"Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of our science." Ralph Waldo Emerson
What qualification do you leave with?
BSc or MSc/Mchem are most common depending on the length of your course. Foundation degrees are also available from some places and a large variety of degrees such as biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry are available.
How long is the degree?
A usual BSc takes three years but many courses offer a year in industry or combined masters courses which mean four years of studies. St Andrews offers a combined masters programme with a year of international study which takes a massive five or even six years.
What does it cover?
Early years often concentrate or understanding organic and inorganic chemistry – the behaviour of carbon-containing molecules and other synthesised molecules, respectively. Chemistry courses are dominated by required 'core' courses but major areas of specialisation including computational chemistry and materials chemistry mean that most universities offer a range of chemistry and joint-honours degrees. With four year courses that include a year in industry students are able to see the abstract and academic knowledge that they've acquired applied in medical or manufacturing companies. Often these placements pay and can give students the opportunity to succeed and excel in the private sector.
What can you expect?
The levels of understanding are far deeper than during A-level studies. Chemistry is a subject for fans of the minutaei of the universe and who fell in love with science at school.
What are the usual A-levels you need?
Chemistry is mandatory and for many institutions so is mathematics. If science subjects didn't dominate your A-level choices then chemistry might prove tough, although foundation courses are available.
There aren't enough chemists being produced in the UK so employability for chemistry graduates is very high. From cutting edge research and scientific publishing to inspiring bored schoolchildren who dream of their lunch breaks, there are many (well paid) challenges that a chemistry degree can help you to meet.
Top places to study
The latest Complete University Guide (published in April 2011) rates Cambridge, Oxford, Durham, St Andrews and Nottingham as the top five universities for this subject according to an index based on student satisfaction; entry standards; an assessment of the quality of the university's research; and graduate prospects.