Study the world from the ground up with chemistry – from the sub-atomic, atomic and molecular to the spectacular. Whether you're looking to dive deep into quantum chemistry or have a passion for synthesising new products, the opportunities in chemistry are vast.
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A female student working in a chemistry lab

Medicinal chemistry

Medicinal chemistry involves the development of new pharmaceutical agents, from concept to clinic. It's an exciting, rapidly-expanding area within the broad discipline of chemistry that has seen enormous growth recently both within Australia and globally.
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Research & impact

A science lab

Our research

The School of Chemistry at UNSW is recognised nationally and internationally, for producing world-class fundamental and applied research in the field of chemical sciences to address real-world challenges.
End of year 2021 Group Picnic

Research groups

Find out why our chemistry research groups are renowned locally and internationally for their research. Learn more about our research groups.
Close up of test sample under microscope

Research centres

Our research centres are internationally recognised for their multidisciplinary approach that brings together expertise from a range of fields. We're committed to solving some of the biggest, most challenging problems facing the world.

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