Chemistry

During the first three years, your work is divided between lectures (usually about ten a week), tutorials and classes (one or two a week), and practical classes occupying about one and a half days a week. The course is challenging but leaves adequate time for extra-curricular pursuits.

There are three terms in the Oxford academic year, each eight weeks long. Students usually arrive a week early in the first term of their first year for welcome and induction activities. In the final year of the Chemistry course, students undertake full-time research under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. This final year has three extended terms of 12 to 13 weeks and is 38 weeks in total. This final year, which is entirely devoted to research, is a unique feature of the Oxford course, and will give you research skills that are highly valued by both academics and employers.

Part II (the fourth year) involves full-time work with an established research group. There is the possibility of a few students spending three months of the year at universities in continental Europe or the USA.

For the most up-to-date details on the Chemistry course’s content and assessment, please refer to the department’s website.