As one of the premier chemistry departments in the world, with six associated Nobel laureates, the Department continues to build its reputation for producing world-leading and cutting edge research in the molecular sciences.
Undergraduate chemistry students are immediately immersed in this research intensive environment and can make valuable contributions to research groups and programmes via research project work both within their formal degree programmes and as elective experiences, e.g. via the College’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP).
As a consequence, each year many chemistry undergraduates contribute substantially to the research output of the Department. This is evidenced by the impressive range of excellent research publications they co-author as a result of their important contributions to the advancement of the discipline. These include ‘first author’ papers, which signify that the undergraduate in question was the major contributor to the described science.
Read some student achievements from recent years.
Prizes
Prizes are usually awarded by the examiners board each year to individual students who have performed exceptionally.
Third year (non final year) prizes
- GSK Prizes for Excellence
- Samuel Francis Boys Prize for Excellence in Computational Chemistry
- Barton Prize for Excellence in Organic Chemistry
- Margaret Goodgame UROP Prize
Final year prizes
- Governor’s Prize (BSc)
- Governor’s Prize (MSci)
- HVA Briscoe Prize for Excellence in Inorganic Chemistry
- Department of Chemistry Prize for Excellence in Organic Chemistry
- Department of Chemistry Prize for Excellence in Physical Chemistry
- Alfred Bader Prize for Organic Chemistry
- Evans Medal for the Best Inorganic Research Project
- Department of Chemistry Prize for the Best Organic Research Project
- Department of Chemistry Prize for the Best Physical Research Project
- Departmental Prizes for Outstanding Overall Performance
- J McCombie Prize
- Frances Micklethwait Prize
External prize nominations
Each year, the Department also nominates selected students for the following awards which are organised by external organisations as European or UK competitions:
Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year (SET) Awards
These prestigious awards are sponsored by a panel of International Technology and Science-led companies and judged by representatives of the science and engineering-based professional bodies and associations across Europe. Awards are in several categories, including 'Best Chemistry Student'. We typically nominate three students in their final year who we judge to have performed exceptionally in both their final year research project and in examinations throughout their degree and who also display outstanding communication skills.
Salters Graduate Prize
These prestigious awards are presented by the Salters Institute to Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Students who will ultimately be able to occupy leading positions in the UK Chemical and allied industries. We typically nominate one student in their final year who has extensive industrial placement experience, often as the result of having carried out their final year research project at another University as part of our Chemistry with Research Abroad MSci Degree (F104, F101).
For current students
Terms and conditions
Important information that you need to be aware of both prior to becoming a student, and during your studies at Imperial College: