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

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:

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:

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 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.

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

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.