Chemistry

Chemistry at Jesus College

Jesus College has a long tradition in the study of Chemistry, dating back to the early 20th century. At that time, it was one of only six Oxford colleges to have its own chemical laboratory, which was one of the best equipped in Oxford, and made a notable contribution to the strength of the Oxford Chemistry School. In more recent times, Jesus has established a particularly strong reputation in Chemistry in terms of achievement at both college and university level.

Jesus College normally has three Tutorial Fellows in Chemistry; at present the College has two such Tutorial Fellows, who are responsible for College teaching in Physical and Organic Chemistry, and an RCUK Fellow in Inorganic Chemistry. Besides their College positions, all three Fellows also hold University appointments and carry out original research in the Department of Chemistry. Undergraduates admitted to read Chemistry at Jesus receive most of their individual tuition from these tutors, within the College.

In addition to the Fellows and undergraduates, the college also boasts a sizeable population of graduate students, who are engaged in DPhil or MSc research in the Chemistry department. This feeling of a “Chemistry family” provides a breadth of experiences to those studying the subject in the College, and is manifested in various research seminars and subject events throughout the year.

The Oxford Chemistry Department is an internationally-leading faculty with state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise confirmed that Oxford Chemistry has the highest “power rating” (for breadth and depth of science) in the UK, and the Department was also classified as excellent in the most recent Teaching Quality Audit. More details can be found on the Department of Chemistry website.

In summary, the study of Chemistry at Jesus College represents a fulfilling and exciting degree course, which provides an unparalleled range of opportunities to enjoy and explore the subject.

Academic Staff

Tutorial Fellows

Professor Mark Brouard is a Fellow and Tutor in Chemistry, who teaches mainly in the area of Physical Chemistry. His research interests lie in the area of gas phase reaction dynamics and photochemistry, and imaging mass spectrometry.

Dr Edward Anderson is a Fellow and Tutor in Chemistry, who teaches mainly in the area of Organic Chemistry, His research interests lie in the development and application of cascade reactions in organic synthesis, and in organosilicon and organopalladium chemistry.

Senior Research Fellow

Dr Kylie Vincent is a Senior Research Fellow, and RCUK Academic Fellow, who teaches mainly in the area of Inorganic Chemistry. Her research interests lie in understanding biological redox catalysis.

About the Undergraduate Course

The Structure of the Course

The Oxford Chemistry course is divided into three sections: The first (Preliminary, or ‘Prelim’) year, the second and third years (Part I), and the fourth year (Part II). The course has undergone significant structural changes over the last two years, and some of the details in the following section remain the subject of ongoing discussions.

The overall structure of the course can be summarised as follows:

• The full degree course lasts for four years.
• Years 1-3 comprise the main bulk of lecture- and tutorial-based teaching, alongside training in practical chemistry.
• The fourth year is spent in full-time research, which is a unique aspect of the Oxford Chemistry course.

Written examinations are taken at the end of each of the first three years. The first are the Preliminary Examinations (or ‘Prelims’), taken at the end of the Trinity term of the first year. These consist of four papers, one in each of the three branches of Chemistry and one in Mathematics. Prelims are effectively qualifying examinations, allowing successful students to proceed to Part I of the course. Results in these examinations do not count towards the final degree, but good performance is rewarded by College prizes and scholarships.

The second set of examinations, known as Part IA, are taken at the end of the second year: here there are three papers to be taken covering core aspects of Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry. The Part 1A examinations contribute 15% towards the final degree mark.

The Part IB Examinations take place at the end of the third year, and comprise seven written papers, six of which again cover core elements in each of the three branches of Chemistry. For the remaining paper, candidates are free to choose questions from a wide range of available options, which cover more advanced aspects of Chemistry and allow a degree of specialisation according to the student’s interests. These are the most important written examinations that students will sit, and count for 50% of the final degree mark. By the end of the third year, students are also required to have completed a number of practical experiments in each of the teaching laboratories, which overall carry a weighting of 10%.

Finally, the fourth (or ‘Part II’) year is completed with the submission of a thesis giving an account of the research undertaken during the year. The assessment of this thesis, and the accompanying oral examination, contribute the remaining 25% of the overall degree mark.

The Honours degree in Chemistry, earned by passing the Part IA/IB Examinations, is classified on the basis of a candidate's combined performance in Part I and Part II. The final degree awarded is the M.Chem.

Teaching in Chemistry

Responsibility for undergraduate tuition is shared between the Department of Chemistry (which organizes lectures, practical work and certain classes) and the College (which makes individual arrangements for tutorials and classes).  Lectures, each of one hour duration, are scheduled between 9.00 and 13.00 of most weekdays (Monday-Friday) in Term. The content and frequency of tutorials varies greatly from college to college; at Jesus College, students should expect an average of one tutorial per week, in one of the three branches of chemistry (i.e. around eight tutorials per term). In addition, classes and vacation work may be set. Further details of the tutorial system at Jesus are outlined below.

Practical work is carried out in the three University chemical laboratories on weekdays, arrangements varying from one laboratory to another.  There is a rota such that any undergraduate spends four weeks at a time (that is, half a term) in one laboratory before moving on to a different laboratory for the next four weeks. Many of the experiments are designed to be performed by undergraduates working in pairs; there is also some scope for more advanced, or project, work for those who are interested. A prospective Oxford Chemist needs to find some enjoyment and interest in the practical aspects of the subject. There are no practical examinations, but practical work is continuously assessed, and contributes 10% to the final degree classification.

The Content of the Course

Students in the first year of the course study Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, together with Mathematics. The Mathematics course is taught mainly by Chemists and is tailored specifically to the needs of Chemistry undergraduates. Certain aspects of Physics and Biology of particular relevance to Chemistry are incorporated within the main Chemistry course structure, and are taught as and when they are required. The first year course involves lectures and practicals, together with tutorial and class-based teaching. Lectures in Mathematics are supported by University-organised classes, whilst nearly all the Chemistry teaching, apart from lectures and practicals, is based on tutorials and classes given within the College.

In the second and third year of the course, undergraduates continue to study a broad range of topics in the three core subjects of Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry. These are compulsory topics which are designed to give as broad a chemical education as possible, and in many aspects the course is designed as a three year programme which draws together different parts of the course as it progresses. In the third year, in addition to continuing their studies of the core disciplines, students will be expected to select a number of advanced topics, chosen from a range of more than twelve available options. These options consist of more advanced material from each of the three branches of Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, as well as exciting new topics at the interface between Chemistry and other Physical and Biological Sciences.

In the second and the fourth years, many undergraduates also choose to augment their studies for two terms by taking an optional course leading to an examination in one of the following Supplementary Subjects: Aromatic and Heterocyclic Pharmaceutical Chemistry, History and Philosophy of Science, Quantum Chemistry, Chemical Pharmacology, Chemical Crystallography, French, and German. A Distinction in this examination is taken into account in the classification of the Honours degree, and those who pass the examination in the second year are exempted from a part of the practical course. Above all, however, the Supplementary Subjects are for the benefit of those who are genuinely interested to extend their knowledge in a specialized field closely related to Chemistry; in practice, they are usually found most rewarding, but by no means essential or even desirable for everyone reading for the Honour School.

The Tutorial System – Chemistry at the College level

Tutorials normally take place in the Tutor's room in College, or office in the Department.  They are usually taken in small groups of 2-4 students, and are typically of 1 to 1.5 hour duration. Tutorials broadly aim to cement understanding of many aspects of the lecture course, but also aim to push students in new directions which may complement this material. A major part of the undergraduate's time should be devoted to reading and written work for tutorials and classes. Classes may be held to reinforce tutorials in some areas of the course, and in particular to cover vacation work or college examinations.

Undergraduates may use the College library which, although comparatively small, aims to include a reasonable selection of up-to-date books; the Radcliffe and Hooke Science Libraries provide a collection of books and journals as extensive and complete as any undergraduate could wish for. The College also operates a special book scheme to assist undergraduates with the purchase of books.

There is no question but that the undergraduate Chemistry course is demanding both of time and effort, but this is balanced and rewarded by the range of its coverage and by its scope for individual thought and expression. The tutors recognise that alongside this academic effort, there are many attractions to university life. Any undergraduate who is a good organiser of time and priorities should have no difficulty in combining the Honour School of Chemistry with non-academic pursuits.

Joint Schools

There are no Joint Schools for Chemistry.

Admission

In a total College entry of about 100 undergraduates, in a typical year between 8 and 10 are offered places to read for the Honour School of Chemistry. The great majority of candidates applying to read Chemistry will not have taken their A2 level (or corresponding) examinations, although they may have sat AS examinations. The College usually expects to offer pre-examination candidates places conditional upon gaining A*AA grades in the A2 examinations, with the A* grade obtained in Maths or a Science, and with one of these grades in Chemistry. Post-examination candidates should have already achieved these conditions (or AAA for candidates who sat A-levels before 2011) to make a competitive application. Such standards may also give some guidance to the level of performance expected from candidates offering other qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate or Scottish Advanced Highers.

A candidate is normally interviewed at the College early in December, and can expect three technical interviews with the Tutors. The tone of these interviews is invariably quite informal since the Tutors will be trying to discover how each candidate is likely to respond to tutorial teaching. No written work is needed and no written test is set at the time of the interview. The outcome of each application will usually be made known by Christmas.

The expectation is that the majority of Chemistry candidates will be taking three A2 levels (or similar examinations), as well as a number of AS levels.  Naturally A2 level Chemistry is an important basis for the course; in addition, the study of Mathematics to A2 level is highly desirable. The College occasionally makes offers to students without A2 Mathematics, or equivalent, but such candidates are expected to have Mathematics AS-level grade A or equivalent. A further Physical or Biological Science A2 or AS level would also be helpful, but is not a requirement for entry onto the course. The Tutors are well aware that candidates are individuals and not just permutations of A2 and AS level subjects, and they will be only too happy to answer specific enquiries about the suitability of A2 and AS level or other backgrounds for the Chemistry course, or about the contents of the Chemistry course itself. Further details on the Department’s admissions criteria, which reflect those of the College, can be found on the Admissions Criteria page of the Department of Chemistry website.

Deferred Entry: The Tutors have no objection in principle to offering a place to a candidate who wishes to defer entry for a year, provided this intention is made known at the outset. You must apply for deferred entry at the time of application to Oxford: you cannot change your mind after an offer has been made. Please refer to the Departmental web site for subject-specific advice. You should be aware that applicants who are offered places for deferred entry will generally be among the very strongest of the cohort for their subject, and the College only rarely offers deferred places  in Chemistry in order not to disadvantage candidates applying in the following year. In some cases, an applicant for deferred entry may be offered a place for non-deferred entry instead. If you require any further advice, please contact the Admissions Officer.

Postgraduate Studies and Careers

As the central scientific subject, Chemistry provides an excellent medium for the development of your critical faculties and intellect, and also instils a variety of important transferable skills that will serve you well whatever your subsequent choice of career. Should you aspire to be a research chemist, the opportunities after graduation are almost limitless. Major potential employers, in many different sectors, regard the experience gained in the Part II year as a qualification of considerable importance.

As a member of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, at postgraduate level the Department of Chemistry offers the DPhil in Inorganic, Organic or Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and a taught MSc in Theoretical Chemistry.

Further Information

The booklet 'Chemistry at Oxford' produced by the Department of Chemistry supplements the University Undergraduate Prospectus in its outline of the Honour School of Chemistry and is available online at Chemistry at Oxford. Additional information is available on the Department of Chemistry website. Information about admissions is available on the University's Undergraduate Courses pages.

The Department holds Chemistry open days in July. For further details see the Chemistry Open Days page.