BSc or MChem

Our course structure is designed to give you the maximum amount of time before you have to commit yourself finally to a particular area of specialisation. At York the choice between MChem and BSc can be left until the end of Year 2 if you initially apply for the MChem degree. If you apply for the BSc your decision should also be made by the end of Year 2.

In making the choice between BSc and MChem, you need to consider:

  • how useful the additional MChem year will be in preparing you for your likely career
  • whether it provides experiences and challenges that will be interesting and worthwhile.

Students who take the MChem courses are generally aiming for a scientific career, whereas students taking the BSc may be interested in a variety of possibilities, for example teaching.

We offer you three distinctively different programmes for the final year of the MChem degree. You can opt to spend your final year of study:

If you are seriously considering studying abroad in the final year it is important that your initial application through UCAS should indicate this, so that we can ensure you receive the language training you will need before going abroad. However, you are still free to change your mind at any time up to the end of Year 2, and can opt to spend the final MChem year either at York or in industrial training, or simply to switch to BSc.

All our MChem degree programmes are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

At York we do not differentiate between MChem and BSc when making offers.