Why Chemistry at Manchester?
Innovative
Our tradition of success in learning and research stretches back over 180 years. The birth of the modern computer, the splitting of the atom, the founding principles of present-day economics – all these and many more world-changing innovations have their roots here, at The University of Manchester.
DistinguishedRated third in the UK in terms of ‘research power’ in the last Research Assessment Exercise, we enjoy a global reputation for our pioneering research, which informs our problem-based approach to undergraduate learning. More than 5,800 academic and research staff – many leaders in their fields, with international reputations – provide stimulating learning environments and excellent standards of teaching.
Internationally renownedSince 2005, the University has risen 12 places in the influential Academic Ranking of World Universities Survey conducted by Shanghai Jiao-Tong University, from 53rd to 41st in the world, and seventh in Europe – confirming us as a progressive and world-class teaching and research institution.
Ambitious
Our mission is to become one of the world’s top 25 universities by 2015 and the preferred destination for the best teachers, researchers and students. It’s a goal that we’re well on the way to achieving, backed by a major investment programme in facilities, staff and buildings.
Cosmopolitan
Our campus is home to more than 37,000 students from around 150 countries, and based within a city with a long tradition of welcoming and celebrating diversity.
Successful
As a Manchester graduate, you will join a prestigious hall of fame, including 23 Nobel Prize winners among our current and former staff and students. Our worldwide community of 230,000 graduates can be found in top positions in every imaginable field, including Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco; HE George Maxwell Richards, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; writer/performer Meera Syal and musicians The Chemical Brothers.
Responsible
Award-winning environmental practices include comprehensive, cross-campus recycling facilities and the monitoring of energy usage, while campus shops and catering outlets demonstrate our commitment to Fairtrade products.
A history of innovation
Chemistry has a long and distinguished history in Manchester. John Dalton founded modern chemistry here in 1803 with his theory of atoms. Here, too, James Joule (yes, that unit is named after him) laid the foundations for the science of thermodynamics in the 1840s. The UK’s first Professor of Organic Chemistry, Carl Schorlemmer, was appointed here in 1874. Manchester has always been in the front line in chemistry, and we aim to stay there. In modern times, we can point to chemistry Nobel Prize winners, such as John Polanyi (1986) and Michael Smith (1993), both of who studied for their BSc and PhD here. Add to this the many Royal Society of Chemistry medallists at present on the staff and it forms a continuing tradition of which we are justifiably proud.
Quality of teaching
An extension dedicated to undergraduate teaching (costing £14.1 million) was officially opened in 2006 by Professor Dame Julia Higgins, in addition to state-of-the-art research facilities. The laboratories are currently used for undergraduate teaching and projects, and also for outreach work, “serving the community”. The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences is one of the highest-rated in the country, packed with top-flight Schools across the full range of disciplines. This means that, if you are attending ancillary course units in disciplines other than Chemistry during your degree, you can be sure of the same high standard. We are one of the largest schools of Chemistry in the UK, with over 700 undergraduates and about 200 postgraduate research students. Our School gives you the opportunity to reach the frontiers of modern chemistry by many routes.
