chemistry phd or masters

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Our Graduate Program

Prospective students, application process, application faqs, for admitted students, current students, phd program requirements, thesis preparation, for first year students, student organizations, chemistry student seminars, quality of life.

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Best Chemistry Programs

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With a graduate degree in chemistry, scientists may find

With a graduate degree in chemistry, scientists may find jobs in laboratories, government agencies, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, colleges and universities, and more. These are the best chemistry schools. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Read the methodology »

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Graduate Program

Science in the 21st century is rich with opportunity and challenge. Our pillars for success in this complex world are all tied to interactions—between people and between disciplines. By building both strong interpersonal connections between our students and faculty, and effective bridges between disciplines, entering graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology can thrive at the frontiers of research in the chemical and life sciences.

Our graduate programs prioritize research and exploration. With many opportunities to interact with departments, research centers, and institutions across the Boston area, our students benefit from an interdisciplinary environment that encourages curiosity and innovation. Students can choose from one of our following two graduate degree programs:

Chemistry & Chemical Biology

Our program in Chemistry offers research and training opportunities in many subdisciplines of chemistry, including chemical biology, inorganic, organic, physical, and theoretical.

Chemical Physics

Our interdepartmental Chemical Physics program is designed for students who wish to prepare themselves for the study of chemical problems by the methods and theories of modern physics.

Prospective students

Current graduate students, news about our graduate students.

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PhD Program

Professor Wender discusses chemistry with his graduate students.

Doctoral study in chemistry at Stanford University prepares students for research and teaching careers with diverse emphases in basic, life, medical, physical, energy, materials, and environmental sciences.

The Department of Chemistry offers opportunities for graduate study spanning contemporary subfields, including theoretical, organic, inorganic, physical, biophysical and biomedical chemistry and more. Much of the research defies easy classification along traditional divisions; cross-disciplinary collaborations with Stanford's many vibrant research departments and institutes is among factors distinguishing this world-class graduate program.

The Department of Chemistry is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development.  This advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement with mutual respect by both the adviser and advisee.

• The adviser is expected to meet at least monthly with the graduate student to discuss on-going research.
• There should be a yearly independent development plan (IDP) meeting between the graduate student and adviser. Topics include research progress, expectations for completion of PhD, areas for both the student and adviser to improve in their joint research effort.
• A research adviser should provide timely feedback on manuscripts and thesis chapters.
• Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
• If there is a significant issue concerning the graduate student’s progress in research, the adviser must communicate this to the student and to the Graduate Studies Committee in writing.  This feedback should include the issues, what needs to be done to overcome these issues and by when.

Academic advising by Stanford faculty is a critical component of all graduate students' education and additional resources can be found in the  Policies and Best Practices for Advising Relationships at Stanford  and the  Guidelines for Faculty-Student Advising at Stanford .

Learn more about the program through the links below, and by exploring the research interests of the  Chemistry Faculty  and  Courtesy Faculty .

Chemistry Graduate Programs in America

1-25 of 326 results

MIT School of Science

• Cambridge, MA ·
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology ·
• Graduate School

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Graduate School, CAMBRIDGE, MA.

Stanford University Department of Humanities and Sciences

• Stanford, CA ·
• Stanford University ·

Stanford University, Graduate School, STANFORD, CA.

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

• New Haven, CT ·
• Yale University ·
• · Rating 4.5 out of 5   2 reviews

Yale University, Graduate School, NEW HAVEN, CT. 2 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says The resources at Yale are outstanding. While some of the required courses are slow-moving and less informative, I do have more academic freedom in my second year to the program to take classes that I... Read 2 reviews.

Clarkson University

• Graduate School ·
• POTSDAM, NY
• · Rating 3.93 out of 5   43

College of Engineering and Science at Florida Institute of Technology

• Florida Institute of Technology ·
• MELBOURNE, FL

Colorado School of Mines

• · Rating 4.33 out of 5   12

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

• Harvard University ·
• · Rating 4.56 out of 5   9 reviews

Harvard University, Graduate School, CAMBRIDGE, MA. 9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars. Featured Review: Other says I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student'... Read 9 reviews.

Princeton University

• Princeton, NJ ·
• · Rating 4 out of 5   4 reviews

Graduate School, PRINCETON, NJ. 4 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help... Read 4 reviews.

The Graduate School at Duke

• Durham, NC ·
• Duke University ·
• · Rating 4.8 out of 5   5 reviews

Duke University, Graduate School, DURHAM, NC. 5 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars. Featured Review: Current Master's student says The program is the best in the nation. It is the origin of the profession and it has helped developed it to what it is today. They seem to ver much involve alumni and are involved in your future. Read 5 reviews.

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Brown University Graduate School

• Providence, RI ·
• Brown University ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   4 reviews

Brown University, Graduate School, PROVIDENCE, RI. 4 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says This is my first semester in the biotechnology program. The program manager is helpful and commutative. I have found a great lab match for my research interests. My classes are interesting. I have... Read 4 reviews.

School of Arts & Sciences - University of Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia, PA ·
• University of Pennsylvania ·

University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

Wiess School of Natural Sciences

• Houston, TX ·
• Rice University ·

Blue checkmark. Rice University, Graduate School, HOUSTON, TX.

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

• Evanston, IL ·
• Northwestern University ·

Northwestern University, Graduate School, EVANSTON, IL.

College of Arts and Science

• Nashville, TN ·
• Vanderbilt University ·

Vanderbilt University, Graduate School, NASHVILLE, TN.

Washington University in St. Louis - Arts & Sciences

• St. Louis, MO ·
• Washington University in St. Louis ·

Washington University in St. Louis, Graduate School, ST. LOUIS, MO.

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Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

• Hanover, NH ·
• Dartmouth College ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Dartmouth College, Graduate School, HANOVER, NH. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars. Featured Review: Alum says I had a beautiful life-changing experience at the grand Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. The Guarini graduate program MALS created so many beautiful opportunities in interdisciplinary... Read 1 reviews.

Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering - California Institute of Technology

• Pasadena, CA ·
• California Institute of Technology ·

California Institute of Technology, Graduate School, PASADENA, CA.

College of Science - University of Notre Dame

• Notre Dame, IN ·
• University of Notre Dame ·

University of Notre Dame, Graduate School, NOTRE DAME, IN.

Physical Sciences Division - University of Chicago

• Chicago, IL ·
• University of Chicago ·

University of Chicago, Graduate School, CHICAGO, IL. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says The masters in computer science at UChicago has an opportunity for students from nontraditional computer science backgrounds to take “immersion courses” to get up to speed before taking the masters... Read 1 reviews.

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

• Los Angeles, CA ·
• University of Southern California ·

University of Southern California, Graduate School, LOS ANGELES, CA.

Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences

• Ithaca, NY ·
• Cornell University ·

Cornell University, Graduate School, ITHACA, NY.

Rackham School of Graduate Studies

• Ann Arbor, MI ·
• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ·
• · Rating 4.86 out of 5   7 reviews

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Graduate School, ANN ARBOR, MI. 7 Niche users give it an average review of 4.9 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says The Landscape Architecture program at UMich School for Environment and Sustainability is rooted in advancing sustainable design and ecological function, rather than pure aesthetics. We have some... Read 7 reviews.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - Georgetown University

• Nw Washington, DC ·
• Georgetown University ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Georgetown University, Graduate School, NW WASHINGTON, DC. 2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says The program is highly practical. The professors explain concepts in class and give us home works to submit on each topic discussed on a weekly basis. This enables us to grasp the concepts more. We... Read 2 reviews.

School of Arts and Sciences - Tufts University

• Medford, MA ·
• Tufts University ·

Tufts University, Graduate School, MEDFORD, MA. 4 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says My experience was mostly great! I felt supported by faculty and staff and became involved in student activities. It was just unfortunate that my on-campus experience was cut short due to the pandemic... Read 4 reviews.

UCLA College of Letters and Science

• University of California - Los Angeles ·
• · Rating 3 out of 5   1 review

University of California - Los Angeles, Graduate School, LOS ANGELES, CA. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 3 stars. Read 1 reviews.

Krieger School of Arts & Sciences

• Baltimore, MD ·
• Johns Hopkins University ·
• · Rating 4.52 out of 5   21 reviews

Johns Hopkins University, Graduate School, BALTIMORE, MD. 21 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars. Featured Review: Master's Student says Starting this fall, my graduate journey is set to begin on an exciting note. I’ve already connected with two professors who have proven to be incredibly supportive and kind. I can't wait to dive into... Read 21 reviews.

Mellon College of Science

• Pittsburgh, PA ·
• Carnegie Mellon University ·

Blue checkmark. Carnegie Mellon University, Graduate School, PITTSBURGH, PA.

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - University of Virginia

• Charlottesville, VA ·
• University of Virginia ·
• · Rating 4 out of 5   1 review

University of Virginia, Graduate School, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. 1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Featured Review: Alum says Very good in some areas, excellent in other areas, many academic choices available in all areas of study Read 1 reviews.

Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

• University of Pittsburgh ·
• PITTSBURGH, PA

University of Scranton

• SCRANTON, PA
• · Rating 4.14 out of 5   21

University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley College of Sciences

• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ·
• EDINBURG, TX
• · Rating 5 out of 5   2

Showing results 1 through 25 of 326

Department of Chemistry

Graduate program.

Yale is recognized as having one of the best chemistry programs in the U.S.  We are proud of our history, faculty, laboratories, instrumentation, libraries, and relations with industry. Most of all, we are proud of our students and their research. Graduates of the department occupy leading positions in academia and industry, due in no small part to their cutting-edge research experiences.

The department’s relatively small size facilitates meaningful interactions between students and internationally known faculty, and collegial interactions between the hardworking and lively graduate students contribute to the Ph.D. experience.

Students interested in graduate study at Yale should look through the department  facilities, instrumentation ,  faculty and associated faculty ,  staff , and  seminar  schedule. Applications for graduate admission are done through the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (not through individual professors) and are due, along with standardized test scores, by December 1. Accepted students are notified in late winter. In the spring, we host two visiting days to show prospective graduate students all the beauty, fun, and pleasantry of  Yale  and  New Haven .

Graduate study is an exciting departure from your experience in undergraduate education. The Ph.D. degree is a research degree, and research is the primary educational activity. The main goal is to prepare you for a career in scientific research, and the program aims to give you the tools you will need: detailed knowledge, ability to apply that knowledge, independent thought, communication skills, teamwork, teaching, and safety. The first two years of the program lead to a M.Sc. degree, and include coursework and other formal requirements in addition to research with one or more faculty members. For those that continue to the Ph.D., this culminates in a “qualifying examination” in which you demonstrate your ability to explain your research plans for the Ph.D. dissertation to a panel of faculty members, in both written and oral form. Prior to the end of your fourth year, you hone your skills in coming up with independent research ideas through an outside proposal, completely from your own interests and separate from your Ph.D. project. Finally, generally after five years total, your research is summed up in a written dissertation.

Some students come to Yale the summer before matriculation to sample a research group, but the final pairing of students with research groups occurs during the first year. The graduate program begins in late August with a 2-week orientation to Yale, teaching, and the chemistry areas within the department. Students take classes and teach and also prepare independent proposals to exercise their creativity and scientific rigor. However, the focus of the degree is a Ph.D. dissertation on research as part of a faculty-led research group.

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• Graduate Division
• College of Liberal and Professional Studies

• PhD Program

Chemistry PhD Program

The University of Pennsylvania is an internationally renowned research institution that attracts the best students from the United States and around the globe. The Graduate Program is designed for students who wish to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry while undertaking cutting edge research. The program provides students with the necessary theoretical background and hands-on training to become independent and highly successful scientists.  Graduate students achieve mastery of advanced chemistry topics through courses in different subdisciplines. Broad exposure to current research also occurs via four weekly departmental seminar programs and many interdisciplinary, university-wide lecture series.

Currently, faculty, students, and postdoctoral associates in Chemistry work in the fields of bioinorganic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, biophysical chemistry, bioinformatics, materials science, laser chemistry, health related chemistry, structural and dynamical studies of biological systems, X-ray scattering/diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, applications of computing and computer graphics, as well as investigations of chemical communication and hormone-receptor interactions. Many research groups combine different techniques to explore frontier areas, such as nanomaterials applied to biology, photoactive biomolecules, and single-molecule imaging. Novel synthetic procedures are under constant development for targets ranging from super-emissive nanoparticles to highly specialized drug molecules and giant dendrimers, which are being explored, for example, as drug-delivery systems. The Research Facilities in the Department of Chemistry provide a strong technology base to enable the highest level of innovation. Graduate students are a driving, integral force at Penn Chemistry.

Chemistry, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences.

Johns Hopkins University was the first American institution to emphasize graduate education and to establish a PhD program in chemistry. Founding Chair Ira Remsen initiated a tradition of excellence in research and education that has continued until this day. The Hopkins graduate program is designed for students who desire a PhD in chemistry while advancing scientific knowledge for humankind.

The graduate program provides students with the background and technical expertise required to be leaders in their field and to pursue independent research.

Graduate students’ advancement is marked by entrance exams, coursework, teaching, seminars, oral examinations, and an individual research project that culminates in a thesis dissertation. The thesis research project represents an opportunity for graduate students to make a mark on the world. Working in conjunction with a faculty member or team, individually tailored thesis projects enable students to think independently about cutting-edge research areas that are of critical importance. Thesis research is the most important step toward becoming a PhD scientist, and our program provides an outstanding base with a proven track record of success.

Graduate students make up the heart of the Chemistry Department, and the department strives to support students’ individual needs. Each student is carefully advised and classes are traditionally quite small. Multidisciplinary research and course offerings that increase scientific breadth and innovation are hallmarks of the program.  In addition to academic and technical development, our department also offers several outlets for professional and social development.

Admission Requirements

Application materials include:

• Academic transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• We encourage (but do not require) applicants to report scores for the GRE general and GRE chemistry subject tests. Applicants who feel that GRE scores support their case are welcome to include them. Our application review process is holistic, and the Graduate Admissions Committee believes that standardized test scores represent only one piece of a candidate’s profile. Applicants for whom taking the GRE presents a burden or who feel it does not represent their skills are free to not include them.
• The application fee is $75. However, fee waivers may be requested for applicants that have documentation showing they are a part of SACNAS, MARCC, oSTEM and many other organizations. To access the full list to see if you qualify, go to the  Krieger Graduate Admission and Enrollment  page.

Assistance with the application process is available. Candidates with questions about the application process should contact the department's administrative staff ([email protected]).

There are no fixed requirements for admission. Undergraduate majors in chemistry, biology, earth sciences, mathematics, or physics may apply as well as all well-qualified individuals who will have received a BA degree before matriculation. A select number of applicants will be invited to visit campus to tour our facilities and interact with our faculty members and their lab members over a weekend in March.

For further information about graduate study in chemistry visit the Chemistry Department website . 

Program Requirements

Normally, the minimum course requirement for both the M.A. and the Ph.D. degrees is six one-semester graduate courses in chemistry and related sciences. Exceptionally well-prepared students may ask for a reduction of these requirements.

Requirements for the Ph.D. degree include a research dissertation worthy of publication, and a knowledge of chemistry and related material as demonstrated in an oral examination. Each student must teach for at least one year.

Below is a list of the core Chemistry courses for graduate level students.

About the Chemistry Ph.D. Program

Ph.d. in chemistry faq's.

Get answers to frequently asked questions.

The Chemistry PhD program is designed towards developing within each student the ability to do creative scientific research. Accordingly, the single most important facet of the curriculum for an individual is their own research project. In keeping with the goal of fostering an atmosphere of scholarly, independent study, formal course requirements are minimal and vary among disciplines; advisor's tailor course requirements to best prepare the student for the chosen research field.

The Doctoral program includes the following concentrations, each of which has specific degree requirements:

• Physical Chemistry : In general, the Physical Chemistry Graduate Program encompasses analytical, nuclear, biophysical, and theoretical chemistry.
• Synthetic Chemistry : The Synthetic Chemistry Graduate Program includes emphases in either organic or inorganic chemistry
• Chemical Biology : The Chemical Biology Graduate Program covers a range of research areas at the interface of Chemistry and Biology.

Research. A graduate student spends a good deal of time during the first week of the first semester at Berkeley talking to various faculty members about possible research projects, studying pertinent literature references, and choosing an individual project. New graduate students meet shortly after their arrival with a faculty adviser. From the faculty adviser the student obtains a list of faculty members whose research may interest the student. After visiting these and additional faculty, if necessary, the student chooses a research director, with the consent of the faculty member and the graduate adviser. By the end of the first semester most students have made a choice and are full-fledged members of research group. Students in the Chemical Biology Graduate Program will select their thesis advisor after completion of three-ten week rotations. Thereafter, all students become involved in library research on their projects and many begin actual experimental or theoretical work.

Independent Study. A student who chooses to specialize in physical chemistry is normally expected to take two courses per semester during the first year and one or two additional semesters of coursework sometimes during the second year. These may include topics such Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Group Theory, Interactions of Radiation with Matter, and many more. At the other extreme, a student specializing in inorganic chemistry will concentrate more heavily on special topics seminars and take fewer courses. The course offerings in the University are varied so that individual students have the opportunity to take other courses which serve their own needs. Such as, a student working on nuclear chemistry will probably elect additional graduate physics courses, while a student working on biophysical or bio-organic problems may take courses offered by the Biochemistry Department. Students in the Chemical Biology program will take courses from both Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology departments.

Seminars. Because of the size and diversity of the Berkeley faculty, there are many seminars on a variety of topics which students may choose to attend. There are regular weekly seminars in several major areas, including biophysical, physical, nuclear, organic, theoretical, solid state, and inorganic chemistry. These seminars are presented by members of the Berkeley faculty, as well as distinguished visitors to the campus. These seminars allow the students to become aware of the most important current research going on in the field. In addition to these regular seminars, there are several regular department seminars devoted to presentations by graduate students. One of the doctoral program requirements is that each student delivers a departmental seminar known as a graduate research conference during the second year. Individual research groups also hold regular research seminars. The format of these small, informal seminars varies. In some cases, graduate students discuss their own current research before the other members of the research group. On other occasions, the group seminars may be devoted to group discussions of recent papers which are of interest to the particular research group. In any event, small group seminars are one of the most important ways in which students learn by organizing and interpreting their own results before their peers.

Qualifying Exam. Sometime during the second year of graduate work at Berkeley, each student takes a qualifying examination. The examining board, a committee of four faculty members, is appointed to examine the student for general competence in the area of interest. The qualifying examination is centered around the defense of the individual research project. Upon satisfactory completion of the oral qualifying examination, the student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. After advancement, the student completes an original, scholarly contribution to science and writes a dissertation on the subject. Most students complete their work and received their degree within five years.

Teaching. An integral part of the graduate education at Berkeley is teaching. The department requires that each doctoral candidate assist in the instructional program of the department as a teaching assistant for two semesters during their graduate careers. The faculty regard the teaching experience as highly valuable for all graduate students, especially those who plan to teach as a career.

Financial Aid. All students admitted to our graduate program receive a stipend for the duration of study in the form of teaching and research assistantships as long as they are in residence and demonstrate good progress toward the degree. Students also receive full tution, health, dental and vision insurance. Most funds for this support derive from research contracts and grants.

For more information see the Berkeley Bulletin

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Graduate Program

The Ph.D. program in the Department of Chemistry offers wide opportunity and unusual flexibility for advanced study and research and is designed to encourage individuality, independence, and excellence in students.

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Prospective Students

About the program, application information, current students, chemistry graduate program policy guide, graduate student resources, guide for teaching assistants, instrument trainings, student organizations, chemistry student seminars, ombudsperson program.

Most students select their research advisor by the winter quarter of their first year and are engaged in research by spring. The department has neither a system of cumulative examinations nor a written major examination. There are relatively few course requirements and great flexibility in the course of study. The barriers for research between departments are low. Students in the Department of Chemistry often take courses in other departments and can even earn a degree in chemistry for research that has been done under the supervision of a member of another department. Students are encouraged to fashion special programs of study under the guidance of the faculty.

Year 1: In the first year, students must satisfactorily complete six graduate-level courses in the Department of Chemistry or approved courses in other departments with a B average. The department organizes presentations from faculty during the fall and opportunities for lab rotations are available. There is also an optional rotation course in the Fall quarter of the first year, as well as a summer rotation experience for incoming student prior to the start of the program, to facilitate identifying an advisor .  Most students select their research advisor by the winter quarter of their first year and are engaged in research by spring. All candidates for the Ph.D. are required to participate in some form of teaching, typically serving as a teaching assistant for three quarters.

Year 2: Qualified students then prepare for the Ph.D. candidacy examination, which must be taken before the end of the fifth quarter in residence, normally in October. This examination is based on a student's written research proposal for their thesis work, which is due in September. Usually in October, the student presents their research proposal and progress-to-date to a committee, and discussed the background, goals, progress-to-date, and plans for future work. Based on the recommendations of the candidacy examining committee and the student's academic record, faculty vote on admission to candidacy.

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Welcome to the Chemistry Graduate Program!

The graduate program in Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin comprises about 200 graduate students and offers programs leading to the Ph.D. degree in four major areas of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. In each specialization there are numerous programs of research directed by renowned chemists, many of whom are leaders in their respective fields. We encourage qualified and energetic prospective graduate students to join our program.

The University of Texas at Austin ranked in the top 50 of the world’s elite universities in the 2018 The Times Higher Education World University Rankings , considered one of the most authoritative assessments of universities.  UT Austin’s Chemistry graduate program is ranked among the top 15 departments in North America, according to U.S. News and World Report (2019 ed.), maintaining excellent standings in the traditional areas of chemistry (4 th in analytical, 16 th in organic, and 14 th in physical) and making significant contributions to the emergent areas of chemical biology and material science.  The Nature Index , a new ranking from the prestigious journal Nature , rates The University of Texas at Austin No. 22 among the world’s most productive scientific research institutions.  UT Austin Chemistry ranked 11 th most productive among US universities.

The faculty of the Chemistry Department have achieved many high honors, accolades, and awards. Faculty include 1 member of the National Academies, 1 fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1 winner of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, 1 winner of the Wolf Prize, 7 Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award winners (highest among all UT departments), 1 member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers, 1 winner of the National Medal of Science, and 1 winner of the Japan Prize. The department receives the highest average of total external funding per faculty member in the College of Natural Sciences.

Opportunities for interdisciplinary research are facilitated by research centers such as the Texas Materials Institute , the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology , and the Center for Nano-Molecular Science and Technology .

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Department of Chemistry WEL 3.212 105 E 24TH ST. Austin, TX 78712-1224

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Graduate Office: 512-471-4538 Undergraduate Office: 512-471-1567 Chair's Office: 512-471-3949

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Chemistry PhD

The Chemistry PhD program is designed towards developing the ability to do creative scientific research. Accordingly, the single most important facet of the curriculum for an individual is his or her own research project. In keeping with the goal of fostering an atmosphere of scholarly, independent study, formal course requirements are minimal and vary among disciplines. Advisers tailor course requirements to best prepare the student for the chosen research field.

The doctoral program includes the following concentrations, each of which has specific degree requirements:

• Physical Chemistry: In general, the Physical Chemistry Graduate Program encompasses experimental physical, analytical, nuclear, biophysical, and theoretical chemistry.
• Synthetic Chemistry: The Synthetic Chemistry Graduate Program includes emphases in preparation of organic or inorganic compounds, development of methods for their synthesis, and their characterization and use.
• Chemical Biology: The Chemical Biology Graduate Program covers research areas at the interface of chemistry and biology, ranging from the synthesis of bioactive materials to the characterization of living systems.

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At a Glance

Department(s)

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 2, 2024

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

PhD in Chemistry

The PhD in chemistry is primarily a research degree. It is awarded to students who have displayed competence in planning and conducting original research in the field of chemistry, demonstrated a broad familiarity with the science of chemistry, understanding in the application of the scientific method, and gained a thorough knowledge of their field of specialization.

Students build a solid foundation in all four core areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical), and a thorough knowledge of their chosen field of specialization. In the first part of the PhD program, students take at least one formal classroom course in each the core areas of chemistry as outlined in the course requirements below. The courses must be completed successfully (B- or better) by the end of the third semester.

Since original research is the primary requirement for the PhD degree, a student selects a research supervisor and begins research before the end the first year. The student and research supervisor then select two faculty members to serve as the student's Doctoral Research Committee. The Committee, in conjunction with the student's research adviser, take over the advisory function from the graduate committee and guides the student's work to promote development as an independent investigator.

Thus, in addition to research each student must complete the following requirements:

• Service as a teaching assistant
• Regular progress updates with a faculty Research Committee
• A departmental seminar
• Defense of an original research proposal.
• Completion of a dissertation reporting significant work of publishable quality

Course Requirements

At least one of the following analytical chemistry courses:

• Chem 141: Instrumental Analysis
• Chem 142: Advanced Analytical Methods
• Chem 144: Spectroscopic Methods of Analysis
• Chem 145: Separation Science
• Chem 146: Electroanalytical Chemistry

At least one of the following inorganic chemistry courses: 

• Chem 161: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
• Chem 162: Chemistry of Transition Elements
• Chem 164: Bioinorganic Chemistry
• Chem 165: Physical Methods In Inorganic Chemistry

At least one of the following organic chemistry courses:

• Chem 150: Intermediate Organic Chemistry
• Chem 151: Physical Organic Chemistry
• Chem 152: Advanced Organic Synthesis

At least one of the following physical chemistry courses: 

• Chem 131: Statistical Thermodynamics
• Chem 132: Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics
• Chem 133: Quantum Mechanics
• Chem 134: Biophysical Chemistry
• Chem 136: Spectroscopy and Molecular Structure
• Chem 138: Atomic Scale Structure and Properties of Surfaces  
• Two additional classroom courses, exclusive of research, must be completed satisfactorily by the end of the fourth semester

Department of Chemistry

In our graduate program, Ph.D. candidates choose research groups and elective courses based on their individual goals and interests, graduating ready for successful careers in today's changing world.

Brown is committed to student-centered learning. Innovative research in our department laboratories seeks to answer critical questions in molecular behavior and reaction dynamics, the interface of chemistry and human health, and renewable energy and sustainability.

We are hosting a virtual “Open House”on November 12th at 7pm Eastern.  

Join our faculty for a discussion about our program and applying to Brown University. 

Use the link provided to Zoom In Tuesday, November 12, 7:00 PM Eastern Time.  https://brown.zoom.us/j/98357274100

Apply to Brown: Start your application  here . Fee waiver information found here .

 Please contact us if you have any questions about the Chemistry PhD program at Brown or about applying to graduate school ( [email protected] ). 

Why Chemistry at Brown?

• Competitive stipend and university-paid health insurance benefits
• Student: faculty ratio of 5 to 1
• Average time to PhD completion: five years
• Brown’s  Open Graduate Education Program
• No teaching responsibility for first-year students
• Five-year guaranteed financial support and annual conference travel funding
• Active departmental  graduate student leadership

Explore our Research Areas

Chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, nano and materials chemistry, organic chemistry, physical & theoretical chemistry.

If you are interested in applying please fill out this short questionnaire . We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs. We will get back to you within three days.

Our application deadline is December 15, 2024.  The application is open.

Apply to the Chemistry Ph.D. Program:   https://apply.graduateschool.brown.edu/apply

Discover living in historic Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is a vibrant and culturally diversity place to live, work and study. Learn about living in Providence and explore the Graduate School's housing information.

We want to hear from you. For assistance with the application process and all other program questions, please contact Rose Barreira.​

Rose Barreira

Graduate recruiting committee.

For questions about graduate study in Chemistry at Brown, please contact our graduate recruiting committee:

Benjamin McDonald

Emily Sprague-Klein

Graduate resources and information.

• Printable Chemistry PhD Program Brochure
• Graduate Student Resources Folder (access restricted to Brown Chemistry grad students)
• Handbook for students entering the program in September 2024-2025

Graduate Programs

Chemistry phd.

The goal of the Chemistry PhD is to prepare students for careers in science as researchers and educators by expanding their knowledge of chemistry while developing their ability for critical analysis, creativity, and independent study. A high graduation rate in an average of just over five years can be attributed to the quality of applicants admitted, the flexibility of our program of study, the opportunity for students to begin research in the first year, and the affordability of education made possible by our generous financial support policies.

Program Overview

Programs of study are tailored to the needs of individual students, based on their prior training and research interests. However, progress to a degree is generally similar for all students. During the first year, students take courses, begin their teaching apprenticeships, choose research advisors, and embark on their thesis research; students whose native language is not English must pass an English proficiency examination. Beginning the first summer, the emphasis is on research, although courses of special interest may be taken throughout a student's residency. In the second year, there is a departmental examination which includes a written research proposal and an oral defense of the research proposal. In the third year, students advance to candidacy for the doctorate by defending the topic, preliminary findings, and future research plans for their dissertation. Subsequent years focus on thesis research and writing the dissertation. Most students graduate during their fifth year.

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities for graduate students are comprehensive and interdisciplinary, spanning inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, computational, and theoretical chemistry; surface and materials chemistry; and atmospheric and environmental chemistry. Please refer to the faculty pages for full descriptions of the ongoing research in our department. State-of-the-art facilities and laboratories support these research programs.

At UCSD, chemists and biochemists are part of a thriving community that stretches across campus and out into research institutions throughout the La Jolla and San Diego area, uniting researchers in substantive interactions and collaborations.

Special Training Programs

Interdisciplinary research and collaboration at UCSD is enhanced through a variety of training grants. These programs provide financial support for exceptional graduate and postdoctoral scholars and also unite researchers from across campus and throughout the La Jolla research community in special seminars, retreats, and courses. Doctoral students are usually placed on training grants in their second year or later.

• Molecular Biophysics Training Grant
• Contemporary Approaches to Cancer Cell Signaling and CommunicationBiochemistry of Growth Regulation and Oncogenesis
• Chemistry Biology Interfaces Training Grant
• Contemporary Approaches to Cancer Cell Signaling and Communication
• Interfaces Graduate Training Program
• Molecular Pharmacology Training Program
• UC San Diego MRSEC
• Quantitative Biology (qBio) Specialization

Teaching apprenticeships are a vital and integral part of graduate student training, and four quarters of teaching are required. See the Teaching Assistants page to apply. Students can gain experience teaching both discussion and laboratory sections. Excellence in teaching is stressed, and the department provides a thorough training program covering both fundamentals and special techniques for effective instruction. Further training is provided by the Teaching and Learning Commons on campus. Performance is evaluated every quarter, and awards are bestowed quarterly for outstanding teaching performance.

• Financial Support

Students in good academic standing receive a 12-month stipend; fees and tuition are also provided. Support packages come from a variety of sources, including teaching and research assistantships, training grants, fellowships, and awards. Special fellowships are awarded to outstanding students based on their admission files. See Ph.D. Program Support Policy for more information.

Health and Dental Plan

A primary health care program, major medical plan, and dental plan are among the benefits provided by the University's registration fee (see Graduate Student Health Insurance Program, GSHIP) . Minor illnesses and injuries can usually be treated at the Student Health Center . Counseling is provided free of charge through Counseling and Psychological Services .

Creative, bright, and motivated students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We admit for Fall quarter entrance only. Generally, the application will open in September and close is in December. The Admissions Committee reviews files individually and in comparison to others, and invitations to our visitation weekends are made around January. For those invited, in-person interviews will be on campus in either February or March. Those who receive the official admissions offer from t he Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs ( GEPA ) have until April 15th to make a decision.

See UCSD Ph.D. Admissions FAQ page for full information.

PostGraduate Placement

Graduates typically obtain jobs in academia or in the chemical industry. Many take postdoctoral research positions in academic institutions and national laboratories that lead to future academic or industrial careers at other prestigious institutions. Our faculty and Student Affairs staff provide career advising and job placement services. The department's Industrial Relations program assists students with placement in industrial positions. UCSD's Career Services Center provides many resources for students, including the chance to videotape yourself in a mock interview!

• Graduate Advising
• Masters Program
• Biochem & MolBiophysics PhD
• Faculty by Track
• Degree Requirements
• Research Tracks
• Joint Doctoral Program
• Course Offerings
• Teaching Assistants
• Graduate Events
• Student Spotlight
• Room Reservations

College of Science

The Master of Science in Chemistry program offers a non-thesis course of study with a diverse range of courses that range from clean energy, polymers, materials, medicinal chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, and chemical biology.

The MS in Chemistry program is designed to allow practicing chemical professionals in the greater Boston area who have an earned bachelor’s degree in chemistry to pursue a master's in chemistry degree by completing a coursework program during the evening weekday hours. All of our graduate courses meet for 2.5 hours one evening each week for a semester (fifteen weeks). This course of study takes a variable amount of time depending on how many courses students take each semester.  

More Details

Unique features.

• Coursework allows students to maintain employment while earning an advanced degree
• Course-based MS only (except for current undergraduate students in the BS/MS program with thesis requirement)
• Northeastern is a top producer of chemistry MS and PhD degrees in Boston, and our graduate program ranks in the top 20 nationally for degree (MS) granting

Looking for something different?

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-ranked university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

• Online application
• Application fee
• The Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) is a required assessment of all transcripts and documents from non-U.S. accredited post-secondary education institutions. (Review the FCE requirements by country.)
• Personal statement
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Degree earned or in progress at a U.S. institution
• Degree earned or in progress at an institution where English is the only medium of instruction
• Official exam scores from either the TOEFL iBT (institution code is 3682), IELTS, PTE exam, or Duolingo English Test. Scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.

Learn more about applying to the College of Science.

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the College of Science admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Learn more about applying to the College of Science and our admissions deadlines.

Industry-aligned courses for in-demand careers.

For 100+ years, we’ve designed our programs with one thing in mind—your success. Explore the current program requirements and course descriptions, all designed to meet today’s industry needs and must-have skills.

View curriculum

The Master of Science in Chemistry program offers a non-thesis course of study with optional concentrations in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, and in interdisciplinary fields such as polymers, materials, and bio-related chemistry.

Our Faculty

Northeastern University faculty represents a broad cross-section of professional practices and fields, including finance, education, biomedical science, management, and the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside you to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

By enrolling in Northeastern, you’ll be connected to students at our 13 campuses, as well as 300,000-plus alumni and more than 3,500 employer partners around the world. Our global university system provides you with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally and serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

Below is a look at where our Science & Mathematics alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.

Where They Work

• State Street
• Liberty Mutual Insurance

What They Do

• Engineering
• Business Development
• Information Technology

What They're Skilled At

• Project Management
• Data Analysis

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on  Linkedin .

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• Schools & departments

Masters by Research

The MSc by Research is a 12-month program in which the student joins one of the groups at the School of Chemistry to conduct research on a particular project.

Research at the School of Chemistry is very diverse, with over 40 world-leading academic staff working on topics including synthesis and catalysis, biocatalysis, materials sciences, environmental and sustainable chemistry, polymers, functional materials, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, physical chemistry and computational chemistry. MScR students join one of the research groups in the School to work on a project for a period of 12 months, gaining extensive training in doing scientific research, in specific techniques, practical skills, problem-solving, scientific writing and team working.

Pursuing a research degree at the School of Chemistry can help enhance your career options and enable you to take the next step on your chemistry education. In addition to gaining research skills, making friends, meeting eminent researchers and being part of the research community, a research degree will help you to develop invaluable transferable skills which you can apply to academic life or a variety of professions outside of academia.

Please ensure that you have made contact with a potential Supervisor and that you have secured funding before making an application. 

Key Features

• Spend 12 months conducting scientific research in a world-leading group;
• Extensive training in research, practical chemistry, presentation skills, problem-solving, scientific writing and team working;
• Access to world class research facilities, including: mass spectrometry; NMR; research computing facilities; X-ray diffraction facilities for powder and single crystal diffraction; spectroscopy techniques including FTIR, Raman and UV-Vis; and electron microscopy;
• Attend research seminars from academics across the world;
• A large and diverse chemistry community with over 50 academic staff with international reputations in their research fields.
• In addition to research, MScR students attend regular research talks, visiting speaker symposia, specialized training in techniques and safety, and have access to a variety of courses on transferrable skills offered by the Institute of Academic Development

The agreement of a supervisor is required to be accepted into the programme. When enrolling, applicants are requested to provide a preferred research area/topic or a list of preferred supervisors. Applicants may also directly contact a supervisor before applying.

At the end of the 12 months, students must submit an MScR thesis summarizing their work, which is then assessed by two examiners.

My experience at the University can be described as a 0th year of a doctoral programme. It allowed me to explore an entire field of chemistry and familiarise myself with “standard operating procedures” in the scientific community. I can hardly imagine a better step into the world of science than my degree programme.

Why Study With Us?

A Chemistry-based degree gives you an excellent qualification for a wide career choice within science, industry, commerce and many more areas. The valuable skillset of our Chemistry graduates is in demand from employers. At the end of your studies you will have developed excellent analytical and practical skills, as well as problem solving, presentation and communication skills that will have you prepared to continue towards a PhD degree or for a career outside academia.

Our research groups are led by scientists with international reputations in their fields, each supervising dynamic teams of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from the UK and abroad and forming a large, diverse and vibrant chemistry community.

• The capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh is regularly voted as the best city to live in the UK and also one of the top cities in the world to live, study and work.
• The University of Edinburgh is ranked 16th by QS World University Rankings 2022.
• Edinburgh is ranked the 2nd best student city in the UK and 12th in the world - QS Best Student cities 2022
• The University of Edinburgh is ranked 18th in the Times Higher Education: The World's Most International Universities 2021 . Since 2010 we have taught students from 160 countries.

Research Areas

The chemistry/biology interface.

This is a broad area, with particular strengths in the areas of protein structure and function, mechanistic enzymology, proteomics, peptide and protein synthesis, protein folding, recombinant and synthetic DNA methodology, biologically targeted synthesis and the application of high throughput and combinatorial approaches. We also focus on biophysical chemistry, the development and application of physicochemical techniques to biological systems. This includes mass spectrometry, advanced spectroscopy and microscopy, as applied to proteins, enzymes, DNA, membranes and biosensors.

Experimental & Theoretical Chemical Physics

This is the fundamental study of molecular properties and processes. Areas of expertise include probing molecular structure in the gas phase, clusters and nanoparticles, the development and application of physicochemical techniques such as mass spectroscopy to molecular systems and the EaStCHEM surface science group, who study complex molecules on surfaces, probing the structure property-relationships employed in heterogeneous catalysis. A major feature is in Silico Scotland, a world-class research computing facility.

This research area encompasses the synthesis and characterisation of organic and inorganic compounds, including those with application in homogeneous catalysis, nanotechnology, coordination chemistry, ligand design and supramolecular chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, heterocyclic chemistry and the development of synthetic methods and strategies leading to the synthesis of biologically important molecules (including drug discovery). This includes the development of sustainable synthesis routes to prepare new small molecules and macromolecules, underpinned by catalyst design and the use of earth abundant elements. The development of innovative synthetic and characterisation methodologies (particularly in structural chemistry) is a key feature, and we specialise in structural chemistry at extremely high pressures.

Materials Chemistry

The EaStCHEM Materials group is one of the largest in the UK. Areas of strength include the design, synthesis and characterisation of functional (for example magnetic, superconducting and electronic) materials; strongly correlated electronic materials, battery and fuel cell materials and devices, porous solids, sustainable materials, fundamental and applied electrochemistry polymer microarray technologies and technique development for materials and nanomaterials analysis.

International Students

We have a large number of students from all corners of the globe. Studying at Edinburgh really is a great way to meet people from all over the world and if you are an international student you certainly won't be the only one on your course.

All our staff are friendly and happy to help during your time in Edinburgh. Edinburgh Global offers help and advice to all our international students.

Application and Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in chemistry or a related field. If you successfully complete the MScR programme, you may be eligible for the PhD programme.

Language Requirements

All applicants must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of their English language ability:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries
• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component
• TOEFL-iBT: total 92 with at least 20 in each section
• PTE(A): total 61 with at least 56 in each of the Communicative Skills scores
• CAE and CPE: total 176 with at least 169 in each paper
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components

Degrees taught and assessed in English must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your degree programme. IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson Test of English and Trinity ISE must be no more than two years old at the beginning of your degree programme.*

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements  (link: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/applying/your-application/entry-requirements )

This article was published on 2024-03-18

Chemistry PhD / MSc (Res)

Ranking Top 100 QS World University Rankings Ranking details

Delivery format In person

Start date September

Duration PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time; MSc by Research: 1 year full-time

Award Doctorate / MSc by Research

Entry requirements A 2:1 Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject. Full requirements

Fees £4,921 (full-time), £2,461 (part-time) Fee details

Page contents

Course overview.

Tackle current and future scientific challenges with research in Chemistry at Birmingham. You'll enter a high quality research environment that will provide you with the best starting point for your future career.

You’ll receive an excellent research experience at Birmingham. While becoming an expert in your chosen research field, you'll develop a diverse range of skills to equip you for a research career in science. You'll also develop key transferable skills that will be invaluable for pursuing a career in any discipline.

Healthcare Technologies Institute

Experts working together to advance new technologies and treatments that enable people to live longer, healthier and happier lives.

Birmingham Energy Institute

We are focused on creating technology and guiding policy which will shape the energy solutions of tomorrow.

Entry requirements

in a relevant subject (e.g. Chemical/ Biochemical Engineering or any Physical Sciences subject) or a first degree of a lower classification, along with an MSc or evidence of substantial relevant industrial experience.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 Listening, 21 Speaking and 19 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 25 in each skill

Students who have not studied in English must pass a recognised English test. For more information on what proof you will need, visit our International Postgraduate requirements page

Fees and scholarships

The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, supervision, assessment and includes membership to the Guild of Students.

Full-time. Fee to be confirmed

Part-time. Fee to be confirmed

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.

The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

Paying your tuition fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.

Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.

Funding options

Apply for a phd that already has funding attached.

These are most common in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) subjects, but they can sometimes be available for pre-defined research projects in the arts, humanities or social sciences. These may be advertised as fully funded (with fees and a stipend) or competition funded, meaning the projects compete against other projects at each institution.

Self-fund, or search for funding or a studentship once you have an offer

You devise your own PhD topic, find a supervisor, write a research proposal and apply to the relevant programme. If you’re offered a place at Birmingham, you can then apply for studentships or funding from various sources. Our Postgraduate Scholarships and Funding database lists all available funding.

A limited number of scholarships and studentships may be available to outstanding applicants. For further information, please explore our scholarships and funding database.

Application process

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.

If you are applying to an ‘advertised PhD’, please check the details of the specific research project for application deadlines.

If you are submitting your own research proposal, applications are accepted all year round. However, if you wish to start in September, we would encourage you to apply by 1 June. Whilst you are still welcome to apply after this date, it is important to allow time for us to review your application.

If you are seeking funding, please be aware that the majority of funding opportunities have deadlines in early spring so we would encourage you to apply as early as possible.

We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Routes in to Research

There are generally two routes to a Birmingham research degree.

Apply for an 'advertised PhD'

You can apply to an ‘advertised PhD ’, which means it is part of an established research project and is usually funded by the University or other funding body. Generally, advertised PhDs are associated with the physical and life sciences subjects. Some advertised PhDs will be pre-defined but some may require you to propose your own research.

Propose your own research

Apply to any of our PhD programmes and propose your own research that is ‘self-funded’ (by you, a sponsor, or other sources not explicitly attached to the PhD on application). Usually you submit a research proposal and identify your proposed supervisor. These are generally associated with the arts and social sciences.

ATAS - Academic Technology Approval Scheme

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

Career opportunities

Prepare to face the world with upon completion of your research. Through your time with us, you will not only have acquired the diverse range of skills that equip you for a research career in science, but also have developed key transferable skills that will be invaluable for pursuing a career in any discipline.

Careers Network

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one to one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters.

As a postgraduate researcher, you’ll benefit from tailored support to prepare you for a career in academia or set you up for a wide range of other professions.

We also offer subject specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.

Student experience

At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Royal Society of Chemistry

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society for chemists in the United Kingdom.

Course content

Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.

Compulsory modules

Credits: 15 / semester: semester 1.

This module will introduce the area of medicinal chemistry and the underpinning cellular biology where it is applied. The course will delve into the chemical aspects of molecular and cellular biology and the processes that allow life to exist, and subsequently discuss the key cellular targets of interest to a medicinal chemist in the drug design process. This material will form the foundations needed to progress onto higher years of medicinal chemistry where modern case studies and the principles of pharmacology will be looked at in greater depth.

This module gives an introduction to the chemistry of the main group elements, using the periodic table as the underpinning framework for understanding this chemistry, and develops students’ analytical chemistry skills including volumetric and spectrophotometric techniques applied to materials that are familiar in everyday life.

Credits: 30 / Semester: whole session

An Introduction to Organic Chemistry consisting of lectures, workshops and laboratory classes assessed continuously and by four class tests

Credits: 15 / Semester: semester 2

This module builds on the thermodynamics and kinetics that students have studied prior to University. Learning is supported by both problem-solving workshops and undertaking experiments in the laboratory

Credits: 15 / Semester: whole session

This module will provide an introduction to a variety of spectroscopic techniques. Students will explore the theory underpinning various spectroscopic methods, how they are put into practice when acquiring spectra, and the interpretation of spectra to identify unknown substances.

The aim of this module is: (i) to equip students with the basic quantitative transferable skills required for the first year of a Chemistry degree programme. (ii) to broaden a student’s perspective of chemistry whilst developing their general transferable skills focusing on communication and employability. The overarching learning outcome is for students to have the key skills that will equip them to perform well in the rest of their chemistry degree programme. Quantitative Key Skills will be taught using a lecture/workshop format involving problem solving classes, using computers where necessary. General Key Skills will involve a series of lecture-based presentations given by staff from the Department of Chemistry and the Careers Service together with a database workshop and small group tutorials. Extensive use of online platforms will be made.

This module will introduce the areas of Physiology and Pharmacology. The course will delve into the physiology of the human body looking at specific organ systems, their control and function. Physiology is then linked to Pharmacology and drug action to provide an underpinning knowledge of both areas. This material will form the foundations needed to progress onto higher years of medicinal chemistry where modern case studies, organ specific drug action and the principles of pharmacology will be looked at in greater depth.

Credits: 7.5 / Semester: semester 2

This module introduces students to the fundamental principles that underpin modern medicinal chemistry.

The module introduces the descriptive coordination and organometallic chemistry and the concepts underpinning our understanding of this chemistry.

This module aims to (i) further develop the quantitative skills of a student, (ii) introduce students to the Chemistry Key Skill of Molecular Modelling, and (iii) maintain student development of general transferable and employability skills. The overarching learning outcome is that students will gain the necessary key skills to perform well in their chemistry degree programmes. By the end of the module students will have improved their ability to perform and apply mathematical techniques to problems in kinetics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics and molecular symmetry. They will have developed abilities to employ force-field and Quantum Chemistry techniques in Molecular Modelling using the Spartan package. They will also have further developed their range of transferable and employability skills, including written and oral communication and team working.

This is a practical module in which students learn the practice of taking physical measurements, the critical analysis and evaluation of experimental data, the application of measurements to the study of chemical phenomena and the dissemination of results.

This module is the core Organic Chemistry module for Year 2 Chemistry students. It introduces important carbon-carbon bond forming reactions within a mechanistic and synthetic framework, together with exposure to a selection of stereochemical issues.

This module expands on the fundamentals of Physical Chemistry that were introduced in Year 1. The principles and applications of thermodynamics, kinetics and spectroscopy are covered in detail with more emphasis on derivation of key results than in Year 1. Quantum mechanics is developed from the basic principles and mathematical description of quantum phenomena. It is applied to describe bonding in small molecules and in solids, and is linked to spectroscopy via detailed description of molecular energy levels and the possible transitions between these permitted by quantum mechanics.

This module aims to provide practical experience in many of the techniques specifically used in the study of Pharmacology. It will also provide you with the specialist skills and knowledge of techniques necessary to undertake practical work and project work in Year Three. Each practical will be introduced through a 15-20 minute presentation and will run for 3 hours. The module will be assessed through a report describing the experimental techniques and main findings of one of the key practicals, and through a final online assessment aimed at evaluating student understanding of the experimental approaches, underpinning pharmacological principles and data processing/interpretation.

The module presents a unified approach to the synthesis and characterisation of organic and inorganic compounds, introducing a range of synthetic techniques, experiments and analytical methods.

This module will provide an understanding of the quantitative aspects of drug action on cellular receptors and will address the relationship between drug efficacy and chemical structure.

The module will introduce the basic principles of pharmacokinetics, outline the relationship between drug concentration and response, and include an introduction to the principles of toxicity of drugs and their metabolites.

The module will provide knowledge of the molecular biology of receptors.

The lectures will be supplemented with online resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module.

The module will be assessed by both an online test and a final examination.

In year three, you further develop your skills in organic and inorganic chemistry as well as taking 30 credits of pharmacology modules.

This module is aimed specifically at F1B2 and F1BF students. The aim of this module  is to reinforce the relevance and importance of the principles of chemotherapy learned in level 5 (antibacterial chemotherapy) and extend the application of these principles to diseases caused by viruses (e.g. HIV/AIDS) and parasites (e.g. malaria). The module will be assessed by coursework which will consist of TWO separate assessments.   

Module material will be delivered primarily through a mixture of recorded and live online lectures as well as face-2-face on-campus sessions (subject to Covid-19 restrictions), supported by materials on Canvas and other web-based resources for students’ independent learning. Students will be directed to key articles in the literature (textbooks, original papers and review articles) and be expected to use this material to inform their independent learning. A revision tutorial will prepare students for the second assessment (Week 13/14).​  

This module aims to enable students to develop their understanding of the cardiovascular, endocrine and central nervous systems and the mechanisms by which drugs interact with physiological processes operating within each of these systems. They will also gain an appreciation of the drug development process, including clinical trials and drug regulation. The lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises in class will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module. The module will be assessed by an online test and a final examination.

An extension of second year organic chemistry, covering pericyclic reactions, rearrangements and fragmentations, radical reactions, some important palladium-catalysed coupling reactions and the uses of phosphorous, sulphur and selenium in synthetic chemistry. Some core physical-organic concepts are introduced along with revision of basic mechanisms.

This module builds on the fundamental inorganic chemistry that students have studied previously to give an appreciation of the science underpinning the development of modern materials. It will discuss the fundamentals of crystalline and disordered solids, and magnetism; methods for synthesising materials; characterisation techniques; applications of inorganic materials; and the link between the chemistry, structure and function of materials.

The module presents the synthesis and reactivity of the most important classes of heterocyclic compounds and shows case studies drawn from major drug classes.

Credits: 7.5 / Semester: semester 1

This module will introduce students to the fundamental principles that underpin modern medicinal chemistry of anti-infective drugs, building on the principles taught in the introductory medicinal chemistry module CHEM248.

In this module, students will carry out a bespoke collection of advanced experiments in the areas of Organic and Physical Chemistry.

Credits: 22.5 / Semester: whole session

During the first semester students will participate in a group research-based mini-project directed by a real-world industrial problem from a range of industrial sectors. This will be facilitated by the module staff and other colleagues from the institution and wider industry. Students will supplement this activity through an employability portfolio and reflective activities looking at job application exercises, interview preparation techniques and project preparation. Students will engage in a literature review looking forward to their second semester, where students will undertake an individual mini research project based on their project preference and potential projects offered by academic staff. Some developmental projects may be available.

Optional modules

This module shows how an understanding of the symmetry properties of molecules can be applied to the understanding of spectroscopic selection rules and bonding

This module introduces the basic concepts of sustainability and sustainable development, particularly in relation to their technological underpinnings. The module will address the role of chemistry in relation to broad societal, environmental and developmental questions. The module also gives a fundamental understanding of the principles and technologies in Green Chemistry and the generation of Renewable Energy and Chemicals.

This is an introductory module that aims to illustrate the fundamental theoretical principles of selected instrumental analytical techniques (NMR spectroscopy, mass-spectrometry, atomic spectroscopy, separation and hyphenated techniques) in the context of their roles in industrial and academic research, to include chemical and pharmaceutical analysis.

​This module will focus on energy conversion processes found in nature. Energy as a commodity is described as "reducing power" or as "high energy electrons" and the concept of nutrient or fuel is introduced. Biological energy conversion processes are discussed from an evolutionary perspective, and it is described how they have contributed to the current composition of the planet’s atmosphere and crust. Sustainability issues will become apparent when comparing the time scales of biogenic fuel accumulation and human consumption of fuel. 

This module provides the scientific and technical foundation to understand the utilisation of biomass and other renewable feedstocks in the emerging renewable chemicals industry. Most of the reactions and processes studied are currently used in biorefineries and other industries and in this module we will further explore newest development and future outlook in the production of renewable chemicals and materials within the circular economy.

The objective is to extend to Masters level the students’ previous knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular pharmacology. The key topics covered in this module will include prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, and drug-induced cardiovascular toxicity. Several classes of drugs currently used in cardiovascular medicine that were introduced in previous modules will be discussed in more detail, including lipid lowering therapy, anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications, antihypertensives, and anti arrhythmic drugs. Interindividual variability in response to cardiovascular medications will be covered as well as personalisation of drug therapy that has been established in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Several   examples of how genetic makeup of an individual can affect response to medications will be discussed. A number of drugs from different clinical areas that have adverse effects on the heart and vascular system will be also covered. The module is taught through lectures. The assessment will take the form of a summative exercise covering aspects of the taught material. ​

Credits: 60 / Semester: whole session

The aim of this module is to develop the skills necessary to undertake independent chemical research. Students carry out a research project of their choice in an area that is presently active in the department and that is aligned with our research clusters in Chemical Models, Chemistry of World Health, Energy and Interfaces, Materials Chemistry, and, Organic Chemistry and Catalysis. This is delivered by becoming a member of a research group led by academic staff of the Department of Chemistry and by carrying out experimental or theoretical/computational work as a member of that research group.

​ The aim of this module is to  provide a review of drug treatment for common disorders of the brain, focusing on pathophysiology, receptors and ion channels as drug targets, and the mechanisms of action of key classes of neuropharmacological agents. The module will be assessed by both continuous assessment and by a final examination.

This module will develop and extend the knowledge of modern organic synthesis to prepare students for a career as a specialist chemist or for a PhD programme

The aim of this module is to enhance students research skills (academic integrity, scientific writing, research ethics, literature review) complementing their research projects (research project is in a module for either MChem or MSc cohort).

The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of cancer development and progression and how this is exploited in the rational design of drugs to target cancer. A further aim is to explain the molecular mechanism of anti-cancer drugs and the potential for side-effects, drug toxicity and drug resistance. The module will be assessed by a summative exercise and by a final examination.

Advanced materials and technologies in medicine are increasingly important multidisciplinary, global science. This is an introductory module aims to provide students with the essential knowledge required to understand the rapidly advancing field of advanced materials for medicine, in particular Nanomedicine and therapeutics, and healthcare technologies for medical diagnostics. Following some introductory lectures, students will undertake self-directed learning alongside lectures to examine leading published research related to the design of advanced nanomedicines and clinical trials. This module will be useful chemists who wish to develop a deeper understanding of colloid materials, gain a detailed insight into the advanced synthetic approaches used to produce nanomedicines, explore technological approaches for therapeutics and diagnostics, and broaden their knowledge of pharmacology concepts.

How you'll learn

Laboratory classes in years one and two prepare you for independent laboratory work in years three and four.

In year three you will carry out mini research projects, while in year four you will carry out research alongside PhD and postdoctoral researchers on cutting edge projects, often leading to a first scientific publication.

Computational modelling and molecular visualisation are introduced as interactive animated models from year one, reinforced as a key skill in later years and by year four you will be able to perform your own calculations to underpin final year research projects.

How you're assessed

You are assessed by examination at the end of each semester (January and May/June) and by continuous assessment of laboratory practicals, class tests, workshops, tutorials and assignments.

You have to pass each year of study before you are allowed to progress to the following year. Re-sit opportunities are available in September at the end of years one and two.

If you take an industrial placement, a minimum standard of academic performance is required before you are allowed to embark on your placements. All years of study (with the exception of year one) contribute to the final degree classification.

Liverpool Hallmarks

We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.

Learn more about our Liverpool hallmarks.

Our curriculum

The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes :

• Digital fluency
• Global citizenship

Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks :

• Research-connected teaching
• Active learning
• Authentic assessment

All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.

Course options

Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.

Global opportunities

Choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.

Language study

Combine this course, take language modules or short courses.

Global Opportunities

University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide. Choose to spend a year at XJTLU in China or a year or semester at an institution of your choice.

What's available on this course?

Year in China

Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.

• Learn Chinese
• Study in a bustling world heritage city
• Improve employment prospects
• Study Chinese culture
• 30 minutes from Shanghai
• Learn new skills

Read more about Year at XJTLU, China

Year abroad

Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.

• Choose from up-to 26 countries
• Experience another way of life
• Inspire your future career or studies
• Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
• More likely to earn higher salary
• More likely to be employed after graduating

Where can I spend a year abroad on this course?

• South Korea

More about taking a year abroad

Semester abroad

Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.

More about taking a semester abroad

Summer abroad

Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.

• Spend a summer abroad in addition to your degree programme
• Study abroad without adding an extra year
• Choose any summer between your first and final year of study
• Get the chance to study subjects outside your discipline

Where can I spend a summer abroad on this course?

More about taking a summer abroad

Year in industry

Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.

• Develop key employability skills that graduate employers are looking for
• Experience and understand workplace culture and disciple
• Understand the relationship between academic theory and real world application
• Begin your professional network
• Gain industry insight and insight into potential career options.

You don't need to decide now - you can choose to add a year in industry after you've begun your degree.

Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:

• A dedicated languages degree
• A language as a joint or major/ minor degree
• Language modules (selected degrees)
• Language classes alongside your studies

Read more about studying a language

Your experience

Our excellence in research strongly influences our teaching, and ensures that you are engaged in frontier science in optional modules and in project work. Our state-of-the-art Central Teaching Laboratories offer a unique environment in which to study Chemistry.

Your course will be delivered by the Department of Chemistry .

Explore where you'll study

A day in the life of Chemistry student Amy

Inside Chemistry. A conversation with Dr Cate Cropper and Dr Konstantin Luzyanin

Virtual tour, supporting your learning.

From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:

• Careers and employability support , including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
• A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
• Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
• Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team . They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.

What students say...

The research that takes place in the chemistry department here in Liverpool is internationally leading, and makes a huge impacts around the world. Hannah Grisdale , MChem Chemistry

Chat with our students

Want to find out more about student life? Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.

Match with an ambassador

Careers and employability

Visits to the department by leading companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever ensure that you make contact with prospective employers at key stages in your final year. Graduates find employment in many areas, from the pharmaceutical industry to business management.

Typical careers of our graduates include:

• assistant analyst
• development chemist
• research assistant
• site chemist.

Recent employers of our graduates are:

• AstraZeneca
• GlaxoSmithKline
• IOTA Nansolutions Ltd
• Johnson Matthey
• Perstorp Caprolactones
• Towers Watson
• United Utilities

4 in 5 chemistry students find their main activity after graduation meaningful.

Meet our alumni

Hear what graduates say about their career progression and life after university.

Victoria Brown, BSc (Hons) Chemistry 2020

Victoria is graduated from our BSc Chemistry with a year in industry degree in 2020. She received an offer to work as a Global Operations Graduate Associate at AstraZeneca.

Read this story

Fizah Sulaiman, BSc (Hons) Chemistry 2018

Fizah is a graduate from 2018 who completed a degree in chemistry, nonetheless has started a graduate career in commercial at Johnson Matthey, and has gone on to be appointed Strategy Execution Analyst.

Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. Learn more about fees and funding .

Additional costs

Your tuition fee covers almost everything but you may have additional study costs  to consider, such as books.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.

Additional study costs

Find out more about additional study costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.

Select your country or region for more scholarships and bursaries.

Rigby Enterprise Award

• Home students

Are you a UK student with a household income of £25,000 or less? If you’ve participated in an eligible outreach programme, you could be eligible to apply for a Rigby Enterprise Award worth £5,000 per year for three years of your undergraduate degree.

The Liverpool Bursary

If you’re a UK student joining an undergraduate degree and have a household income below £35,000, you could be eligible for a Liverpool Bursary worth up to £2,000 for each year of undergraduate study.

Asylum Seekers Scholarship

Apply for an Asylum Seekers Scholarship and you could have your tuition fees paid in full and receive help with study costs. You’ll need to have applied for asylum in the UK, or be the dependant of an asylum seeker, and be joining an eligible undergraduate degree.

Care Leavers’ Opportunity Bursary

If you’ve spent 13 or more weeks in Local Authority care since age 14, you could be eligible for a bursary of £3,000 per year of study. You’ll need to be a UK student joining an eligible undergraduate degree and be aged 28 or above on 1 September in the year you start.

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

Are you a UK student with a Black African or Caribbean heritage and a household income of £25,000 or less? You could be eligible to apply for a Cowrie Foundation Scholarship worth up to £8,000 for each year of undergraduate study.

Estranged Students Bursary

If you’re a UK student identified as estranged by Student Finance England (or the equivalent UK funding body), you could be eligible for a bursary of £1,000 for each year of undergraduate study.

Genesys Life Sciences Scholarship

Joining a School of Biosciences degree and have a household income of less than £25,000? If you’re a UK student, you could apply to receive £4,500 per year for three years of your undergraduate course.

Graduate Association Hong Kong & Tung Undergraduate Scholarships

• International students

If you’re an undergraduate student from Hong Kong who can demonstrate academic excellence, you may be eligible to apply for a scholarship worth £10,000 in partnership with the Tung Foundation.

Nolan Scholarships

Do you live in the Liverpool City Region with a household income of £25,000 or less? Did neither of your parents attend University? You could be eligible to apply for a Nolan Scholarship worth £5,000 per year for three years of undergraduate study.

ROLABOTIC Scholarship

Are you a UK student with a household income of £25,000 or less? Did neither of your parents attend University? You could be eligible to apply for a ROLABOTIC Scholarship worth £4,500 for each year of your undergraduate degree.

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

• Home and international students

Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.

Technetix Broadhurst Engineering Scholarship

Joining a degree in the School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science? If you’re a UK student with household income below £25,000, you could be eligible to apply for £5,000 a year for three years of study. Two awards will be available per academic year.

Undergraduate Global Advancement Scholarship

If you’re a high-achieving international student starting an undergraduate degree with us from September 2024, you could be eligible to receive a fee discount of up to £5,000. You’ll need to achieve grades equivalent to AAA in A levels and be joining a non-clinical degree.

University of Liverpool International College Excellence Scholarship

Completed a Foundation Certificate at University of Liverpool International College (UoLIC)? We’re offering a £5,000 fee discount off the first year of undergraduate study to some of the highest achieving students joining one of our non-clinical degrees from UoLIC.

University of Liverpool International College First Class Scholarship

We’re offering a £1,000 fee discount for years 2 and 3 of undergraduate study to eligible students progressing from University of Liverpool International College. You’ll need to be studying a non-clinical subject and get an average of 70% or above in year 1 of your degree.

University of Liverpool International College Impact Progression Scholarships

If you’re a University of Liverpool International College student awarded a Kaplan Impact Scholarship, we’ll also consider you for an Impact Progression Scholarship. If selected, you’ll receive a £3,000 fee discount off the first year of your undergraduate degree.

Young Adult Carer’s (YAC) Bursary

If you’re a young adult and a registered carer in the UK, you might be eligible for a £1,000 bursary for each year of study. You’ll need to be aged 18-25 on 1 September in the year you start your undergraduate degree.

Joining a School of Biosciences degree in a non-clinical subject and have a household income of less than £25,000? If you’re a UK student, you could apply to receive £4,500 per year for three years of your undergraduate course.

Entry requirements

The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.

English language requirements

You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country .

We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications .

International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.

PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH

Do you need to complete a Pre-Sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?

The length of Pre-Sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.

Find out the length of Pre-Sessional English course you may require for this degree.

Pre-sessional English

If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests , to determine the length of Pre-Sessional English course you require.

Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.

If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-Sessional English course length you require.

Please see our guide to Pre-Sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.0, with no component below 5.5, for further details.

Contextual offers: reduced grade requirements

Based on your personal circumstances, you may automatically qualify for up to a two-grade reduction in the entry requirements needed for this course. When you apply, we consider a range of factors – such as where you live – to assess if you’re eligible for a grade reduction. You don’t have to make an application for a grade reduction – we’ll do all the work.

Find out more about how we make reduced grade offers .

About our entry requirements

Our entry requirements may change from time to time both according to national application trends and the availability of places at Liverpool for particular courses. We review our requirements before the start of the new UCAS cycle each year and publish any changes on our website so that applicants are aware of our typical entry requirements before they submit their application.

Recent changes to government policy which determine the number of students individual institutions may admit under the student number control also have a bearing on our entry requirements and acceptance levels, as this policy may result in us having fewer places than in previous years.

We believe in treating applicants as individuals, and in making offers that are appropriate to their personal circumstances and background. For this reason, we consider a range of factors in addition to predicted grades, widening participation factors amongst other evidence provided. Therefore the offer any individual applicant receives may differ slightly from the typical offer quoted in the prospectus and on the website.

Alternative entry requirements

• If your qualification isn't listed here, or you're taking a combination of qualifications, contact us for advice
• Applications from mature students are welcome.

Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.

• Chat with us
• Phone: +44 (0) 151 794 5927
• Send us a message

Last updated 7 November 2024 / See what's changed / Programme terms and conditions

Changes to Medicinal Chemistry with Pharmacology MChem

See what updates we've made to this course since it was published. We document changes to information such as course content, entry requirements and how you'll be taught.

New course pages launched.

Year 4 optional module list updated – See course page

• The Graduate School >
• Graduate News >
• UB’s Steven Ray named fellow of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy

UB’s Steven Ray named fellow of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy

Steven Ray, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, has been named a fellow of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Photo: Douglas Levere/University at Buffalo

Associate professor of chemistry is also the society’s incoming president

By Tom Dinki

Release Date: November 13, 2024

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Steven Ray, PhD, associate professor in the University at Buffalo Department of Chemistry, has been named a fellow of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS).

The honor, given to Ray at an awards ceremony at the SciX Conference last month in Raleigh, North Carolina, recognizes individual members for their outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the profession and the society.

“It is a high honor to be named a fellow of the society, especially because the status of fellow is given in recognition of contributions to both the entire field and the society. Many of the scientists on the list of SAS fellows are people that I greatly admire, and I am humbled to now be included in that company,” Ray says.

Ray has also been named the incoming president of SAS for 2025. The recipient of the society’s 2014 Lester Strock Medal, Ray has served the SAS on its long-range planning, fellow and nomination committees, as well as its Applied Spectroscopy publication committee. On the local level, Ray served the Niagara Frontier Section of SAS as secretary and president and is faculty liaison to the SAS student section at UB. 

Ray studies how focused microwave fields can be used to control chemistry and plasma systems. His interests involve novel aspects of analytical chemistry and instrumentation, including atomic spectroscopy, time-of-flight mass spectrometry, distance-of-flight mass spectrometry, ambient mass spectrometry, plasma spectrochemistry and metallomics methodologies. 

He is principal investigator on two projects funded by the National Science Foundation, with a total award amount of nearly $1 million. 

The first involves improving the capabilities of mass spectrometry by using highlyfocused microwave radiation to enhance and control the formation of charged particles from samples of interest. The second explores the effect of microwave radiation on low-temperature plasmas, designing and developing a set of microwave stripline and microstrip structures adapted specifically to the plasma conditions found within different plasma types. 

As part of their work with the NSF, Ray’s team also distributed 12,500 eclipse glasses to Western New York school districts earlier this year so K-12 students could safely view the region’s total solar eclipse.

The publisher of 95 manuscripts and book chapters and the holder of nine patents, Ray is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Media Contact Information

Tom Dinki News Content Manager Physical sciences, economic development Tel: 716-645-4584 [email protected]

Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

At michigan state university, frib research team identifies flaw in physics models of massive stars and supernovae, an international team of researchers led by scientists from the facility for rare isotope beams (frib) at michigan state university (msu) uncovered evidence that astrophysics models of massive stars and supernovae are inconsistent with observational gamma-ray astronomy. the discovery came after the team used an innovative new experimental method to investigate uncertain nuclear properties of an unstable isotope. .

Artemis Spyrou , professor of physics at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) and in the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Physics and Astronomy, led an international research team to investigate iron-60, an unstable  isotope , by using a new experimental method. The team—which included  Sean Liddick , associate professor of chemistry at FRIB and in MSU’s Department of Chemistry and Experimental Nuclear Science Department head at FRIB, and 11 FRIB graduate students and postdoctoral researchers—published its findings in  Nature Communications .

Iron-60 interests astrophysicists because it originates inside massive stars and is ejected from supernovae across the galaxy. To investigate the isotope, Spyrou’s team conducted an experiment at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (FRIB’s predecessor) using a novel method developed jointly with Ann-Cecilie Larsen, professor of nuclear and energy physics, and Magne Guttormsen, professor emeritus, both at the  University of Oslo in Norway. 

“The unique thing that we brought into this collaboration was that we combined our expertise in nuclear reactions, isotope beams, and  beta decay to learn about a reaction that we can’t measure directly,” Spyrou said. “For this paper, we sought to measure enough of the properties surrounding the reaction we were interested in so that we could constrain it better than before.” 

Models are essential for predicting rare astrophysical events

Iron-60 has a long half-life for an unstable isotope—more than 2 million years—so it leaves a lasting signature of the supernova from which it originated. Specifically, iron-60 emits gamma rays as it decays that scientists can measure and analyze for clues about the life cycle of stars and the mechanisms of their explosive deaths. Physicists rely on this data to create and improve astrophysical models.

“One of the overarching goals of nuclear science is to achieve a comprehensive, predictive model of a nucleus that will accurately describe the nuclear properties of any atomic system,” said Liddick, “but we just don’t have that yet. We have to experimentally measure these processes first.” Scientists need to produce these rare isotopes, observe them, and then compare their findings with the model’s prediction to check for accuracy. 

“To study these nuclei, we can’t just find them naturally on Earth,” said Spyrou. “We have to make them. And that is the specialty of FRIB—to get stable isotopes that we can find, accelerate them, fragment them, and then produce these exotic isotopes, which might only live for a few milliseconds, so we can study them.” To that end, Spyrou and her team devised an experiment that served two purposes: First, they aimed to constrain the  neutron -capture process that transforms the isotope iron-59 into iron-60; second, they wanted to use the resulting data to investigate long-standing discrepancies between supernova model predictions and the observed traces of these isotopes. 

New method enables better study of short-lived isotopes

While iron-60 has a relatively long half-life, its neighbor iron-59 is less stable and will decay with a half-life of 44 days. This makes the neutron capture on iron-59 especially challenging to measure in the laboratory since it decays away before reasonable measurements can be performed. To overcome this problem, the scientists developed their own indirect methods of constraining this reaction experimentally. 

Spyrou and Liddick worked closely with their colleagues at the University of Oslo to develop a new method for studying these highly unstable isotopes. The result, called the  beta-Oslo Method , is a variation of the Oslo Method first developed by project co-author Guttormsen at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory. Guttormsen’s approach uses a nuclear reaction to populate a nucleus so that researchers can measure its properties. Though it has proven over several decades to have many astrophysics and nuclear structure applications, it was only possible to apply to (near-) stable isotopes. By combining their expertise in detection, beta decay, and reactions, the researchers devised a way to populate a target nucleus using the process of beta decay itself rather than a reaction. This innovative approach produced the isotope they were looking for much more efficiently and provided a path to constraining neutron-capture reactions on short-lived  nuclei .

“The beta-Oslo method is still the only technique that can give us some of these constraints on very exotic nuclei that are far from stability,” said Spyrou.

Correcting the models will take time

After constraining these key uncertainties about the nuclear reaction network that produces iron-60, Spyrou’s team concluded that the likelihood of that reaction happening inside a massive star is higher than model predictions by as much as a factor of two. The researchers now believe that theoretical models of  supernovae are flawed, and that there are specific stellar properties that are still incorrectly represented. In their paper’s conclusion, the researchers stated, “The solution to the puzzle must come from the stellar modeling by, for example, reducing stellar rotation, assuming smaller explodability mass limits for massive stars, or modifying other stellar parameters.”

This discovery not only has far-reaching implications for the theoretical understanding of massive stars and the conditions inside them, but it also further demonstrated that the beta-Oslo Method will be a valuable tool for scientists moving forward. “This wouldn’t have worked without our project partners at the University of Oslo, who inspired Artemis and me when they presented the Oslo method at a 2014 seminar at MSU,” said Liddick. “We approached them that day with our question about using beta decay, and discussions took off from there. We’ve worked together ever since, and I have no doubt we will continue to collaborate long into the future.”

Sarah Waldrip is a freelance science writer.

Michigan State University (MSU) operates the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) as a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), with financial support from and furthering the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics. Hosting the most powerful heavy-ion accelerator, FRIB enables scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes in order to better understand the physics of nuclei, nuclear astrophysics, fundamental interactions, and applications for society, including in medicine, homeland security, and industry.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of today’s most pressing challenges. For more information, visit energy.gov/science. 

• All categories

PhD candidate on (peri-)urban nature-climate interactions

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science at Leiden University) is looking for:

1 PhD candidate on (peri-)urban nature-climate interactions

Project: Are you an enthusiastic early career researcher who is keen to contribute to biodiverse and climate resilient cities and peri-urban landscapes? Then this could be the ideal PhD position for you!

We are hiring a fully funded PhD candidate (4 years) for the NWO COMBINED project that addresses knowledge gaps on the relationship between climate change and nature in Dutch ecosystems. In the overall project, we contribute to studying measures on climate change, nature and society and the implementation of future strategies. Within the project, the PhD candidate will address several critical knowledge gaps for (peri-)urban areas. The PhD will be situated at the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML).

The PhD research will contribute to understanding the future of urban areas, embedded in the broader physical and policy landscape. You will investigate how current policy and management measures in (peri)urban areas affect biodiversity and climate resilience, and how these measures interact with a changing climate and environmental conditions. By working closely with societal stakeholders, the research will help co-create tools to support planning and monitoring of nature-climate interactions. You will combine methods based in natural science with citizen science or governance approaches to create knowledge with societal relevance and credibility.

Preferred starting date is February 2025.

Selection criteria

• A completed MSc degree in environmental science, ecology, (physical) geography, urban planning, sustainability or a related field;
• Affinity with co-creating and co-producing research with diverse societal actors
• A good understanding of (urban) ecological systems
• Affinity with spatial analysis and/or modelling
• Ability to integrate knowledge on governance processes and urban ecosystems to inform policy and planning
• A team player with a collaborative attitude and ability to work within a team
• English language proficiency - we value experience with scientific writing.
• Dutch language proficiency in reading and speaking, or the willingness to acquire this during the first two years of the PhD

Research at our faculty

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Science which is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has almost 2,800 staff and over 6,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together. For more information, see www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science and www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at

Institute of Environmental Sciences, Department of Environmental Biology, Leiden University

The core focus of the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to contribute to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. CML focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources and preservation of natural capital and biodiversity. CML has a culture of mutual support and collaboration between researchers both within and between institutes. Presently, about 150 FTE (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. The CML has facilities to work with soil, water, microbes, and plants including growth chambers, large field experiments and molecular labs. For more information about CML see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/environmental-sciences .

Terms of employment We offer a 1-year position with the possibility of extension to 4 years based on performance. Salary ranges from € 2.872 gross per month in the first year to € 3.670 gross per month in the fourth year based on a full-time position (pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.

Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups. We give full support to our staff in achieving their potential to become independent academic researchers and teachers. For more information about our policy on diversity and equality please go to the diversity page on our website.

Coming from abroad

Leiden University is an international work place. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. Our Service center for international staff will help you on the way and make you feel welcome to Leiden.

Applications Please submit your application via the online recruitment system, via the blue button at the top or bottom of this page. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration.

• To apply you have to upload a cover letter (max 1 page) outlining both your motivation and your suitability for the project, list of publications, and your CV (max 2 pages excluding publication list) including names and contact details of two potential references. Please do not upload any other documents, they will not be considered.
• This vacancy will be listed up to and including Sunday 2nd of December 2024. Interviews will be scheduled on 16 and 17 December 2024; if you are unavailable in this period, do announce that in the cover letter.

For more information:

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Roy Remme – [email protected] . Please do not contact him with requests for suitability scans, or prereading of motivation letters or papers.