How to Apply to Chemistry at the University of York (UK): BSc and Four-Year MChem Degrees Plus Biological and Medicinal, Green, Atmospheric and Digital Chemistry Routes, Described by York as RSC Accredited, A-Level AAA to AAB Including Chemistry, and Entry Routes and Prerequisites for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of York is in the north of England, and its chemistry undergraduate degrees are taught by the Department of Chemistry, mainly on Campus West. In the UK you apply to a specific course through UCAS; York’s institution code is Y50. This guide sets out what York’s website says for September 2027 entry, for UK (home) applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

Which undergraduate degrees the department offers

The department’s undergraduate page lists three-year BSc and four-year integrated MChem degrees. Every MChem includes a final-year research project, which can be done in a York laboratory, a laboratory at a partner institution in another country, or as an industrial placement. The page says all courses are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

• Chemistry: BSc, UCAS code F100, three years, typical offer AAA-AAB. There are three MChem versions: with a year in York (F103, typical offer printed as AAA*/AAB), with a year abroad (F101, AAA-AAB) and with a year in industry (F102, AAA-AAB).
• Chemistry, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry: BSc F152, AAA-AAB; the chemistry of biological systems, from the molecular basis of disease to pharmaceutical products.
• Chemistry, Green Principles and Sustainable Processes: BSc F190, AAA-AAB; the theory and practice of clean and sustainable chemical production.
• Chemistry, the Atmosphere and the Environment: BSc F142, AAA-AAB.
• Chemistry with Digital Methods: BSc F131, AAA-AAB; York describes how automation, machine learning and computer-aided design are changing the discovery of molecules and materials.
• Each of these four routes also has MChem versions with a year abroad, a year in industry and a year in York; their UCAS codes are in the overview of each course page, so check the website.
• The department page also says it contributes to Biochemistry (BSc and MBiochem), which is listed among the Department of Biology’s courses; the Biochemistry BSc (C700) typical offer is AAB including an A in Chemistry plus a second science.
• Medicine, pharmacy, nursing and similar degrees are outside this guide; see York’s website.

The Chemistry BSc course page says you can apply to add a year in industry and points to Chemistry (with a year in industry) (MChem). Whether you must choose a year in industry or abroad when you apply, and whether you can switch between the named routes after you arrive, is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the Department of Chemistry.

Prerequisites and course structure

• A-Level: the BSc course page says AAB including an A in Chemistry plus one other science or mathematics subject, or AAA including an A in Chemistry. Accepted science or mathematics subjects are Biology, Electronics, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and Psychology.
• IB: 35 points including 6 in Higher Level (HL) Chemistry and 5 in another HL science or mathematics subject, or 36 points including 6 in HL Chemistry.
• European Baccalaureate: 80% overall including at least 85% in Chemistry. BTEC National Extended Diploma: DDD, with the Applied Science (2016) mandatory units plus five Chemistry units. Access to Higher Education Diploma: 39 credits at Distinction, including at least 15 in Chemistry-related units and 15 in a second science (Biology, Mathematics or Physics), and 6 at Merit or higher.
• T Levels: not currently accepted unless an additional A-Level (or equivalent) in Chemistry has been taken. Scotland: Advanced Highers A or B in Chemistry plus Highers ABBB or BBBB; three Advanced Highers or a mix of Highers and Advanced Highers may be considered, so contact the admissions team.
• International foundation programme: a Foundation Certificate from York’s International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. Other international qualifications: the course page only says “equivalent qualifications from your country”; see the international and China sections below.
• Alternative offers: the contextual offer is ABB including an A in Chemistry, or ABC including an A in Chemistry plus an additional science or mathematics; applicants completing a widening participation programme can get ABC including an A in Chemistry, or ACC including an A in Chemistry plus an additional science or mathematics; an EPQ at grade B or higher may qualify for an offer up to one A-Level grade lower.
• MChem requirements: the course pages for the MChem with a year in industry and with a year abroad show the same entry table as the BSc, with a typical offer of AAA-AAB. The page for Chemistry (MChem, with a year in York) prints only a typical offer of AAA*/AAB and no qualification table. The two are not consistent; rely on York’s website and the admissions office.
• Interviews and admissions tests: the chemistry course pages do not mention an interview or test. York’s application page says only that some courses notify applicants of extra steps, such as an interview invitation.

Course structure (Chemistry BSc page): 360 credits over three years. Year 1 has four core modules plus two skills and practical modules (Foundations of Chemistry 1-4 and Introductory Skills and Practical 1-2), integrating organic, inorganic, physical, theoretical, analytical and biological chemistry, with an integrated chemistry project as an introduction to research. Year 2 has three core modules, two skills and practical modules and one option (for example The Material World, Genes to Proteins, Green and Sustainable Chemistry, or Programming and Machine Learning for Chemistry). Year 3 has three core modules, one option and a 40-credit BSc research project. York says you can choose options across four areas of chemistry from Year 2, and that your choices influence your degree title. The MChem adds a 20-credit project in Year 3 and, in Year 4, an 80-credit advanced research project; the year abroad is a research project at a partner university, and the year in industry is mostly 12 months, usually starting in the summer between Years 3 and 4, supervised jointly by a company supervisor and a York supervisor.

Teaching (Chemistry BSc page, typical first-year week): lectures 9-10 hours, tutorials 1 hour, workshops 2-3 hours and practicals 6 hours. Most work is assessed continuously rather than by final exams. A significant part of Year 2 is core chemistry and practical work common to all the chemistry courses.

Biological and Medicinal Chemistry has the specialist module Genes to Proteins in Year 2, and in Year 3 Chemistry and Disease plus a research project in biological or medicinal chemistry. Green Principles and Sustainable Processes has Green and Sustainable Chemistry in Year 2 and Atmospheric Chemistry, Climate Change and Net Zero in Year 3. The Atmosphere and the Environment route has a research project on atmospheric and environmental chemistry. Digital Methods has Programming and Machine Learning for Chemistry in Year 2 and Computational Modelling in Year 3. The Digital Methods course page does not state RSC accreditation; the other three BSc pages say the course partially fulfils the academic requirements for Chartered Chemist (CChem) status, and the Chemistry MChem (with a year in York) page says it fulfils them.

UK (home) applicants

• York lists UK (home) and international fees separately: for 2027/28 the UK (home) fee is £10,050 a year (Department of Chemistry course pages), which may rise within the government fee cap in later years. The course pages do not give separate fees for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; use York’s fee status page to confirm which category you fall in.
• Qualifications: A-Level, BTEC, European Baccalaureate, IB and Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers requirements are set out below; T Level acceptance varies by course. Course pages also list alternative offers, such as an EPQ that may lower the offer by one grade.
• Funding for UK students listed on the department page includes the Commuter Award (£250) and the Sanctuary Bursary; UK government loans open in early 2027 according to York. See the website for amounts and conditions.

International applicants

• You also apply through UCAS, and the entry table on the course page applies to all applicants; York’s entry page says it accepts a wide range of international qualification types depending on the course. The chemistry course page only says “equivalent qualifications from your country” and does not list country-by-country requirements: this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check York’s country pages or ask the admissions team.
• IB: 35 points including 6 in HL Chemistry and 5 in another HL science or mathematics subject, or 36 points including 6 in HL Chemistry.
• Tuition: for 2027/28 the international fee on the Chemistry BSc and Chemistry MChem (with a year in York) pages is £33,500 a year; the year in industry and year abroad pages show the same figure.
• Proof of funds and credential evaluation details are not given on the pages used for this guide; check York’s visa and immigration pages or ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).

Students from China

• Gaokao: York’s China page says that students studying the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate who take the Gaokao are accepted with a minimum 75% overall average for Year 1 entry to courses with no other essential subject requirements, and should also complete the Senior High School Graduation Certificate. The chemistry course pages ask for A-Level Chemistry (or Higher Level Chemistry in the IB), and the pages used for this guide do not say whether Gaokao applicants can apply directly to chemistry or which subjects and scores are needed; email the Department of Chemistry (chemistry@york.ac.uk) or the undergraduate admissions office (ug-admissions@york.ac.uk).
• Foundation: the entry tables on the course pages accept a Foundation Certificate from York’s International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. The pathway page lists a Foundation Certificate for Sciences and Engineering, applications are handled by partner Kaplan International Pathways, and progression to your chosen course is guaranteed if you complete it at the required level with good attendance. How that certificate maps onto this subject is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions team.
• CSCSE-SQA Advanced Diploma: York accepts these students through its official partnership with the High Achiever Programme (HAP), which the page calls the only approved application route for that diploma.
• Chinese university degrees: degrees from Ecctis-recognised institutions are considered case by case, with 75% to 85% overall required (this concerns applicants who already hold or are studying a degree).
• A-Level or IB: use the typical offers on each course page.
• The China page lists York’s agent partners for China; using an agent is your choice.
• Whether interviews, accreditation bodies or Chinese high school transcripts and exam certificates are required beyond this is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the China page or ask the admissions team.

English language

• The course page sets the minimum IELTS (Academic) at 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (Chemistry BSc course page).
• York’s undergraduate English page lists accepted tests including IELTS (Academic and Online), PTE Academic (not the online version), TOEFL iBT (MyBest scores not accepted), Trinity ISE, Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced, Duolingo, LanguageCert and the Kaplan Test of English. Scores cannot be combined across attempts or test types, and results must be dated within two years of the course start. See York’s IELTS equivalencies page for exact scores.
• Some school-leaving certificates are accepted if you reach the required grade in an English language subject and completed them within seven years of the start; the International Baccalaureate Diploma is among them.
• You may not need to show English evidence if you are a UK national, a national of a majority-English-speaking country as specified by UK Visas and Immigration, have completed a degree in the UK, Ireland or a listed country (except Canada) or a degree taught in English (within seven years, with official confirmation), or have completed or are completing A-Levels or another Level 3 qualification in the UK over two years (within seven years).
• If you fall short, York’s pre-sessional English courses are an option; the length depends on how far you need to improve.

Transfer students

• York’s entry page says it is sometimes possible to transfer from another university directly into 2nd Year, but not into 3rd or 4th Year; contact your chosen department, and see the credit transfer and prior learning page.
• The Department of Chemistry’s specific transfer conditions (grades, required course sequences, deadlines) are not given on the pages used for this guide; contact the department directly (chemistry@york.ac.uk).
• Transfer applications still go through UCAS.

International fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the Chemistry BSc and MChem course pages show £33,500 a year for international students and £10,050 for UK students for 2027/28. International fees rise in later years in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%; the fee in your offer letter is normally for one year. A full year abroad is charged at 15% of the full-time fee and a year in industry or placement year at 20% (15% under the Turing Scheme).
• York International Undergraduate Scholarship: £5,000 for each year of study in 2027/28, open to students from countries including China, the USA, Canada, India, Japan and Singapore; eligible students receive it automatically with no application. Conditions: a conditional or unconditional offer by 1 July 2027, overseas fee status, and a full-time on-campus undergraduate course starting in September 2027. Not eligible: holders of a 100% tuition scholarship or full sponsorship, students on York’s International Pathway College and certain other pathways, students not joining in Year 1, and courses with the same Home and International fee. You must accept the award via the link in your offer email by the deadline given there; deferring forfeits it. The page also says that 2027-entry scholarships are “opening shortly”, so check the page for the current status.
• International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship: up to £10,000 (first year only), considered automatically for eligible international offer holders with no application; a panel of senior staff selects awardees. Eligibility includes predicted or achieved A-Level ABB, IB 34 points or equivalent. The page says awards will begin “shortly”.
• Combining awards: the York International Undergraduate Scholarship page says it may be combined with other University of York scholarships and external funding, and the Achievement Scholarship page says it may be combined with departmental scholarships and external funding, in each case up to 100% of tuition fees. Whether the two can be held together is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).
• Department of Chemistry funding page: it lists the two international undergraduate scholarships above, awards for UK students (the Roy Fenton and Brian and Lydia Gray Scholarships, marked 2024/25 on the page, the Commuter Award and the Sanctuary Bursary) and a loan fund for Norwegian students; there is no separate department scholarship for international students.

Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Applications go through UCAS. York’s application page says you can start your UCAS application from 12 May 2026 and submit it from 1 September 2026. York’s institution code is Y50; you can apply to up to five courses, and you need the course code, grades achieved or predicted, a teacher’s reference and a personal statement.
• 13 January 2027 is the main UCAS deadline for all courses except Medicine (15 October 2026). Applications by that date are treated equally; you can apply until 30 June 2027, but the course may have filled its places.
• For applications by the main deadline York says to expect a decision by 12 May 2027; some courses add extra steps, such as an interview invitation.
• UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027; A-Level and BTEC results come out on 12 August 2027; international applicants need a visa in place by September 2027.
• Check UCAS deadlines and course codes on the UCAS website.

Checklist

UK (home) applicants:

• A-Level AAB including an A in Chemistry plus one other science or mathematics subject, or AAA including an A in Chemistry; contextual offer ABB including an A in Chemistry; Scottish Advanced Highers A or B in Chemistry plus Highers ABBB or BBBB
• Submit via UCAS by 13 January 2027; UK fee £10,050

International applicants:

• IB 35 points with 6 in HL Chemistry and 5 in another HL science or mathematics subject, or 36 points with 6 in HL Chemistry; IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each component); fee £33,500 a year
• Look at the York International Undergraduate Scholarship (£5,000 a year, automatic) and the Achievement Scholarship (up to £10,000)

Applicants from China:

• Email first to confirm whether Gaokao applicants can apply directly to chemistry and which subjects are needed; the International Pathway College is another route

Transfer students:

• Entry is possible only into second year; ask the Department of Chemistry for the conditions

Sources: University of York, How to apply; Entry requirements and transfers; English language requirements; Information for students from China; International pathway courses; International tuition fees; International undergraduate scholarships; York International Undergraduate Scholarship; International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship; Department of Chemistry undergraduate page; Chemistry BSc; Chemistry MChem (with a year in York); Chemistry MChem (with a year in industry); Chemistry MChem (with a year abroad); Chemistry, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry BSc; Chemistry, Green Principles and Sustainable Processes BSc; Chemistry, the Atmosphere and the Environment BSc; Chemistry with Digital Methods BSc; Department of Chemistry funding. Information is for September 2027 entry; check York and the UCAS website for the latest dates and course codes.