The beginnings of Jagiellonian University chemistry can be traced back to 1782, when Jan Jaśkiewicz launched a series of lectures at the just established Collegium Physicum. In the present shape the Faculty of Chemistry came into being in 1981 and it offers two lines of specialisation: chemistry and environment protection (BA, MA and extramural studies).

Other fields of studies include advanced materials and nanotechnology (taught in collaboration with the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science) and interdisciplinary studies in mathematics and biology (taught in collaboration with the Faculties of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science and Biology and Earth Sciences.)

The Faculty also offers PhD studies in chemistry and materials science engineering (the latter in collaboration with the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the JU Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science) as well as postgraduate studies for chemistry teachers.