Background

The Chemistry Department is one the largest departments in the Faculty of Science. Chemistry – a central discipline of science – deals with the world around us from a chemical, biological and physical point of view, playing a vital part in our understanding of the structure and interactions of matter in the universe. Therefore it impacts on fields as diverse as geology, environmental studies, medicine, new materials, and biology.  

UCT has one of the best Chemistry departments in Africa. 16 academics and 31support staff interact with over 1377 undergraduate and 108 postgraduate students. The learning environment is relaxed, with supervisors and lecturers operating an "open door" policy. Regular seminars and informal get-togethers of students and staff help promote a friendly working atmosphere. The department is well-equipped to carry out state-of-the-art research with various facilities in house. The department aims to foster the critical, analytical and presentation skills required for professional scientist. Interdisciplinary research is encouraged.

The vision of the Department of Chemistry is to establish itself as world-class in terms of the quality of the graduates it produces, quality and significance of its teaching, quality of its research and the scholarship of its staff. The Department of Chemistry provides a high level, quality learning experience for all of its students, from undergraduate to postgraduate, in both the theoretical and practical aspects of Chemistry.