Chemistry courses, departments face closure in the UK highlighting higher education’s financial woes

Two chemistry departments at UK universities are facing closure and senior academics warn that more will follow if the financial challenges facing the country’s higher education sector are not addressed.

In July, the head of chemistry at the University of Hull, Tim Prior, shared on LinkedIn that the university has proposed closing its chemistry department and called on alumni to oppose the changes.

That news followed the announcement in February by Aston University that it plans to close its BSc chemistry and BSc applied chemistry courses from September 2025 due to ‘changes in educational focus and alignment’.