Undergraduate study

Chemistry at Oxford is a four-year, integrated Masters course leading to an MChem (with honours). The course provides a high-level education in the subject, with sufficient flexibility to enable students to specialise in the areas of greatest interest to them and also to venture into overlapping scientific disciplines.

For the first three years of the course, students are taught through practical work, lectures, and small group classes and tutorials. The fourth year consists entirely of research, with students working on a project in one of the department’s research groups – these cover a wide range of research themes, including both pure and applied Chemistry.

Course structure

1st year

The first year of the course covers the traditional areas of Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry, together with Mathematics for Chemistry. These are broadly based, and include topics such as Biological Chemistry and Physics, which are presented in a chemical context.

Students are taught through practical work, lectures and small group classes and tutorials.

Students must pass the Preliminary Examination in all four subjects at the end of the first year. The level of the examinations is set so that with reasonable commitment the vast majority of students pass, and there is a resit opportunity in September.

2nd year

During the second year of the course, students build up their understanding of the subject and cover most of the core material in the degree. Examples of some of the topics included are: Theoretical chemistry, Biological chemistry, Molecular spectroscopy, and Synthetic chemistry.

Students are taught through practical work, lectures and small group classes and tutorials.

Students take the Part IA Examination at the end of the second year, which comprises three papers – one each in Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry – covering the material from the first and second years and counting 15% towards the overall degree classification.

3rd year

The third year begins by completing the core material, followed by a range of Options courses. Approximately fifteen different Options topics are offered each year, some of which relate to research interests in the department.

Students are taught through practical work, lectures and small group classes and tutorials.

Students take the Part IB Examination at the end of the third year, which comprises seven papers in total – six synoptic general papers and one paper on the Options topics, in which students are asked to answer questions on three topics of their choice. These examinations count 50% towards the overall degree classification.

4th year

The fourth year is spent exclusively on research, providing students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a significant project in one of the world’s premier research departments. A wide range of research themes are available, and there are also opportunities to work in related sciences in other departments. Students are supervised by a member of academic staff and have full access to the research facilities of their host laboratory. The year’s work results in the Part II thesis, the assessment of which counts 25% towards the overall degree classification.

Students generally enjoy the fourth year greatly, and it is very rare for a student to exercise the option of leaving after three years with an unclassified BA honours degree.

Practical course

The practical course spans the first three years of the degree, and aims to train students to solve problems practically, accurately, safely and efficiently so that by the end of the course they are ready to work as a professional chemist in a research laboratory.

Practical chemistry is taught in the purpose-built Chemistry Teaching Laboratory, which opened in 2018. The practical course teaches the essential experimental skills, form the synthesis and characterisation of compounds to the operation of spectrometers and other instruments for physiochemical and analytical measurements. Computer applications and chemistry software packages, such as structure drawing, molecular modelling and computer coding, are also covered in the practical course. It also makes tangible much of the material covered in the lectures, classes and tutorials.

Students must pass the first year of the practical course as part of the Preliminary Examination, in order to progress to the second year of the degree. The second and third years of the practical course count 10% towards the final degree classification.

We are currently reviewing the structure and content of the MChem course, therefore there may be some changes in future years. Any significant changes that are introduced will be described on this page, before the relevant application deadline.

Admissions

This page covers key admissions details specific to Chemistry. The University Undergraduate Admissions website contains a large amount of information and advice on the Oxford Admissions process, including a timeline for the current cycle.

Overview

UCAS code F100

Entrance requirements A*A*A (with both A*s in science subjects and/or Maths)

Subject requirements Chemistry and Maths (another science or Further Maths is recommended but not essential)

Admissions test(s) None

Written work None

Criteria

Academic ability

Reasoning ability; aptitude for analysing and solving problems using logical and critical approaches
Mathematical ability
Capacity to absorb new ideas and to apply familiar ideas to unfamiliar situations
Spirit of enquiry: desire to understand the reasons for observations; enthusiasm and curiosity in science
An understanding of the chemical concepts covered in courses taken so far

Interest in Chemistry

Including an appreciation of some aspects of it outside the confines of the A level syllabus (or equivalent)

Motivation and perseverance

An enthusiasm for chemistry and the motivation to pursue an academically demanding four-year course

Independent working and communication

Ability to work independently; willingness and ability to express ideas clearly and effectively orally, in writing and numerically; ability to listen

Educational achievement

GCE: Good grades at GCSE are expected, especially in science and mathematics. Three A-levels are required, which must include Chemistry and Mathematics. The standard conditional offer at present is A*A*A. Both A* should be in science subjects and/or Maths. If a practical component forms part of any of your science A-levels, we expect you to pass it.
SCE: Five Highers plus Advanced Highers (or CSYS) are required. These must include Chemistry. The typical offer at Advanced Higher is AAB or AA.
International Baccalaureate: 40 (including core points). For applicants offering HL Mathematics: 766 at HL with 7 in HL Chemistry and 6 in HL Mathematics. For applicants offering SL Mathematics: 776 at HL with 7 in both HL Chemistry and a second HL science subject, and 7 in SL Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches.

Applications are welcomed from those studying for qualifications other than those listed above. The standard minimum entrance requirements do not specify that A-levels, Advanced Highers, IB HL subjects, or equivalents should all have been obtained in the same examination period. However, based on our consideration of all relevant information available to us, such a requirement may form part of a conditional offer for an individual candidate.

The selectors will assess each candidate against the above criteria on the basis of the following information, taking into account the educational background of students and the level of their existing knowledge and experience:

UCAS application, including references and personal statement
Examination results
Interview
Deferred Entry

Applications for deferred entry are welcome, and candidates so applying will not be made conditional offers more demanding than candidates for immediate entry. While successful applicants commonly need academic records that are somewhat more distinguished than candidates at the borderline for selection, there has in practice been no significant difference between their success rate and that of candidates not seeking a deferred place.

Candidates (or their referees) will also have the opportunity to present any mitigating circumstances that may have adversely affected their attainment so far.

Shortlisting

Shortlisting for interviews takes place in order to provide time, during the interview window, to guarantee that all shortlisted applicants receive at least two interviews. Shortlisting is done by College tutors and the Chemistry Admissions Coordinators, in accordance with the stated admissions criteria and based on all available and relevant data.

All Colleges are given an opportunity to review the proposed list of all applicants not to be shortlisted and to request to interview applicants rejected by other Colleges.

After shortlisting is completed, some candidates may be reallocated by the Admissions Coordinator to a different College from the one to which they applied. The purpose of reallocation is to even out the competition for places across Colleges.

Interviews

All shortlisted applicants will have at least two interviews at their first-assigned College, and may also be interviewed by their second-assigned College or other Colleges.

The Interviews section of the University’s Guide for undergraduate applicants includes lots of advice on what to expect and how to prepare for Oxford interviews.

The University and its Colleges seek to admit students of high academic merit and potential. All colleges select students for admission without regard to marital status, race, ethnic origins, colour, religion or social background. Decisions on admission are based solely on the individual merits of the candidate and the application of selection criteria appropriate to the course of study.

Entry is competitive and the attainment of minimum standards is no guarantee of a place.

Report for applicants on the 2023-24 admissions round

Report for applicants on the 2023-24 admissions round

Report for applicants on the 2023-24 admissions round:

  

https://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/summary-of-admissions-process-for-chemistry-information-for-applicants-2023-24.pdf

Open days

The 2024 University Open Days will take place on 26th & 27th June and 20th September. The Chemistry Department will be open on all three of these dates, for tours and talks with current students and tutors.

Due to building work, the Chemistry Teaching Laboratory will be closed throughout summer 2024 and therefore we will be unable to show visitors around the labs on the Open Days this year. We will still be running tours of the rest of the department, and you can watch our video tour of the teaching labs here: Chemistry Teaching Laboratory - Video Tour. 

Tours and meet tutors and students throughout the day
Where: Chemistry Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA - access from either South Parks Road or Mansfield Road
When: 10:00 – 16:00

Admissions talk and Q&A with tutors and students
Where: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Lecture Theatre, South Parks Road, OX1 3QR
When: 11:00 – 11:45 and 15:00 – 15:45

Astrophoria Foundation Year - Chemistry course
Visitors interested in the Astrophoria Foundation Year (AFY) Chemistry course are welcome to attend all of our Open Day events. 

A live stream of the admissions talk and Q&A sessions will be available via a link on this page for those not able to attend in Oxford.

A recording of the June 2024 admissions talk is available here:

https://ox.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=6004dfdb-da8d-4137-b702-b19b0100daf4&start=0

What do our students say?

We asked our students to answer some common questions about the course. Here’s what they had to say:

Why Chemistry at Oxford?

Why Study Chemistry?

Planning your future career direction, you might well be concerned with some of the following questions. What is the point of training as a chemist in the 21st century? What are the prospects of fulfilling work after taking a Chemistry degree? How can I make a difference?

Chemistry furnishes much of the material base of modern civilisation, and chemists are a constant source of innovation for its further benefit. It is hard to imagine any product introduced in recent times that did not require the creative efforts of a chemist at some stage in its development. From the formulation of petrol, through the materials and colouring of your clothes, to antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals, chemists have played a key role in shaping our modern world. The 20th century saw several industrial revolutions resulting from new materials created by chemists, for example plastics, the liquid crystal display on your computer, the etching process that made microchip technology possible, and many developments in medicine, antibiotics, DNA technology. The list is endless and we can expect many more civilisation changing discoveries in this century: molecular machines, molecular opto-electronics, new magnetic and superconducting materials, smart materials, molecular medicine, fuel cells, the hydrogen economy: many of these are the subjects of active research in the Department and this is just what we have already imagined. Most really novel discoveries are made in University research labs where researchers have the freedom to follow their curiosity, and of course some are completely unexpected.

Not all chemical technology has been an unqualified success, of course. The commercial exploitation of some discoveries in Chemistry, poor containment and industrial accidents have had disturbing effects on the environment. Again, chemists play a key role in identifying and analyzing the problem and in proposing solutions, whether this be environmental impact assessment, cleaning up, new ecologically sustainable procedures or, as in the case of CFC’s, a complete ban.

Research chemists perform many roles: some provide and evaluate new compounds and materials; some devise new and cleaner methods of synthesis and manufacture; some develop new investigative techniques and instrumentation; some participate in the design and marketing of new products; some are involved in analysis, forensic science, quality control and environmental protection; some build and operate models of large and complex systems, such as the atmosphere. None of this is possible without a strong university education in Chemistry.

Because of the great economic importance of Chemistry chemists have important roles high up in the decision-making processes, both in the UK and abroad: on the boards of chemical companies (they need to understand their processes and products); in parliament and the civil service; in the law (particularly patent law). One of our graduates became Prime Minister, and several of our staff are or have been government science advisers.

Moreover, there is a clear need for dedicated and qualified Chemistry teachers (currently in very short supply) at all levels. Society cannot manage without chemists.

Chemistry occupies a central position among the sciences. It has important interfaces with mathematics and physics, with engineering, and with biology and medicine. The study of Chemistry, with its uniquely wide span within the scientific spectrum, is an excellent way to develop your intellect. You acquire not only a powerful battery of analytical skills for problem solving, but also the ability to analyse critically and to ask the pertinent questions. These skills are transferable to almost any context, and are highly valued in the world of commerce and finance.

Why Oxford?

No other university can match the simultaneous breadth and depth of the Oxford Chemistry experience. Oxford seeks to provide an excellent general education in Chemistry, which is both invaluable as an intellectual experience and also equips students for a successful career in their chosen field.

There are three distinctive features that make Oxford Chemistry unique:

The tutorial system

Students are set work by their college tutors every week, which is followed by a small-group tutorial (usually two or three students + the tutor) to discuss it. This regular, high-intensity and close contact with teaching staff means that teaching is tailored to the individual student, and that students have an unrivalled opportunity to stretch their intellect to its limit. The quality of attention students enjoy at Oxford is unrivalled, in both academic and pastoral respects.

The non-modular nature of the course

The course is not sub-divided into modules, and nor are the examinations. The subject is treated as a whole and examinations are synoptic, covering all aspects of the course covered so far. This means that students get a very deep understanding of how the subject fits together rather than a set of seemingly disconnected modules.

The fourth year research project

Students become active members of their chosen research group, and have the opportunity to make a real contribution to chemical research. Much of the research carried out is published in scientific journals, and a high proportion of students decide on a research career as a result of the enthusiasm and commitment they acquire during the Part II year. There is nothing like the buzz of being the first person to do, make, or understand something entirely new.

This year of the course also allows students time to reflect and plan the first stages of their career without the distraction of impending examinations. It helps students to make an informed decision as to whether to continue in research by proceeding to post-graduate study. Students may learn that a career in industrial research would suit them better, or perhaps that, much as they enjoy Chemistry, their talents lie elsewhere from research.

The experience, extra maturity and enhanced self-confidence acquired during the Part II year are highly valued by many employers, both in the chemical industry and elsewhere. The major lessons and transferable skills learned have universal application, and make Oxford Chemistry graduates very attractive to employers in all areas.

Graduate destinations

Chemistry is the basis of the most economically important industries in the UK, and these companies require a supply of high-quality graduate chemists. Almost all of our graduates gain immediate employment or continue to postgraduate study.

Chemistry provides an excellent opportunity for the development of your critical faculties and intellect, and also instils important transferable skills that will serve you well, whatever your subsequent choice of career. While about 55% of our Chemistry graduates go on to do research or further study, others enter professions such as scientific journalism, consultancy, patent law and teaching.

Long term, more than half our graduates remain in posts related to chemistry in some way. The University Careers Service provides a wide range of support for students whilst on course, and also after graduating. The Royal Society of Chemistry provides further information about careers using chemistry.

Frequently asked questions

The course

How is teaching split between the Department and the Colleges?

Lectures, practical work, maths and physics classes, and Part II supervision are all provided by the Department. Tutorial teaching is organised in Colleges.

How much choice is there in the course?

In the first two years of the course the lectures cover entirely core material, and so all students follow the same scheme of lectures. There is a small amount of choice in the practical course, once the key skills have been learned. The third year continues coverage of core material in lectures but also offers a choice of more specialised Options which cover a wide range of topics, some relating to research interests in the Department.

Practical work in the third year offers students more choice as well, with opportunities to tackle longer experiments (over several days), combining skills that have been covered in the earlier years of the course.

The fourth year is spent entirely on a research project, working with a supervisor chosen by the students. There is plenty of scope for students to choose their area of research and drive the direction of their project, within the limitations of the resources available. Students also have the option to choose to undertake their Part II year in a related field outside of the Department of Chemistry – these options vary from year to year.

How is the course assessed?

University exams are sat at the end of each academic year (1-3). There are no written exams in the fourth year, instead a thesis is submitted for assessment.

1st Year: Preliminary Examination in Chemistry (usually referred to as “Prelims”)

Four papers, one in each of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Mathematics for Chemistry. Students must pass in order to progress to the second year of the course. The level of examinations is set so that with reasonable commitment the vast majority of students do pass. For the few who fail there is an opportunity to resit in September. Marks in these exams do not count towards the degree classification.

2nd Year: Honour School of Chemistry Part IA

Three papers, one in each of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry. Overall these exams count 15% towards the MChem degree.

3rd Year: Honour School of Chemistry Part IB

Seven papers, two in each of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, and one Options paper. Overall these exams count 50% towards the MChem degree.

4th Year: Honour School of Chemistry Part II

Thesis submitted for assessment. This counts 25% towards the MChem degree.

Practicals

In the first year the practical marks do not count towards the degree classification, but students are required to complete the course to a satisfactory standard in order to progress to the second year. Practical work in the second and third years is combined to make up 10% of the MChem degree.

What is the difference between Oxford and Cambridge, for Chemistry?

Both are excellent universities for teaching and research, and they are often found at (or near) the top of UK university league tables. Both employ tutorial-style teaching. The main difference, from a chemistry perspective, is that Oxford offers a Chemistry degree course, while Cambridge offers a Natural Sciences degree course where students specialise in Chemistry later in the course. The Oxford course contains more chemistry in terms of breadth and depth, and is designed for students who know they want to study this subject at University. Cambridge gives you a chance to try out a broad choice of science at the start and to home in on what you want to do later in the degree.

The Part II year

What is the Part II year?

The Part II year is the fourth year of the course. It is entirely devoted to a research project, with no additional teaching or examinations. Students benefit from being active members of their chosen research group and have the opportunity to make a real contribution to chemical research. This is when many students make up their minds to pursue a career in research.

What sort of research projects are available?

Have a look at our research website to find out about the research going on in the Department of Chemistry. The majority of supervisors in the Department will take Part II students in their group, although there are slight variations each year. Students also have the option to choose a project in a related field outside of the Department of Chemistry. Details of these options vary from year to year but in the past they have included: Biochemistry, Geography, History of Science, Materials, Medicine, Physiology and Plant Sciences.

Are there any opportunities for working in industry?

The Oxford MChem course does not have a formal “year in industry” option. Depending on the supervisor and project, there may be an opportunity for an industry collaboration in the Part II year. Students should discuss this with supervisors when making their choices in the third year. This kind of project is usually undertaken by one or two students each year.

Are there any opportunities to study abroad?

The Oxford MChem course does not have a formal “study abroad” option. Depending on the supervisor and project, there may be an opportunity for some or all of the Part II year to be undertaken abroad at an institution with whom the Oxford supervisor is collaborating on some of their work. There is currently also an arrangement for 4-5 students each year to complete their Part II at Berkeley (University of California).

Colleges

Which colleges offer Chemistry?

Have a look here.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/which-oxford-colleges-offer-my-course?wssl=1

What are tutorials?

Tutorials are the College teaching system. A tutor (usually a fellow of the College) teaches undergraduates in very small groups (usually 2 or 3 students). Students attend, on average, one or two tutorials every week of approximately 90 minutes in length and must undertake a considerable number of hours of preparatory work for each tutorial, including background reading, essay-writing and problem-solving. Tutorials are a great opportunity for students to ask questions, work through problems with the tutor’s guidance, address specific areas of the work that they have found more difficult or delve deeper into topics of particular interest.

What are collections?

Collections are tests set by College tutors, usually at the beginning of each Term (starting from Hilary Term of the first year). They are usually made up of past examination questions or related problems, and allow students and their tutors to assess progress. They also provide an opportunity to practise attempting problems in an exam-style setting. Collections do not count towards the degree classification, but they are an important part of the tutorial teaching system.

Admissions

Is there an admissions test for Chemistry at Oxford?

For the October 2022 application deadline there is no admissions test for Chemistry at Oxford.

What are you looking for in an application?

Our admissions criteria explains in detail what we are looking for. In short, we are looking for students who are interested in chemistry and have the potential to do very well on our course.

Does it matter if I haven’t done A-level Further Maths / Physics / Biology?

Our admissions criteria do not require students to study Further Maths, Physics, or Biology at A-level (or equivalent). The first year of the MChem assumes that students have only studied Chemistry and Maths to A-level. Given that the MChem does include some maths, physics and biology beyond A-level, taking a third science A-level may strengthen your application; for example, it may indicate that you are more interested in (and suited to) the course than a candidate who does not offer a third science. However we do make offers every year to candidates who are not taking a third science.

Does it matter whether or not I do a fourth A-level?

We will only make an offer on three A-levels; we appreciate that many schools are not able to offer a fourth A-level. However, we are interested in your ability to manage the academic demands of a challenging degree course, and there are instances where offering a fourth A-level can be argued to be an indicator of this ability. Typically just under half our A-level students have four or more A-levels and just over half have three.

Note that it is more important to achieve the three grades in the offer than to jeopardise your grades by over-extending yourself.

Will I get an offer if my predicted grades are below the standard offer?

When we assess your application, we only have limited real data to help. Your predicted grades are an important indicator in the assessment. We do not normally shortlist candidates who are not predicted to achieve the standard offer, but every year we do shortlist a few, as we are looking at your academic potential, which may be on an upward trajectory.

Can you suggest further reading?

We don’t have a recommended reading list, but we’d suggest reading A-level texts from other syllabuses and/or anything that particularly interests you in Chemistry or in other related subjects. Read what you enjoy reading!

How important is relevant work experience for selection?

We are aware of the difficulties of finding relevant work experience, and the nature of your work experience will have no impact on your application to the Chemistry course.

What should I write in my personal statement?

Make it personal! The personal statement is your opportunity to explain your own enthusiasm for the subject, why you want to spend the next 4 years studying it in great detail, and how your enthusiasm has already led you to find out about aspects of chemistry beyond the A-level syllabus, for example. But please don’t make things up! We might use something in your personal statement as a starting point for your interview, to put you at ease, and our attempts may have the opposite effect if you've not read the books you've listed. Note that personal statements are usually a relatively unimportant part of a candidate's assessment.

Further information

For additional details or queries relating to the undergraduate Chemistry course at Oxford, or about the undergraduate admissions process for Chemistry, please contact the Undergraduate Studies team.

Email: admissions@chem.ox.ac.uk

原文連結：https://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate-study