FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Chemistry Admissions

This page lists questions that have been asked by applicants and prospective applicants in the recent past, with the answers. If you can't find the answer to your question, then please contact chemistry.admissions@durham.ac.uk .

I'm taking an unusual mix of A level subjects, will you consider my application?

Our entry requirements are A level Chemistry plus A level Mathematics, or equivalents of A-level. Rising numbers of applicants in recent years mean that we have become more selective, and you are more likely to be made an offer if you are taking Chemistry and Maths plus Physics or Biology A-levels, but we will consider interesting, strong applicants offering any third academic A-level. For the F102 course where the year 4 project is overseas we are especially interested in applicants with foreign language qualifications.

I'm not doing Maths / Should I drop Maths after AS?

We currently require A-level Mathematics grade A, or equivalent.

Should I take four / five A-levels? Should I take an EPQ / key skills?

We value the greater depth of study that you will gain if you undertake an Extended Project. We also value the breadth gained by taking a wider number of A-level subjects or by following key-skills qualifications. All of these are useful in demonstrating your academic ability, and may have a small impact of whether you will obtain an offer. Our offer will be A*AA in Chemistry, Maths and a third academic subject, and we very rarely accept significant numbers of students who miss that offer. Our advice is that you follow the combination of qualifications most likely to secure you A*AA in Chemistry, Maths and a third academic subject.

I'm doing Statistics / Economics / Key Skill in Application of Number, does that count as Maths?

No, no and no. Degree level Chemistry will include areas of physical and theoretical chemistry where you will use algebra, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms (base 10 and natural), and calculus. The subjects listed in the question do not cover these.

What is your standard offer?

For students applying for entry in October 2012 or 2013 we will make offers at A*AA.

I live in Scotland and I'm doing Advanced Highers, what is the likely offer?

We would encourage more applications from students in Scotland. Normally, we do not accept students who only have Highers, we require Advanced Highers in at least two subjects to include Chemistry. We prefer Mathematics at Advanced Higher but we are aware that some schools are not able to offer it beyond Highers. In practice, most applicants are taking three Advanced Higher subjects, Chemistry, Maths and one other, and we ask for AAA with one A at Band 1.

I'm following the Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Organization, what is the likely offer?

In accordinace with University policy on qualification equivalencies,  we make offers of 38 points with 6,6,6 in the Higher Level subjects including Chemistry. Noting that our A-level entry requires Maths to A-level, for IB applicants we recommend Higher Level Maths, but we will accept Standard Level Mathematics at grade 6. Standard Level Mathematical Studies is not acceptable. More schools are now offering IB, and we get a few applicants per year. We don't have enough data to say if IB or A levels are better preparation for a science degree.

I'm not doing A-levels or the IB, I'm doing......, what is the offer?

In recent years, we have made the following offers, these should be considered as examples, individual cases may vary:

	Overall	Chemistry	Mathematics
German Abitur	1.5	12	12
European Baccalaureate	80%	80 %	80 %
Polish Matura	Pass	75 - 80 %	75 - 80 %
Dutch VWO	Pass	7.5 or 8	7.5 or 8

For other countries please contact the appropriate member of the admissions team for advice.

English is not my first language. Will you ask for formal English language qualifications?

Students are expected to have a high standard of written and spoken English on entry. Applicants who are not native speakers of English or do not hold GCSE English (grade C or above) will generally be required to provide formal language qualifications as a condition of entry. See the International Office for more information.

I already have my A-levels.

Students with A level grades which exceed the standard offer can be made an unconditional offer. If your grades are a little below the standard offer level then we will only consider your application if there are good mitigating circumstances. Students who are re-taking their A levels may be made an offer, but you should note that multiple re-sit opportunities are not part of our degree programme and we are looking for students who can pass exams at the first attempt.
If you already have A*AA grades and are making a gap-year re-application we would like to know that you are using your gap-year constructively, and that you really want to study Chemistry at Durham.

I want to take a gap year.

About 10% of our applicants apply during their final year at school, planning to take a gap year. We welcome the maturity and knowledge that you will gain in a well-planned gap year. Our experience is that mathematical skills are more quickly lost than chemistry knowledge, and we would encourage you to do some maths refresh work in the last few months of the gap year. We will send you a welcome pack in the August before you join us (one year after your A level results were published), but please contact us during your gap year if you need advice.

I'm applying for medicine / vetinerary science / dentistry, will you still consider me?

We consider all applications without knowing the other courses and universities to which you have applied. That said, applicants for medicine and similar courses need to write personal statements that are strongly focused on their first choice of degree subject, and it is obvious to us that chemistry is not the first choice degree subject of such applicants. You can only make four applications for these subjects, leaving one place to be filled by other subjects which could include Durham Chemistry.

The rising numbers of applicants in recent years have made us more selective in deciding which applicants will receive an offer. In recent years we have rejected most applicants whose first choice appeared to be a subject other than chemistry (e.g., medicine, vetinerary science, dentistry, chemical engineering, and economics). We would encourage such applicants to discuss their application directly with the admissions team, so that we can judge your level of commitment to the subject. Durham university has a mechanism by which you can submit an alternative personal statement, and we would strongly encourage you to use this.

Is it true that Durham will reject me because I am applying to Oxbridge?

No, and it never was true. We consider your application without knowing where else you have applied. Despite some mythology that schools still seem to believe, we really cannot see any detail about your other applications until you have received offers and decided which to take as Firm and Insurance.

Will I have an interview?

Durham University does not interview applicants for Chemistry. The only applicants likely to be invited for interview are mature applicants without recent experience of education. For the vast majority of applicants we will judge your application on the basis of the information you provide through UCAS.

I can't decide if I want a 3 or 4 year degree / a 4 year degree with a project in industry / overseas.

Don't worry, this is a big decision for you to take at 17, so it is not fixed. The first two years are common for the BSc and MChem degrees, and the first three years are common for all the MChem variants. You can change course at many stages, and we will give you plenty of advice. The only limitation is that your funding body may not provide the financial support for you to change to a longer course once you have finished 4 terms of study. If in doubt apply for F105. If you are unsure about which course to apply for, then do not apply for two course codes, as due to the limit on the number of available offers this will guarantee at least one rejection.

I want to do an overseas project in my 4th year, do I need a language?

We don't specify a language as an entry criterion, but it is a great help. The programme regulations for the F102 course require that students take an appropriate language module in year 1, and there are options to take further language modules in year 2 or 3. Language modules are available from beginner to A-level. Students going to non-English speaking overseas universities need to satisfy us during their third year that they are proficient in the language, normally by interview with a member of staff who is a fluent speaker of the language.

I enjoy Maths, can I do some Maths with my Chemistry course?

It is possible to take one or two modules of Mathematics in your 1st year and another module in your 2nd year.

How much will I get paid if I do my 4th year project in industry?

When we arrange placements we specify that the company should at least offer a placement between October and May with accommodation and travel allowances, and that all work outside this period should be paid. In fact, in recent years all the placements have been 10 or 12 month contracts of employment with the industrial partner, with salaries between £12K and £16K.

Is there any self-catering accommodation?

The university opened the new entirely self-catering 400 bedroom Josephine Butler College in October 2006. Rooms are offered on a 38 week extended let basis, allowing you to stay in Durham over Christmas and Easter vacations, though this will cost more.

What is the accommodation like in College X?

Every college has its own web-site and produces its own prospectus, so write to the Admissions Secretary at the college and request one. The university main prospectus lists the number of single, shared, standard and en-suite rooms at each college, but remember that final year students will have chosen the best (single) rooms. All rooms have en-suite internet access points. You will pay about £5000 per year for room, heat, light, electricity, bedding, and full board food.

I'm from the North East and I want to live at home.

Most colleges now allow first year students to live out of college. If you want the full Durham experience then why not live in for your first year.

I applied to read Chemistry at College X, and I've got an offer from College Y. Why?

College X is oversubscribed for Chemistry and you have been passed to a second college. Each college has a quota of chemistry places, and can only make enough offers to fill that quota. The (difficult) decision on which applications to pass to a second college is taken by the colleges division, not the department. Three weeks after you arrive you will tell everyone that College Y is better anyway. The colleges that tend to be oversubscribed for chemistry in most years are St Mary's and Collingwood (close to the science site, so many scientists think they will apply to them), University (students like the idea of living in the Norman castle) and St Chad's (small, so even a few applicants oversubscribes it).

I applied "Open" and I've got an offer from College X, I don't want to go to College X.

If you have a preference for college, then don't apply "Open". "Open" applicants are assigned by a computer to colleges which have available quota.

Durham is my first choice, the Open Day is not until March and I've got to make my choices early to ensure that I get accommodation.

Other universities which operate "Halls of Residence" may require that you make them your firm choice before some early date in order get guaranteed accommodation. An offer to study Chemistry at Durham includes membership of a college and guaranteed accommodation in year 1. We only admit students for whom we have beds. Come to the post-application residential Open Day in March and there will still be plenty of time for you to decide on your firm and insurance choice universities.

What happens when A-level results are known?

We will confirm your offer through UCAS if you have got the grades, and the department will soon send you some information about subsidiary module choices, etc. We look forward to seeing you on the first day of term.

My A-level results were not as good as the offer you made me.

Phone your college or the department. This is not a job to be left to mum, or to "wait and see". We may be able to still offer you a place if you have only missed by a grade or two, but, you may find that this offer is not at the college you initially applied to.

My A-level results were very good, and I want to withdraw to have another go at Medicine / Oxbridge.

Well done. Are you sure? Such courses are not always easy to enter second time round. We only want to admit students who really want to do our course so we will release you.