University of Adelaide

What you'll study

This programme is delivered within the School of Chemistry and builds a broad scientific foundation in the first year before progressing to specialised nuclear and radiochemical topics. Typical study areas include general and physical chemistry, inorganic and organic chemistry, laboratory skills and data analysis, plus physics modules covering atomic and nuclear structure.

Specialist nuclear chemistry content includes radiochemistry and radioisotope production, radiation detection and measurement, radiochemical separation techniques, radiation protection and dosimetry, and the chemistry of nuclear fuel and waste. Students also study analytical techniques (mass spectrometry, gamma spectrometry, liquid scintillation counting), environmental radioactivity and the behaviour of radionuclides in biological and geological systems.

Practical laboratory work and instrument training form a significant component of the degree, and most students complete a research project or capstone laboratory-based project in their final year, supervised by academic researchers. Elective options allow interdisciplinary study in areas such as medical imaging and nuclear medicine, materials chemistry, environmental science or physics.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to meet the University of Adelaide's general admissions criteria for undergraduate science degrees. Recommended senior secondary prerequisites typically include chemistry and a mathematics subject (such as mathematical methods or calculus); physics is highly recommended but not always mandatory. Equivalent qualifications and recognised bridging or pathway programs are accepted for mature-age or alternative-entry applicants.

International applicants must meet English language requirements and provide evidence of comparable secondary qualifications. Selection may consider academic performance, subject background and, where applicable, supplementary information such as personal statements or interviews for specialised pathways.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles in sectors that require an understanding of radioactive materials and their safe handling. Common career destinations include:

• Radiopharmaceutical production and development for diagnostic imaging and therapy
• Nuclear medicine and medical physics support roles in hospitals and clinics
• Environmental monitoring and radiological assessment for government and private laboratories
• Regulatory and radiation protection positions with government agencies and industry
• Uranium exploration, mining support and nuclear fuel cycle laboratories
• Analytical and instrumentation roles in instrumentation companies and contract testing laboratories
• Research and development or further study (Honours and postgraduate research leading to careers in academia or specialist laboratories)

Many graduates combine their degree with further professional training or postgraduate study to enter highly specialised roles such as nuclear medicine scientist, radiochemist or medical physicist.

Why study at University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is a research-intensive institution with a long-established chemistry school, offering strong laboratory training and access to modern analytical instrumentation. Students benefit from small-group practical classes, opportunities to undertake supervisor-led research projects, and exposure to interdisciplinary science across chemistry, physics and environmental studies.

The university maintains links with industry, clinical laboratories and national research organisations, providing pathways to internships, work-integrated learning and postgraduate research. Graduates leave with the technical skills, safety training and scientific reasoning needed for careers in nuclear-related fields or to continue to honours and higher degree research.