Chemistry Summer School

The Chemistry Residential Summer School at Queen Mary University of London is a three-day programme for Year 12 students from Schools based in the UK who have chosen to study chemistry (A level or IB) and are interested in pursuing a degree in Chemical Sciences.

Chemistry Teaching Laboratory at Queen Mary

Attending this school will give participants the opportunity to experience a Russell Group university and gain a real insight into studying chemistry at a research-intensive institution. The three-day residential school will involve workshops, lectures, and laboratory sessions in our new £5.5 million world class teaching laboratory. Internationally leading scientists will contribute to the delivery of the different activities and will also offer multiple opportunities to discuss career options and degree choices.

Accommodation

Accommodation (full board basis) is offered in our Halls of Residence, based at Mile End, where students will have the opportunity to explore the campus and all its facilities. There will be multiple opportunities to interact and engage with our excellent student ambassadors, all of whom are currently studying chemistry at Queen Mary.

The Programme

There will be three laboratory sessions where you will gain first-hand experience of working in the undergraduate teaching laboratory to carry out your own experiments independently. You will be using a range of equipment and technology, some of which may be new to you. These experiments will complement the KS5 curriculum and enhance your chemistry knowledge and technical skills. In workshops and lectures, you will undertake sessions on NMR and IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, as well as engage in problem classes to test your understanding. Finally, there will be a workshop on scientific programming with academics specialising in computational and theoretical chemistry.

Members of our admission team will provide sessions on interview skills and personal statements in support of your UCAS application. The academic programme will be complemented by social activities in the evenings.

Below are some key facts:

• The cost of the summer school is £330, which includes full board and participation in all sessions.
• The School will usually start at 9.30 am Monday 24th June to 16.00 pm Wednesday 26th June. Students will be responsible for arranging their own travel.
• There are usually 40 places available and applications are welcomed from students currently registered in either state or private schools.
• There are up to 15 fully funded places available to eligible students. Please see below for criteria.
• The deadline for receiving complete applications will be the 1st March, however applications will be evaluated continuously and offers of a place will be made on a first come-first served basis.
• Offers will be made via email and fees will need to be paid within 5 working days. Please note that fees are NOT refundable.
• A reference from your current teacher/tutor will be required to support your application.
• Students will always be chaperoned by either academic staff or Student Ambassadors. A member of academic staff will be present on campus overnight in Halls of Residence.
• In the unlikely event that the event is cancelled a full refund will be provided.

The Application Process

Applications for the 2024 programme have closed.

 

Applying for a funded summer school place

To be eligible for one of up to 15 fully funded places on the Chemistry Residential Summer School, you must:

• Be in Year 12 at a non-selective state school or college in the UK
• Have achieved a minimum of 5 A* - C or 4-9 grades, with a C/4 in English and Maths
• Be on target to achieve a minimum of BBB at A level, 30 points in IB (inc. 5,5,5 in three HL quals), or equivalent

In addition to the above, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Live in a qualifying neighbourhood (use our postcode checker below)
• Neither parent or carer has attended university in the UK or abroad
• Have lived, or are currently living, in local authority care
• Are a young carer
• Are estranged from your family/living independently/living with friends

Qualifying neighbourhoods are defined as:

1. Living in an area of low participation in higher education, defined as POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2 (check your POLAR4 quintile here), OR
2. Living in an area of disadvantage, defined as IMD deciles 1, 2, 3 and 4 (check your IMD decile here)

You will have the opportunity to tell us which of the above criteria you meet when you complete the application form. We will ask your teacher / tutor to confirm these details when your reference is requested.

For any other queries please contact Dr Giorgio Chianello: g.chianello@qmul.ac.uk