Chemistry - Bachelor of Science

Chemistry is the science of substances and substance transformations. The chemistry degree program offers a very good balance between theory and laboratory practice, as you will also receive practical laboratory training in addition to the traditional university degree. This means that with your university degree you will be ideally equipped for a wide range of requirements in industry, academia, the public sector and beyond.

Study program documents

Examination dates

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Announcements & Dates

Introductory Course: Bachelor's in Chemistry and Bachelor's in Biochemistry– Winter Semester 2026/27

The program and start date for the voluntary preparatory course for the Bachelor's in Chemistry and Bachelor's in Biochemistry in the 2026/27 winter semester are now available.

Bachelor's in Chemistry – In Brief:

Over the course of six semesters, the Bachelor’s program in Chemistry imparts broad scientific knowledge and key scientific competencies, encompassing both the analysis of complex questions and the independent or team-oriented resolution of practical problems.

Standard duration of study: 6 semesters. Studies always begin in the winter semester.

Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), professionally qualifying

Structure: Imparting broad scientific expertise and key scientific competencies.

Perspectives:

Master's Program in Chemistry at the University of Cologne
Master's in Related Fields
Entry into Various Professional Fields

Module and Course Overview by Semester

Modular Structure: Combining Theory and Practice

Modules typically consist of:

Lectures
Practice
Exercises and Seminars

Credit points (CP) are awarded for successfully completed modules.

A total of 180 CPs credits must be earned for the Bachelor's degree.

A sample study plan outlines the recommended sequence of studies within the standard period of study:

Sample Study Plan for Semesters 1–6

1st Semester
General Chemistry (12 CP)
Toxicology (4 CP)
Mathematics (9 CP)

2nd Semester
Inorganic Chemistry (12 CP)
Physical Chemistry I (9 CP)
Physics (9 CP)

3rd Semester
Organic Chemistry I (6 CP)
Physical Chemistry II (6 CP)
Introductory Physical Chemistry Lab (9 CP)
Biochemistry (9 CP)

4th Semester
Organic Chemistry II (12 CP)
Theoretical Chemistry (6 CP)
Analytics & Spectroscopy I (6 CP)
Good Scientific Practice (2 CP)

5th semester
Analytics & Spectroscopy II (6 CP)
Synthesis (12 CP)
Compulsory elective module I (12 CP)

6th Semester
Compulsory Elective Module II (12 CP)
Bachelor's Thesis & Colloquium (15 CP)

Studium Integrale (12 CP) (temporal and subject-specific distribution depends on individual choice)

Fundamentals and Practical Training (Semesters 1–4):

During the first four semesters, the fundamentals of the core subfields of chemistry are taught (including General and Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Theoretical Chemistry).

A central component of the program is practical work in the chemical laboratory, where students acquire—and independently apply—essential working techniques and methods in preparative chemistry as well as instrumental analysis.

Additionally, the fundamentals of toxicology, mathematics, and physics are taught to establish a broad foundation in the natural sciences.

Elective Modules and Specialization (5th–6th Semester):

During the final two semesters, specialization takes place through compulsory elective modules. Currently (as of November 2023), the following modules are offered:

Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Biochemistry
Theoretical Chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry
Technical Chemistry (in cooperation with TH Köln)
Macromolecular Chemistry
Nanochemistry

The degree program concludes with a Bachelor's thesis - a first independent piece of academic research.

The Tutorials

The Chemistry Student Council supports students through a tutorial program whose content is aligned with the core courses of the degree program. The aim is to facilitate the entry into the field of chemistry and to assist students in understanding the lectures.

General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry I and II
Physical Chemistry II
Physics
Biochemistry for Chemists / Bio IIIA
Biochemistry III

Further information, as well as the respective ILIAS links for the tutorials, can be found on the Chemistry Student Council's website.

Important instructions

Start of Studies: At the University of Cologne, the Bachelor's program in Chemistry can only be commenced in the winter semester (starting in early October). It is a full-time degree program.
Language: All modules are taught in German.
Admission: As of November 2023, this degree program is currently open for direct admission (no admission restrictions). Applications are submitted online via the University's application portals. The application portal for the winter semester typically opens in early June. Please take note of the application deadline (e.g., in 2023, the deadline was July 31, 2023).
Preparatory Course: A voluntary preparatory course is offered approximately 2 to 4 weeks prior to the start of the semester; details regarding this course are announced in good time on the Department of Chemistry's website.
Online Self-Assessment (OSA): To determine whether your personal interests, expectations, and skills align with the requirements and content of the Bachelor's program in Chemistry, you may complete an Online Self-Assessment (OSA). Completing this OSA is highly recommended.

Integral studies

The Studium Integrale (SI) is an interdisciplinary component of the degree program. It can have both an academic scientific orientation and a professional orientation that serves to develop professional skills. The Studium Integrale is designed to promote skills such as scientific curiosity, systematic and analytical thinking, dealing with complexity, solution orientation and other skills, for example the ability to work in a team and foreign language skills.

In the Studium Integrale, you acquire a total of 12 credit points.

Important: A module with at least 2 CPs must be completed with an examination. The SI module is not graded and has no attempt restrictions!
Further information on Studium Integrale can be found in the module handbook.

You can take the SI courses directly in Klips 2.