Council to consider refocus of Chemistry provision

Senate last week discussed recommendations from UEB that would see teaching programmes and research in Chemistry realigned with the School of Pharmacy.

Under the recommendations, we would also cease recruitment to the MChem and MSc Programmes, with existing students being taught out.

These recommendations are intended to produce a narrower, more focussed approach to Chemistry at Reading, to better support research and a strong student experience.

Having now been considered at Senate, our most senior academic body, the recommendations will be presented to Council on 20 November.

If Council approves the recommendations, this would mean changes to the scale and organisation of teaching and research in Chemistry. These are:

• Chemistry programmes would be moved to the School of Pharmacy from 1 August 2025. The MSc and MChem programmes would be closed for recruitment and taught out. All students on these programmes would be able to complete their studies at Reading.
• University support for research in Chemistry would be limited to that aligning with REF Unit of Assessment 3.
• The Department of Chemistry as a separate organisational entity would be closed as of 1 August 2025, as programmes and staff move into Pharmacy.
• The Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) remains an integral part of our infrastructure to support research across a range of disciplines. CAF, including executive support requirements, will be moved into the Research Directorate and managed as a central facility from 1 August 2025, and a new funding model developed.

The recommendations were communicated to colleagues in all affected areas and the UCU and Staff Forum prior to Senate. Students in Chemistry have also been contacted to make them aware that changes are being considered and reassure them that it will not affect their ability to complete their degrees.

UEB has recommended these changes in response to long-term issues in both the National Student Survey and the Research Excellence Framework (and the Research Assessment Exercise before that).

They would allow the University to retain its commitment to both core teaching and research in Chemistry, as well as opportunities to continue to develop these through greater engagement with Pharmacy and make improvements to the organisation of courses, an issue regularly raised in student feedback.

Moving ahead with these recommendations would likely mean staffing changes in Chemistry. If Council accepts the recommendation at its 20 November meeting, work will then commence to investigate these in more detail and formally consult with colleagues affected.

Any formal proposal to reduce staff numbers would follow the University's restructuring procedure.