University of New Brunswick

What you'll study

This combined degree integrates core topics from both chemistry and physics alongside mathematics and laboratory practice. Early years focus on foundational courses: general chemistry, introductory physics, calculus and statistics, and practical laboratory skills. As you progress you choose advanced and specialised modules from both disciplines and undertake sustained laboratory or research projects.

Typical modules and topics

• Chemistry: inorganic, organic and physical chemistry; analytical methods and instrumental analysis; thermodynamics and kinetics; spectroscopy; materials and polymer chemistry; laboratory techniques and safety.
• Physics: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, waves and optics; quantum mechanics; statistical mechanics and thermodynamics; modern physics topics such as condensed matter and computational physics.
• Mathematics & computation: calculus and differential equations, linear algebra, numerical methods and data analysis; computational modelling and programming relevant to simulations and data processing.
• Capstone & research: final-year research project or honours thesis, advanced laboratory courses, and opportunities for interdisciplinary projects linking chemistry and physics (e.g. materials characterisation, spectroscopy, nanoscience).

The curriculum typically allows electives and breadth courses to broaden skills in areas such as environmental science, engineering fundamentals, or professional communication. Students can often choose a research stream or coursework-focused path depending on career goals.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have completed a secondary school programme with strong preparation in mathematics (calculus or pre-calculus), chemistry and physics. Typical applicants present higher-level or senior-level courses in these subjects and competitive overall academic standing in their final year. Specific provincial or international secondary credentials are accepted; equivalency and minimum average requirements are set by the university and vary by applicant pool and campus.

International applicants must meet UNB's English language proficiency requirements if their prior education was not in English. Mature applicants or those with college diplomas may be considered on the basis of post-secondary coursework. Admission to honours streams or co-op options can be subject to higher academic standards and programme-specific selection.

Career prospects

Graduates of a chemistry/physics combined degree are well placed for a wide range of careers that value quantitative problem-solving and laboratory expertise. Common career directions include:

• Research and development roles in chemical, materials, pharmaceutical and energy industries.
• Analytical chemist, quality control or instrumentation specialist in industrial and environmental laboratories.
• Technical roles in engineering firms, electronics and photonics companies, and materials manufacturing.
• Government and regulatory science positions, environmental monitoring and public health laboratories.
• Data science, technical consultancy and roles requiring strong numerical and modelling skills.
• Further study: many graduates progress to MSc or PhD programmes in chemistry, physics, materials science or to professional programmes such as medicine or patent law (with appropriate additional qualifications).

Why study at University of New Brunswick

UNB offers a research-active environment with accessible faculty and well-equipped teaching and research laboratories across its campuses. The university emphasises small-group instruction in upper-year labs and opportunities for undergraduate research, including summer projects and thesis supervision by faculty members.

Students benefit from co-operative education and internship connections with regional industry, government labs and national research initiatives, helping to translate academic training into workplace experience. UNB also provides academic support services, career counselling and pathways to graduate study, making it a practical choice for students aiming for technical careers or advanced research in chemistry and physics.