Chemistry Degree Without Maths A-level

10

Hi I’m currently doing Biology, Chemistry and TPE (Theology, philosophy and ethics) and I’m thinking of doing Chemistry at university, however I haven’t done Maths at A level and I’ve begun to realise just how much maths is required.
I just need some insight as to how much I’ll struggle as maths isn’t my strong suit even though I got an 8 at GCSE.
Am I better off doing biochemistry? Or will I be able to manage

Reply 1

BankaiGintoki

21

Original post

by tb_7

Hi I’m currently doing Biology, Chemistry and TPE (Theology, philosophy and ethics) and I’m thinking of doing Chemistry at university, however I haven’t done Maths at A level and I’ve begun to realise just how much maths is required.
I just need some insight as to how much I’ll struggle as maths isn’t my strong suit even though I got an 8 at GCSE.
Am I better off doing biochemistry? Or will I be able to manage

With chemistry courses, ensure they are accredited by the royal society of chemistry.
Some uni dont require A Level maths in entry requirements https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/science-and-technology/ug/bsc-hons-chemistry?year=2026#entry-requirements

https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/chemistry-ug/bsc-chemistry

Reply 2

TypicalNerd

18

Original post

by tb_7

Hi I’m currently doing Biology, Chemistry and TPE (Theology, philosophy and ethics) and I’m thinking of doing Chemistry at university, however I haven’t done Maths at A level and I’ve begun to realise just how much maths is required.
I just need some insight as to how much I’ll struggle as maths isn’t my strong suit even though I got an 8 at GCSE.
Am I better off doing biochemistry? Or will I be able to manage

As above, you can still do a chemistry degree without A level maths, but it will limit your options ever so slightly (i.e Oxford and Imperial for definite are off limits, but basically everywhere else should be fine).

Any maths you will need for a chemistry degree, you’ll be taught on the course in the first year (though some further topics may be taught in your second year).

Reply 3

tb_7

OP

10

Original post

by BankaiGintoki

With chemistry courses, ensure they are accredited by the royal society of chemistry.
Some uni dont require maths https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/science-and-technology/ug/bsc-hons-chemistry?year=2026#entry-requirements
https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/chemistry-ug/bsc-chemistry

Most of the ones I’m looking at are accredited e.g. Uom,UoB and UCL, I don’t think they require maths as well but I’m worried that the jump from only doing Maths GCSE might be too big?

Reply 4

tb_7

OP

10

Original post

by TypicalNerd

As above, you can still do a chemistry degree without A level maths, but it will limit your options ever so slightly (i.e Oxford and Imperial for definite are off limits, but basically everywhere else should be fine).
Any maths you will need for a chemistry degree, you’ll be taught on the course in the first year (though some further topics may be taught in your second year).

Right ok that makes sense, thanks!! Would you recommend I do some practice beforehand tho just to make it easier or would I benefit more from learning it there?

Reply 5

TypicalNerd

18

Original post

by tb_7

Most of the ones I’m looking at are accredited e.g. Uom,UoB and UCL, I don’t think they require maths as well but I’m worried that the jump from only doing Maths GCSE might be too big?

As above, you will be taught whatever maths you need on the course.

I’m a current undergraduate chemist (an incoming third year one to be precise) and can advise you prioritise the following areas over the summer between finishing year 13 and starting at university (if you wish to cover a few A level topics in advance):

-Index laws

-Differentiation

-Integration

-Logarithms and exponentials

For the middle two topics, you might wish to look at both the AS and A2 level resources.

Reply 6

TypicalNerd

18

Original post

by tb_7

Right ok that makes sense, thanks!! Would you recommend I do some practice beforehand tho just to make it easier or would I benefit more from learning it there?

I think the general rule with maths is the more practice you have, the better. I would advise getting some practice with a handful of the A level pure maths topics (indices, calculus and exponentials&logs) beforehand as there are many excellent resources to do so and these are the bits of maths you’ll use the most.

Reply 7

tb_7

OP

10

Original post

by TypicalNerd

As above, you will be taught whatever maths you need on the course.
I’m a current undergraduate chemist (an incoming third year one to be precise) and can advise you prioritise the following areas over the summer between finishing year 13 and starting at university (if you wish to cover a few A level topics in advance):
-Index laws
-Differentiation
-Integration
-Logarithms and exponentials
For the middle two topics, you might wish to look at both the AS and A2 level resources.

Thank you so much!! I’ll definitely look over these topics and hopefully feel more confident before my first year

Reply 8

tb_7

OP

10

Original post

by TypicalNerd

I think the general rule with maths is the more practice you have, the better. I would advise getting some practice with a handful of the A level pure maths topics (indices, calculus and exponentials&logs) beforehand as there are many excellent resources to do so and these are the bits of maths you’ll use the most.

Yeah that’s a good way of thinking about it, you can’t expect to be good at maths right away. Another thing, how much physical chemistry modules do you take compared to the others and is it the main area where those maths topics come up?

Reply 9

TypicalNerd

18

Original post

by tb_7

Yeah that’s a good way of thinking about it, you can’t expect to be good at maths right away. Another thing, how much physical chemistry modules do you take compared to the others and is it the main area where those maths topics come up?

That’s a question that I can’t really give a useful answer to, I’m afraid.

Because I’m studying chemistry at Oxford, there are no options or modules per se (at least not until the second term of third year, where I’ll be doing all 4 inorganic options and picking the three questions of the four that are easiest lol).

I’d say your best bet is to find the course structures at the universities you are considering and see what options they have available and what core topics there are. Discerning between organic, inorganic and physical topics shouldn’t be too much of a stretch.

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 10

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

15

Original post

by tb_7

Hi I’m currently doing Biology, Chemistry and TPE (Theology, philosophy and ethics) and I’m thinking of doing Chemistry at university, however I haven’t done Maths at A level and I’ve begun to realise just how much maths is required.
I just need some insight as to how much I’ll struggle as maths isn’t my strong suit even though I got an 8 at GCSE.
Am I better off doing biochemistry? Or will I be able to manage

Hi there (:

Before going on to study my chemistry degree i'd done higher maths at school (scottish qualifications) and then in my 6th year hadn't done maths other than the stuff within physics and chemistry and found the jump to be okay!

Maths-wise in first year i had a maths module which prepped me for any maths involved in the course which I could've missed as everyone comes to uni with a pretty different maths background, I had people on my course who had done the adv higher qualifcation and also had people who hadnt done the a-level or had done the scottish higher a good few years ago! - this module was mainly focused on the maths involved in chemistry & just generally getting everyone to the same place (: - i would expect most chemistry courses to have a similar thing to help with this.

We had tutorials throughout the year for this module to help with any areas of particular dificulty and were able to contact the lecturer with any questions. Ive then found any other maths outwith this module to still be introduced in an easy to understand manner and then built upon! - so i wouldnt stress (:

if your meeting the entry requirments for the course, you should be good to go & anything else not required will be introduced on the course as they will be aware that its not necessarily been covered before!

hope this helps, goodluck with your course!! <33

Emily
Year 3, Chemistry
Official University Of Strathclyde Rep

Chemistry Degree Without Maths A-level

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