What's it really like to study Chemistry at university?

Shane is just about to finish his first year of the BSc in Chemistry and he tells us how it differs from A-Levels and what you can expect from your degree.

Studying chemistry at university is a lot like visiting a relative’s new house. There are new rooms, maybe a new garden, an exciting new kitchen, but the furniture will be the same. There’s a blend between the familiar and the unfamiliar, between the new and exciting and the old and comforting. This is what studying chemistry at university is like.  

Chemistry is often referred to as the central science, and for good reason! It is an essential aspect for many other fields of science, such as physics, biology, medicine, geology, and many others. Practically any facet of life can be broken down to chemical reactions and so many of our modern amenities wouldn’t be possible without knowledge of the chemistry which drives them.  

It's familiar at first
The course itself should feel quite familiar to those studying A level chemistry, especially in your first year. The modules in your first year will mainly be building on the information you already know. This is great as there is a sense of familiarity with all the modules, and nothing should feel particularly alien. It’s content you’ve seen at A level just taken up a notch.  

The practicals are a huge step up
Of course, one of the most fundamental aspects of the course is the practical element, and this should feel like a natural progression from amateur to professional. As a chemistry student you’ll be expected to conduct experiments in the lab, be it analysing the concentration of a certain compound in a tablet to the synthesis of a commercially available pharmaceutical drug. These experiments will be conducted in the undergraduate laboratory, an environment which is quite the step up from your A-level classroom no doubt. This element really makes the course feel special in my opinion. There are few other courses which marry the theoretical and the practical so well. The knowledge that you gain from your other modules is applied first hand in the laboratory, which really helps contextualise the things that you learn throughout the year.  

The main differences
Although there are many similarities between A-level chemistry and university level chemistry, there are a few important differences. At higher levels of education, the boundaries between academic disciplines becomes less distinct, as they draw more heavily from each other. In the case of chemistry this means that you will be expected to learn fundamental mathematical and physics-based skills. Maths in particular is going to be essential throughout your degree and as such it is important that you are confident in applying mathematical skills. Studying chemistry at Queen Mary is quite unique in this regard as the course is run by the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, as opposed to the department being its own separate entity. The benefits of this approach are tremendous. As the teaching staff have a wide range of different backgrounds and specialties, some with more of a physics orientation and others chemistry, you’ll develop skills and knowledge which reflect the interdisciplinary identity of the school and the scientific community as a whole.  

The way we learn is totally different
The biggest difference, however, isn’t the content you’ll be studying, rather it’s the way in which you will be studying it. The content will not just be taught to you through lectures, you will have online videos to watch, workshops to attend, and online quizzes through which to test your knowledge. All of this is accentuated by the vast number of resources provided to you online and through the library services.  

The final thing to note is that although there will be more opportunities available to you, the onus of responsibly is placed primarily on you. By this I mean lecturers won’t be chasing you up in regard to attendance or homework. The expectation is that in choosing to come study at university you are motivated to apply yourself. You will learn to manage your time and discipline yourself, two fundamental skills not just in academia but in life.  

Chemistry is really varied
Chemistry is a highly respected science and as such a degree in chemistry will afford you a lot of opportunities. To me this is one of the biggest advantages of the course, the opportunities it provides you when you’re considering your career. Graduates can go into practically any field they want, be it law, finance, education, or industry, the possibilities are truly endless!  

Chemistry is a truly wonderful subject to study at university, there are few other courses which encompass such a wide and varied field. The skills you learn will serve you throughout your professional life, making you an appealing candidate for any business you apply to.