Undergraduate Courses

Why choose Chemistry?

Chemistry
Chemistry, Management and Industry
Chemistry, Resources and the Environment
Chemistry, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry

Chemistry is all around us. To study Chemistry is to discover how it is relevant to every aspect of our lives. From an understanding of how pharmaceuticals interact with our bodies, how we affect the environment and how modern materials such as plastics and semiconductors are prepared, the possibilities are endless.

Chemistry is often referred to as the 'central science' as it covers topics as diverse as quantum mechanics and the study of atomic particles, to the molecular nature of biological systems and the Human genome project.

Learning about the fundamental basis of chemistry - the analysis of molecules, their structures and shapes and how they react - is vital for our modern society. Chemists can really make a difference in the world!

The University of York has an outstanding reputation for teaching and research, featuring consistently in the top few places in the league tables of UK universities. The Department of Chemistry is on the Heslington campus, within ten minutes walk of all the college accommodation and, as part of a £29 million phased redevelopment, a £10 million research building was completed in 2012 and a new undergraduate teaching laboratory and Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence in 2014.

Why study Chemistry at York?

The Department of Chemistry offers students

A personal supervisor to oversee academic progress and personal welfare
A teaching programme which ensures a highly supportive learning environment
Lectures supported by small-group tutorials and workshops
State-of-the-art research facilities and new teaching laboratories
A wide choice of chemistry-related option modules
Excellent record of MChem industrial placements (typically over 30 per year)
Choice of chemistry courses is flexible
A range of industrial and departmental sponsorships

Departmental achievements

Many of our academic staff have won learned society prizes and international recognition for their research and teaching, we are proud of our departmental achievements which include:

York has always been in the Top 10 UK Universities for Chemistry and has strong scores across the board

The Complete University Guide 2016

9th in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, with the majority of our research and impact rated as world leading (4*).
7th for overall satisfaction in Chemistry among participating Russell Group universities (NSS 2022)
7th in the UK for Chemistry (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)
Four members of staff recognised for 'excellence of teaching' by the Royal Society of Chemistry
First department in the UK to achieve the Athena Swan Gold award for its commitment to women in science - making us the longest held recipient of the Gold award on record
A Royal Society of Chemistry Horizon prize for our free online course Exploring Everyday Chemistry