Chemistry
On average, St John’s accepts 8 chemistry students per year.
We are looking for students from any background who we believe will thrive in our course, especially those who:
- Share our passion for chemistry, and are highly motivated individuals
- Are creative and systematic problem solvers
- Demonstrate strong academic potential
Chemistry at St. John’s is a highly inclusive community, and we have had a strong tradition of welcoming the most talented students from diverse backgrounds. The tutors and students engage with the College’s Inspire programme, and we hold an annual open day for students from non-selective state schools to encourage applicants from backgrounds without role models who have gone through the Oxford system.
The entry requirements for this course are determined by the University’s Department of Chemistry.
More information about applying to study Chemistry at Oxford can be found on the Department’s website.
General advice about applying to St John’s can be found here.
St. John’s has a culture of academic excellence and supporting students to reach their academic potential. We offer a range of prizes and scholarships, and generally provide accommodation to undergraduates for the duration of their four-year degree. This helps to foster a highly collaborative and supportive environment among our students, who take lectures, tutorials and laboratory work together. The College is in close proximity to the Department. We also provide support for students in extra need, for example granting vacation residence for students from overseas.
We have full Tutorial Fellows in each of the three main branches of Chemistry (Inorganic, Organic and Physical). We also have a College Lecturer for Mathematics. This ensures that most of the teaching is done in house with benefits of continuity and experience. We provide full coverage of all subjects covered in the course.
Over the first three years of the MChem course, students receive regular tutorials in small groups in College. The fourth year is entirely dedicated to an extended research project, conducted with one of the groups in the Department.
Our undergraduate Chemists have achieved a very high proportion of first class degrees.
Our Chemistry undergraduates regularly undertake research projects during the summer vacations. The tutors are highly supportive, either taking on the students as interns, or connecting them with their wider academic and industrial network across the world to secure internship opportunities. Students also take up placements outside Chemistry, including in business and patent law.
Students also enjoy the annual Chemistry dinner at St. John’s, along with regular seminars organised by the Fellows to enrich the academic experience. This includes not only the Tutors, but also our Associate Fellow (Prof. Andrew Goodwin) and Career Development Research Fellow (Dr. Shurui Miao).
Read a profile from a St John's Chemistry student here.
The breadth and depth of the Chemistry programme at Oxford, as well as the many opportunities for securing placements, provide our students with the skills, knowledge and experience to pursue many career opportunities after their degree.
Some of our students continue to postgraduate research at Oxford or further afield. Oxford Chemistry benefits from having two doctoral training programmes (links here and here). Many of our students have been selected these programmes, or have secured full doctoral funding from other competitive sources, either in Oxford or in other Universities.
Other students use their skills and knowledge to establish careers in a variety of other sectors. These include areas directly connected to chemistry, such as the pharmaceuticals industry, semiconductor manufacturing, or startups in the area. Others include teaching, patent law, banking, business, government, charities, the civil service, social work and many others.
