Wanted: chemistry’s next superstar
The drop in chemistry undergraduates highlights the need for more inspirational scientists
In over 10 years as a university admissions tutor in England, I have witnessed some dramatic changes. These have included changes in the type of pre-university qualifications (most notably A-levels) and required grades; university numbers being capped in 2013; and then the cap being lifted two years later. More recently, I have seen the widespread introduction of unconditional offers on the basis of predicted grades and the prospect of Brexit. Life is never dull in admissions!
In January 2017, the University and Colleges Admissions Service reported, for the first time since 2012, that the total applicant numbers had fallen compared with the previous year. A similar trend has occurred in chemistry applications. After a substantial increase over a 10-year period, the past two years have seen a significant drop despite an increasing number of students studying A-level chemistry. In comparison, biology applications are more stable.