The Student Room Group

which Oxford college is best for chemistry?

I was wondering which college is best for chemistry at Oxford?
I know the requirements slightly differ at different colleges and I do Chemistry, Maths, Politics and Im doing an AS in Physics and have an EPQ
I don't know which college would be most accepting of the fact i don't do further maths or a full 3rd science?
I know Balliol college likes people to do physics so probably stay clear of them
I don’t know who told you Balliol likes people to do physics - Balliol’s own website speaks of its “distinguished tradition in Chemistry” and says it offers 7 places a year for Chemistry.

There aren’t really “best” colleges for subjects. Any college that offers a subject will offer the same course - anything else is just tradition and rumour
Reply 2
Original post by xyz1234567
I don’t know who told you Balliol likes people to do physics - Balliol’s own website speaks of its “distinguished tradition in Chemistry” and says it offers 7 places a year for Chemistry.
There aren’t really “best” colleges for subjects. Any college that offers a subject will offer the same course - anything else is just tradition and rumour


This is what I found from their website

"We believe that prospective applicants studying Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics have the best basis for success in the Oxford Chemistry course,"
Reply 3
Original post by a4m3lia
I was wondering which college is best for chemistry at Oxford?
I know the requirements slightly differ at different colleges and I do Chemistry, Maths, Politics and Im doing an AS in Physics and have an EPQ
I don't know which college would be most accepting of the fact i don't do further maths or a full 3rd science?
I know Balliol college likes people to do physics so probably stay clear of them

My son has a place for Chemistry at Exeter College having done maths, biology and chemistry so they ckearly don’t require further maths or physics.
The best college in Oxford for any subject is the college from which you obtain an offer. Apply to the college that you would like to join. If you obtain an offer (and that is always a big if), there is approximately a one in four chance that the offer will come from a college other than the one you applied to.

When you apply for a job or for a postgraduate course, no one will say "Sorry, mate; if you had studied Chemistry at X College, Oxford, instead of at Y College, Oxford, we'd have given you the gig, but because you were at Y College, we are rejecting you."
Reply 5
Original post by Stiffy Byng
The best college in Oxford for any subject is the college from which you obtain an offer. Apply to the college that you would like to join. If you obtain an offer (and that is always a big if), there is approximately a one in four chance that the offer will come from a college other than the one you applied to.
When you apply for a job or for a postgraduate course, no one will say "Sorry, mate; if you had studied Chemistry at X College, Oxford, instead of at Y College, Oxford, we'd have given you the gig, but because you were at Y College, we are rejecting you."


Thank you for the reply :smile:
Yes I agree
Sorry the wording of my question was not quite right
I meant in terms of the requirements of different colleges which college is less strict on people who don't do a full 3rd science (I do AS physics and a humanities as my 3rd A-Level)
Reply 6
Original post by a4m3lia
Thank you for the reply :smile:
Yes I agree
Sorry the wording of my question was not quite right
I meant in terms of the requirements of different colleges which college is less strict on people who don't do a full 3rd science (I do AS physics and a humanities as my 3rd A-Level)

Unlike Cambridge Oxford does not work in this way.The Chemistry dept sets the admissions criteria.The criteria have changed this year so maths and a second science are strongly preferred.
Given that criteria have just changed it might be worth emailing Wadham admissions and ask them what your position would be.Or wait and attend an open day this summer and ask then.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/chemistry
Look at course overview.
Please join us on the main Oxford applicants 2025 Thread
(edited 9 months ago)

Quick Reply