**University of Reading’s Chemistry Department at Risk of Closure Amid Financial Crisis in UK Higher Education**
The Chemistry Department at the University of Reading has been recommended for closure, anticipated to occur starting August 2025. This revelation marks the third potential chemistry department closure in the UK this year, highlighting the ongoing financial challenges afflicting the nation’s higher education sector.
Earlier in 2023, Aston University announced in February its plans to discontinue its BSc Chemistry and BSc Applied Chemistry programs, and in July, the University of Hull formally suggested shutting down its entire chemistry department. These proposals have raised alarms within the academic and scientific circles, warning that additional reductions may follow if the persistent financial struggles of UK universities are not properly tackled. A [Chemistry World article](https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/chemistry-courses-departments-face-closure-in-the-uk-highlighting-higher-educations-financial-woes/4020112.article) notes growing concerns that, without intervention, the chemistry sector may face long-term negative effects.
### Reading’s Strategy: Uncertain Future for Chemistry
In a communication to staff dated 22 October from the University Executive Board, it was proposed that Reading’s chemistry programs be merged into the School of Pharmacy, with the exception of the MSc and MChem degrees, which will be closed to new recruits and phased out as current students complete their studies. Additionally, the board recommended that any chemistry research not connected to areas like pharmacy, allied health professions, nursing, or dentistry, as specified in the Research Excellence Framework’s (REF) Unit of Assessment 3 (UoA3), should be discontinued.
Plans also indicate that Reading’s Chemical Analysis Facility will be managed as a central university asset rather than being associated with the School of Chemistry. The rationale behind these changes highlights the department’s perceived shortcomings in both the National Student Survey (NSS) and the REF—key metrics for evaluating university departments based on student satisfaction and research excellence.
### An Appeal for Review
The suggestion to close the department has generated significant anxiety within the University of Reading’s academic community, with staff and students voicing deep dissatisfaction. An online petition, launched anonymously by a student on 29 October, urges the university to reconsider its recommendation, positing that the closure could jeopardize ongoing research, undermine job security for staff, and diminish the academic standing of chemistry degrees from Reading.
The overall sentiment expresses that the proposed closure is unjust. An anonymous faculty member from the chemistry department contends that the claims of underperformance do not reflect the department’s real achievements or reputation. “We rank 34th in the REF. Many departments ranking above us belong to institutions that are overall ranked higher than Reading. Expecting us to outshine major universities like Manchester or Birmingham is simply unfair.”
This faculty member pointed out a significant vulnerability highlighted when the chemistry department was instructed not to submit independent research for the REF. Instead, management proposed integrating chemistry’s submissions with those from the School of Pharmacy under UoA3—something staff assert does not accurately represent their research contributions in areas like materials science, which is not included in UoA3. The consequences of the department’s closure are severe. “Several staff members may be compelled to leave, either facing redundancy or seeking opportunities elsewhere.”
Concerns also linger regarding the maintenance of Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) accreditation necessary for chemistry degrees, which could jeopardize students’ future opportunities. Given the diminishing distinction between chemistry-related research and degrees, students rightfully worry about the prospective worth of their education at Reading.
### Broader Industry Implications
Reactions from the wider academic and scientific communities to these developing events have been prompt. Dr. Wendy Brown, a chemist from the University of Sussex and Chair of the Heads of Chemistry UK group, expressed her dismay at the university’s justification. She emphasized that improving poor NSS or REF results requires more than just a year and necessitates ongoing investment from the institution. “If this has emerged unexpectedly, it is quite shocking and rather inequitable,” she remarked.
Notable figures within UK chemistry have also voiced their concerns. Professor Richard Catlow, an inorganic chemist at University College London and the REF subpanel chair for chemistry in 2014, criticized the proposed closure. He emphasized that Reading’s chemistry department boasts robust research and strong connections with industry, suggesting that the university should focus on elevating the department’s REF performance through collaborative initiatives rather than shutting it down.
Catlow’s additional worries highlight broader systemic challenges. After closing its physics department in 2010, Reading risks further diminishing its reputation as a comprehensive university by also losing its chemistry department. “Can a university without two core sciences, physics and chemistry, still profess to be a leading, high-quality institution?” he questioned. Catlow reiterated that chemistry is vital for tackling significant global challenges.