Department of Chemistry
Resources for Sixth Form Students and Teachers
We will be adding to these pages with more information for prospective applicants and their teachers. If you would like more information on any aspect of studying Chemistry at York, please email chem-ugrad@york.ac.uk and our chemistry admissions team will be delighted to help.
Lockdown Lectures for Prospective Applicants
We've created a range of videos to showcase how our world-leading interdisciplinary research influences our teaching.
Watch our videos
University of York Free Online Courses
There are no entry requirements for our massive open online courses (MOOCs). These free, online courses offer the perfect way to gain an insight into a wide range of subjects and are designed by our world-leading academics. For more information: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/moocs/
Exploring Everyday Chemistry MOOC
Our free online Chemistry programme Exploring Everyday Chemistry is run in partnership with FutureLearn. The next course, which is designed to aid the transition from school/college to university, started on 28 June 2021. Our UCAS offer holders can get full access to the course material – tests, certificates & indefinite access.
It describes the chemistry underlying perfumes, antibiotics, brewing and sport and makes a distinctive addition to a UCAS personal statement.
Next steps to university: From choosing a course to your first assessment MOOC
On this MOOC, you’ll explore what higher education is all about and learn tips for making the most of your university life and study.
Life of a Chemistry student
Take a look at our 'life of a Chemistry student' video which tracks the student journey from preparing to study, to progression through the four years of our MChem degree – highlighting course options and our distinctive college-based teaching, followed by graduation and employment.
Transforming the Chemistry student experience in practical chemistry
Our professional standard undergraduate teaching laboratory allows us to teach practical chemistry in a research environment from day one.
All experiments are conducted in fume hoods and each student has a minimum of 1-metre fume hood space. The laboratory contains eighty 2-person fume hoods, dedicated instrument rooms (containing the latest kit and equipment) and an adjacent social area, with a computational suite.
Our aim is to provide a supportive learning environment, with demonstrators and technical support, together with online resources, to help and guide our students.
TEDx talk 'The Future is Bright as Chemistry'
Professor Andrew Parsons, our admissions tutor, gave a talk at the TEDx Sheffield Hallam University 'Orchestrating the Future' event. He was nominated for the event by visitors who had attended a University of York Open Day.
His TEDx presentation emphasised that we are surrounded by chemistry and chemicals and thinking of chemistry differently can help us orchestrate a brighter future. The talk highlighted how everything around us contains chemicals, and though the term 'natural' has been used to reflect less harmful products, this is not necessarily true.
Year 1 Chemistry Macromolecules Videos
Have a look at some videos made by our first year Chemistry undergraduates on different aspects of the amazing world of polymer chemistry. These videos make up part of their work for the 'Macromolecules' module, an independent learning module designed to give students the opportunity and freedom to drive their own learning.
Chemistry Review
Department of Chemistry Undergraduate Degree Programme Brochure 2022/23 entry
If you would like to receive an electronic copy of our Chemistry undergraduate course brochure please email chem-ugrad@york.ac.uk or click on the link:
“The MOOC was a fantastic opportunity to expand my organic chemistry knowledge outside of my A level syllabus. It made for an excellent addition to my personal statement to help make my UCAS application stand out.”
Thomas, Exploring Everyday Chemist MOOC learner
Contact us
For admissions enquiries email our admissions team:
For all other outreach enquiries email the Schools Liaison and Outreach Office:
Further information
2020 Chemistry Admissions Newsletter (PDF
, 6,063kb)
Chemistry Admissions Newsletter 2019 (PDF