Program Overview

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Interdisciplinary Chemical Research MRes

Key Information

Study mode: Full time Duration: 1 year full-time, September to September Application status: Open Start date: September 2025

Course Essentials

The MRes in Interdisciplinary Chemical Research is an inter-Departmental course. The first three months will equip you with the required skills to better understand research in general: how to better plan and communicate research and how to best execute it either experimentally, computationally or theoretically depending on your project. The first three months will also cover some cutting-edge area of scientific research at King's, and broader skills such as understanding ethics and inclusivity in research. The remainder of the course will be an open-ended research project that you perform under the close supervision of two different academic supervisors, working together to help you perform an interdisciplinary research project. This might be physically in two laboratories or fully computational; it could also be bridging two different fields of chemistry, or combining cutting edge chemistry with parallel sciences, such as pharmacy, physics, biophysics, biology, biomaterials, biochemistry, etc. All projects enable you to become an active scientist and researcher. The MRes in Interdisciplinary Chemical Research is currently comprised of three required modules, totalling 180 credits. Each module provides some flexibility allowing students to customise their study based upon previous experience or your desired research skills. You will complete the course over one year. The majority of assessment focuses upon active skills required to be a modern researcher, including writing literature reviews, research proposals, computational and experimental laboratory reports, poster presentations, oral presentations and oral vivas. Your research will culminate in your thesis, which will be written in the style of a scientific article. You will initially be based at the Department of Chemistry’s research-dedicated building, Britannia House (close to Guy’s Campus, and London Bridge). If required, some learning activities such as lectures will be held at the Franklin Wilkins Building, at the Waterloo Campus. However, the locations of research projects are determined by which research project students are assigned; it will be within London and time might be spent in research labs at any of the King’s Campuses, or King’s-affiliated research institutes (such as the Francis Crick Institute or Randall Centre).

Entry Requirements

UK Applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
• Programme-Specific Requirements: Applicants should have a Bachelors degree with a minimum 2.1 Honours (or overseas equivalent) in Chemistry or subjects with analogous labs, e.g. Physics; Biochemistry; Chemical Engineering; Pharmaceutical science; Nanoscience; Materials.
• Applications will also be considered from those with a Bachelor's degree at 2:2 level (or overseas equivalent) if accompanied by a demonstration of laboratory research experience.

International Applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view the equivalent qualifications
• English language requirements: English language band D
• To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Teaching and Structure

Teaching Methods

• Lectures
• Recorded material
• Workshops
• Laboratory Training
• Individual Research Project

Taught elements of the course in Semester 1 will use a combination of lectures, recorded material, group workshops and individual laboratory training to establish the base skills and knowledge required. However, most of your time will be spent on your individual research project in Semesters 2 and 3; here you will learn on the job, mentored by two academics and their research students.

Assessment

• Tests
• Assessed Problem Solving in the Lab
• Oral Presentations
• Poster Presentations
• Literature Review
• Research Proposals
• Thesis written up as a scientific publication

Your performance will be assessed throughout, with a focus on activities relevant to a researcher. This includes knowledge-based (by exam-style tests), practical skills (by assessed problem solving in the lab), communication skills (by oral and poster presentations) and written skills (by literature review, research proposal, and a final thesis written up as a scientific publication).

Structure

Courses are divided into modules, and students on this course take modules totalling 180 credits.

Required Modules

• Expanding the Frontiers of Chemistry (30 credits)
• Research Methods in Experimental & Computational Chemistry (30 credits)
• Research Project in Interdisciplinary Chemistry (120 credits)

Optional Modules

There are no optional modules for this course; all of the choice is built into the above modules, i.e. in ‘Research Project in Interdisciplinary Chemistry’ there is an extensive list of research projects to pick from.

Employability

Our MRes in Interdisciplinary Chemical Research provides the ideal foundation for those wishing to enter a career in scientific research. Specifically, this course is ideal for those planning to go onto PhD studies, with many of the skills covered here being required when applying for competitive PhD positions. Additionally, it will benefit any career touching upon research, such as the fields of scientific communication, publishing, patents, etc. Finally, numerous transferrable skills are included in this programme, which is useful in securing a wide range of professional roles.

Tuition Fees

UK

• Full time: £13,500 (2025/26)

International

• Full time: £37,800 (2025/26)

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment. The deposits for the academic year are available on the course web page. For further information, please visit the fees and funding section of our website.

Deposit

• The Home deposit is £500.
• The International deposit is £2000.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Graduation costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.