Study at Cardiff | Undergraduate

School Selection Procedures - Chemistry

All applications for a place on any of the Chemistry degree programmes must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application service. Applications can be made either in the English or the Welsh language. We recognise that if you are a Welsh speaker, you may feel more comfortable speaking to a Welsh speaking personal tutor when you contact the School. Provided there are Welsh speaking members of staff available, every effort will be made to allocate a Welsh speaker to you.

Applications are assessed by the Admissions Tutor and the School of Chemistry makes offers throughout the year. Conditional offers are based on the UCAS application form for most candidates offering a regular subject combination at A-level or equivalent vocational qualification examinations. All candidates meeting a minimum standard and likely to receive offers of a place are invited to visit the School on one of our open days. This will include a tour of facilities in the School and the Students Union, meeting with students, talks on Cardiff and our Chemistry courses, and an individual meeting with a member of staff. Some applicants are invited to interview. The interviews are as informal as possible and are designed to help ensure that each applicant’s background experience is well matched to the requirements of the proposed degree programme.

Entry via a preliminary year is possible for those whose background does not include the usual range of scientific study. Three preliminary science subjects are studied and successful completion leads to entry to the first year of the various degree schemes. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Tom Tatchell for further advice before making a formal application through UCAS, which is made with Course Code F105.

School Selection Criteria

We look for individuals who are committed to university life, motivated to study Chemistry and have a strong scientific background. Applicants should have a good balance of social activities to complement their academic achievements, be enthusiastic, organised and interested in the subject and its application.

When assessing candidates, the school looks for applicant’s interests outside of the academic arena such as voluntary/charity work, team working groups, organisation and execution of projects such as overseas work, tours or conference events.

Each candidate case will be assessed with reference to their predicted grades and chosen subjects at higher level.

Use of Contextual Data

All suitable applicants who are eligible for additional consideration and are predicted a minimum of grades BCC (in appropriate science subjects, including Chemistry) will be guaranteed a typical offer on the School of Chemistry's undergraduate courses. Typical offers can be found here. 

For details of University policy on Contextual Admissions, please click here.

Admissions Tests

Cardiff School of Chemistry does not have any standardised admissions test requirements

Selection Interviews

Cardiff School of Chemistry does routinely interview applicants for its undergraduate programmes. These are as informal as possible and are designed to help ensure that each applicant’s background experience is well matched to the requirements of the proposed degree programme.

Back to Chemistry Admissions Criteria

Back to main Admissions Criteria page