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At a time when ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ sector is under strain, it is vital to emphasise ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ value chemistry departments, researchers and courses add to local and national economies and to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir universities – chemistry is a core component of many oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr subjects and supports interdisciplinary collaborations. We ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØrefore recently wrote to new UK Ministers to emphasise ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ contribution ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ chemical sciences workforce and research already makes – and has even greater potential to deliver in future – to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir mission for sustained growth and a high-skills economy. A strong chemical science sector in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ UK is vitally important for society as a whole, with its potential to solve global challenges such as environmental sustainability and continue to make life-saving advancements in healthcare.  ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ threats to chemistry courses caused by ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ financial pressure on UK universities poses a significant threat to that vision.

A challenge beyond chemistry

ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ issues experienced by UK universities are by no means limited to chemistry – reform to how HE is sustainably structured, funded and maintained is long overdue. Universities are faced with having to make invidious decisions to ensure ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir survival. 

Funding arrangements for home undergraduate students differs across ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ nations of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ UK but, irrespective of those differences, ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ caps on tuition fees mean that ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy have not kept pace with inflation. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ £9,000 fee introduced in England and Wales after ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ Browne review in 2012 has increased only to £9,250 and is essentially worth only about two thirds of its original value in real terms. Such a loss of income would be unsustainable for any organization.

This is not to say ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ solution is necessarily for UK student fees to increase—higher education needs to be financially accessible to all if we are to realise both ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ economic and societal benefits. RaÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr, it  illustrates ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ broader challenges in HE finances and why judicious, wide-ranging urgent reform is needed.

We ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØrefore provided input to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ recent Universities UK Blueprint for higher education, as part of broader discussions on ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ future of Higher Education and we will continue to make this case to a range of decision-makers in UK Governments and civil services.

ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ collapse this year in overseas student numbers has put even greater pressure on a sector that is already struggling. Overseas students and staff offer UK universities talent, enthusiasm, cultural exchange and a diverse range of perspectives, all of which is proven to create better research outcomes. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy are welcome in UK universities and this should be reflected in how we discuss this topic as a sector. Global mobility is at ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ heart of every university’s mission.

However, numbers of international students coming to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ UK in 2024 have fallen significantly, at a time when UK universities have become increasingly reliant—indeed, ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy have been encouraged to be reliant—on income from ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir fees to make up deficits on home students and research income. This puts at risk not only ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ financial viability, but also ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ vibrancy of UK universities. Recognising ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ global nature of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ chemical sciences, ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC advocates for an effective immigration system for science, including an open and welcoming attitude to highly skilled workers and future entrepreneurs.

Modernising while maintaining standards

While I’ve already discussed ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ contribution ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØy provide to UK economy and global society. STEM subjects inarguably require significant ongoing investment in laboratory facilities and equipment to provide high-quality, safe teaching. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ RSC’s Professional Standards Board oversees accreditation of degree programmes and, through a recent review, we know that stakeholders in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ sector – including employers, students and HE ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØmselves – don’t want to see corners cut. It is why chemistry graduates are so highly sought after by employers in just about every sector. Practical and transferable skills remain high on ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ sector's needs with a strong foundation of core knowledge.  To avoid stagnation, ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØre is a continual need to modernise ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ structure and content of degree programmes. Our accreditation criteria encourage this, with many institutions already raising ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ bar in terms of green and digital chemistry, evolving degree programmes to maintain ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir relevance to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ wider world.  ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ applied nature of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ subject and how that appeals to new generations of students, who we know are motivated to make ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ world a better place, really cannot be underestimated.

Chemistry degrees and apprenticeships are ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ gateway to a range of exciting careers, showcased in . As a professional body, we will continue to monitor ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ situation around chemistry workforce and training pathways closely and continue to be vocal about ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ vital contribution current and future chemicals scientists’ will play in making ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ world a better place.

Professor David Smith is Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ Faculty of Science and Engineering at ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ University of Swansea. David is a Chartered Chemist and Fellow of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ Royal Society of Chemistry. He is currently a Trustee of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ Royal Society of Chemistry and chairs ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ Professional Standards Board.