Chemistry (2024)

Chemistry is concerned with the properties of substances and materials from an atomic and molecular perspective. Most Chemistry papers involve approximately equal time spent in lectures and in laboratory work so that the theoretical and experimental aspects of the topics may be explored together.

Chemistry is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Science (Technology) (BSc(Tech)). Chemistry may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Chemistry as a single major for the BCC, BSc and BSc(Tech), students must gain 135 points including CHEMY101, CHEMY102, CHEMY201, CHEMY202, CHEMY203, CHEMY204, and at least 45 points from CHEMY301, CHEMY302, CHEMY303 and CHEMY304.

To complete Chemistry as part of a double major for the BCC, BSc, BSc(Tech) or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points including CHEMY101, CHEMY102, CHEMY201, CHEMY202, CHEMY203, CHEMY204, and at least 30 points from CHEMY301, CHEMY302, CHEMY303 and CHEMY304.

To complete a minor in Chemistry, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Chemistry major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.

Note: Students who commenced a major in Chemistry in 2017 or prior should contact the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science for programme advice.


On this page


  • Prescriptions for the GradCert(Chem) and GradDip(Chem)

    A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Chemistry at an advanced level in their first degree.

    For further details, contact the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science.

  • Prescriptions for the PGCert(Chem), PGDip(Chem), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc(Res) and MSc(Tech) [1]

    To complete a postgraduate subject in Chemistry, students must complete a minimum of 60 points (for PGDip a minimum of 90 points) of taught papers in the subject at 500 level, including at least 30 points with a CHEMY prefix from papers in List A, and a maximum of 30 points from papers in List B. They must also complete any research requirement for their degree, typically CHEMY592 (60 points), CHEMY593 (90 points) or CHEMY594 (120 points), as well as any other degree requirements. Candidates should select their papers in consultation with the Postgraduate Convenor, and enrolment in BSc(Hons) is only by invitation of the Postgraduate Convenor.

    List A papers are: CHEMY501, CHEMY502, CHEMY503, CHEMY511 and CHEMY512.

    List B papers are: BIOMO501, SCIEN511, SCIEN512 and SCIEN589.

    [1] The MSc(Tech) will not be offered in 2024.

  • Prescriptions for the MPhil

    The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

  • Prescriptions for the PhD

    The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

  • 100 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    CHEMY100Chemistry in Context - Matū o te Ao15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper covers a broad range of chemical concepts that are fundamental to the sciences and engineering. A strong emphasis is made to teach concepts through real-life examples from the world around us. He toro na tenei pepa i nga tumomo tuapapa o te matai matu kei te tuapapa o nga horopaki putaiao, pukaha hoki He kaha hangai te ...
    CHEMY101Structure and Spectroscopy - Tūramaramatia i ngā Hanganga15.024A (Hamilton) & 24C (Hamilton)
    A theoretical and practical course covering aspects of analytical and inorganic chemistry. This course is required for the chemistry major. He pepa tirotiro i nga tuahua o te wetewete i te matauranga matuwaro me tona kore paraumu, he pepa matua o roto o te tohu matuora.
    CHEMY102Chemical Reactivity - Tauhohehohe Matū15.024B (Hamilton)
    A theoretical and practical course covering aspects of physical and organic chemistry. This course is required for the chemistry major. He pepa a-aria, a-mahinga hoki hei tirotiro i nga tuahuaranga o te matuora a-kikokiko, a-paraumu hoki He pepa matua o roto o te tohu matuora.
  • 200 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    CHEMY201Organic Chemistry15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper covers aspects of organic chemistry including reaction mechanisms with carbanion and radical intermediates; mechanisms of reactions of carbonyl groups and multiple electrophilic substitutions of aromatic rings, also an introduction to carbohydrate chemistry is provided.
    CHEMY202Physical Chemistry15.024B (Hamilton)
    This course covers aspects of physical chemistry including thermodynamics and phase equilibria; chemical kinetics; conductance and electrochemistry.
    CHEMY203Inorganic Chemistry15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper covers aspects of inorganic chemistry including structure and reactivity of the main-group elements; point-group symmetry; molecular orbital, crystal field theories; transition metal coordination complexes.
    CHEMY204Analytical Chemistry15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper covers aspects of analytical chemistry including characterisation using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
    ENVSC202Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper is a broad introduction into environmental chemistry and geochemistry including the formation of the elements, chemical evolution of Earth, modern Earth surface processes, fossil fuels and biomarkers, global biogeochemical cycling, atmospheric chemistry and global climate change.
  • 300 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    CHEMY301Advanced Organic Chemistry15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper covers advanced aspects of organic chemistry including pericyclic reactions, natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis including retrosynthetic analysis.
    CHEMY302Advanced Physical Chemistry15.024A (Hamilton)
    This course covers advanced aspects of physical chemistry including quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, statistical thermodynamics, and their applications.
    CHEMY303Advanced Inorganic Chemistry15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper covers advanced aspects of inorganic chemistry including heavy transition elements; f-elements; organometallic chemistry of main group and transition metals; bioinorganic chemistry; solid state chemistry.
    CHEMY304Advanced Analytical Chemistry15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper covers advanced aspects of analytical chemistry including mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Mossbauer and Raman spectroscopy, quality control and assurance, sampling techniques and method validation.
  • 500 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    BIOMO501Biomolecular Structure and Cellular Pathways15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper is an in-depth examination of biomolecular structure, function, and molecular metabolism using selected examples from the biochemistry literature.
    CHEMY501Green Chemistry15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper covers concepts and practical applications in the important field of green chemistry.
    CHEMY502Materials Chemistry15.024A (Hamilton)
    This 15 point seminar style paper covers advanced topics in the area of inorganic materials chemistry, namely 1 and 2 dimensional solids and inorganic biomedical materials.
    CHEMY503Analytical Methodology15.024A (Hamilton)
    An advanced study of analytical methodology and instrumental techniques, this will investigate sample extraction techniques, and instrument choice for a variety of sample matrices.
    CHEMY511Organic Characterisation Techniques15.024A (Hamilton)
    Using a combination of lectures viewed online and instrumental work, students master the skills required to acquire NMR and mass spectra and interpret these to identify an unknown compound. Students should have received basic instruction in carbon and proton NMR before considering enrolling in this course.
    CHEMY512Chemical X-Ray Crystallography15.024B (Hamilton)
    Single crystal X-ray crystallography and electrospray mass spectrometry.
    CHEMY592Dissertation60.024X (Hamilton)
    A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
    CHEMY593Chemistry Thesis90.024X (Hamilton)
    An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
    CHEMY594Chemistry Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
    An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
    SCIEN512Data Analysis and Experimental Design15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper covers aspects of research design for experiments, and methods for analysis of scientific data using modern statistical techniques.
    SCIEN589Directed Study15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24C (Hamilton) & 24C (Tauranga)
    No description available.
  • 800 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    CHEMY800Chemistry MPhil Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
    No description available.
  • 900 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    CHEMY900Chemistry PhD Thesis120.024I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton), 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
    No description available.

2024 Catalogue of Papers information current as of : 22 March 2024 8:11pm

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