chemistry at university further reading
im worried about buying books that aren't at my level so are too complicated, so any recommendations of books/articles/podcasts et al would be greatly appreciated!!
diolch! thank you!
Reply 1
Reply 2
im worried about buying books that aren't at my level so are too complicated, so any recommendations of books/articles/podcasts et al would be greatly appreciated!!
diolch! thank you!
Here’s the Imperial STEM outreach reading list which I’d really recommend as someone who also applied for Chemistry.
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/schools-outreach/secondary-schools/post-16-resources-and-events/stem-book-list/
The books here are sort of academic and very interesting if you have a passion for chemistry. Good luck with your application next year!!
Reply 3
Reply 4
Suggested Subject Resources | University of Oxford
Useful Moocs - free short online Uni level courses - to do over the summer
Exploring Everyday Chemistry - Online Course - FutureLearn
Introduction to Physical Chemistry | Coursera
Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios | Coursera
Search | OpenLearn - Open University
etc
Reply 5
im worried about buying books that aren't at my level so are too complicated, so any recommendations of books/articles/podcasts et al would be greatly appreciated!!
diolch! thank you!
Hi! That’s a great mindset to have in Year 12 — starting now will definitely help you stand out in your UCAS application.
Here are some accessible and impressive super-curricular resources recommended by universities:
📚 University Reading Lists (Subject-Specific)
These are curated by top universities to help students prepare:
•
Oxford University Reading Lists https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/suggested-reading-and-resources
•
Cambridge Super-Curricular Suggestions (All Subjects) https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
•
UCL Reading and Resources https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/how-apply/preparing-your-application
•
BBC’s “Thinking Allowed” – Sociology and culture: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qy05
•
“In Our Time” by BBC Radio 4 – Philosophy, science, history, etc.: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl
•
“The Inquiry” (BBC World Service) – Big global questions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029399x
•
The Conversation – Articles by UK academics in plain English: https://theconversation.com/uk
•
Aeon Essays – Longform essays on history, philosophy, culture: https://aeon.co/essays
•
UniBuddy – Chat to students at unis you're interested in: https://www.unibuddy.com/
Marjan Karim
SOAS Student Rep
Reply 6
amazing thank you!!
Reply 7
Here are some accessible and impressive super-curricular resources recommended by universities:
📚 University Reading Lists (Subject-Specific)
These are curated by top universities to help students prepare:
•
Oxford University Reading Lists https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/suggested-reading-and-resources
•
Cambridge Super-Curricular Suggestions (All Subjects) https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
•
UCL Reading and Resources https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/how-apply/preparing-your-application
•
BBC’s “Thinking Allowed” – Sociology and culture: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qy05
•
“In Our Time” by BBC Radio 4 – Philosophy, science, history, etc.: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl
•
“The Inquiry” (BBC World Service) – Big global questions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029399x
•
The Conversation – Articles by UK academics in plain English: https://theconversation.com/uk
•
Aeon Essays – Longform essays on history, philosophy, culture: https://aeon.co/essays
•
UniBuddy – Chat to students at unis you're interested in: https://www.unibuddy.com/
Marjan Karim
SOAS Student Rep
brilliant thank you so much!!!
Reply 8
im worried about buying books that aren't at my level so are too complicated, so any recommendations of books/articles/podcasts et al would be greatly appreciated!!
diolch! thank you!
The suggestions so far (incl the Imperial reading list) seem great and reasonable.
One of the classic ‘Oxbridge’ (if you’re considering that) books is “why chemical reactions happen” but frankly (I was a fairly keen and able Year 12) it was too dense and difficult for me to enjoy reading… as a first year undergraduate I’m now just beginning to enjoy it. Obviously it’s a classic for a reason, and people in your position do read it (and enjoy it) but it’s not a book for Year 12s imo.
If you like organic stuff there are a bunch of good (and interesting/entertaining?) organic synthesis YouTube channels out there… don’t worry if you don’t understand all the mechanisms (god knows I still don’t) but that was a springboard for me to go and read more about organic and new reactions and mechanisms.
I also really liked (and still do) reading ChemistryWorld articles; there are definitely accessible articles on there! (eg boron-carbon triple bond synthesised for the first time -> could lead you down loads of different roads (boron compounds and their applications, what is a triple bond/valence bond theory/molecular orbital theory,… plenty to talk about!)
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