Program Overview

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Overview

This MRes in Chemistry is a 12-month research-based master's leading to the award of a Master of Research. Students from countries that are not familiar with the MRes qualification may, alternatively, be awarded an MSc by Research.

Duration and Fees

• Full-time: 12 months
• Part-time: Not available
• Start date: September 2025
• UK fees: £5,006
• International fees: £32,400 or £38,400 depending on the nature of your project

Research Overview

The research project is the focus of the programme. You will be part of the team collaborating and working within a dedicated scientific group. Working in a research environment, our academic experts will guide and mentor you. The twelve-month project allows you to make a valuable contribution to research.

Research Projects Available

We conduct pioneering research across the whole spectrum of the chemical sciences. There are a variety of projects you can apply for grouped under four themes:

• Synthesis and catalysis
• Biological chemistry
• Materials
• Molecular bonding and spectroscopy

Synthesis and Catalysis

• Total Synthesis of the Marine Alkaloid Pinnarine and Related Natural Products.
• Development of A Photochemically Driven, Modular, Asymmetric Synthesis of Azacycles.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Robert Stockman
• Development of photochemical strategies for the functionalisation of alkenes using nitrogen-centred radicals.
• Development of catalytic methods for the remote functionalisation of alcohols.
  • Supervising academic: Dr James Cuthbertson
• Synthesis and uses of fluorinated macrocycles.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Simon Woodward
• Total synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Neuro regenerative Natural Products.
• Rational Design of New Reagents and Catalysts for amine synthesis and applications in pharmaceutical and alkaloid synthesis.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Ross Denton
• Concise synthesis of alkaloid-like molecules from pyridines.
• Investigating reactivity inspired by terpene biosynthesis.
  • Supervising academic: Dr James Dowden
• Computational organic reaction modelling and design.
• Machine learning in organic reaction modelling.
  • Supervising academic: Dr Kristaps Ermanis
• From palladium to iodine - towards sustainable catalysis.
• Late-stage fluorination of medical imaging probes.
  • Supervising academic: Dr Miriam O’Duill
• Green Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Machine Learning for Process Control
• Synthesis, Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
  • Supervising academics: Professor Mike George and Professor Martyn Poliakoff
• Development of new transition-metal-catalysed enantioselective reactions
• Synthesis of novel conformationally restricted scaffolds
  • Supervising academic: Professor Hon Wai Lam
• Enzymatically synthesised biodegradable polymers for biomedicine applications
• Sustainable polymeric materials for additive manufacturing
  • Supervising academic: Dr Vincenzo Taresco
• From 2D to 3D: Organobismuth reagents for the selective synthesis of complex molecules
• Design, synthesis, and catalytic evaluation of new ligands for cross-coupling
  • Supervising academic: Dr Liam Ball

Biological Chemistry

• Investigation of peptides and enzymes for polysaccharide degradation.
  • Supervising academic: Dr Luisa Ciano
• Molecular Modelling for Protein Folding and Drug Discovery.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Jonathan Hirst
• Photochemical methods for peptide macrocyclisation: towards orally stable peptide therapeutics
  • Supervising academic: Dr Nick Mitchell
• Algae: Sustainable sources of high value compounds.
  • Supervising academic: Dr Ellis O’Neill
• Development of a targeted drug delivery system for anti-cancer agents from a self-assembling protein nanocage
• Generation and Evaluation of new scaffolds for tissue modelling and regenerative medicine based on self-assembling spider silk fibres or synthetic peptides.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Neil Thomas

Materials

• Synthesis, analysis and application of nanomaterials for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to value products.
• Nanoparticles for catalysis of hydrogen production.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Andrei Khlobystov
• Renewable Monomers and Polymers; helping society make the best use of plastics.
• Designing new approaches to 3-D printing of polymers.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Steve Howdle
• Self-assembled metal-organic cages for catalysis, sensing, and drug delivery.
• New synthetic strategies towards stimuli-responsive interlocked molecules to underpin the next generation of molecular machines.
  • Supervising academic: Dr Ben Pilgrim
• Synthesis and characterisation of hybrid organic-inorganic clusters for coupled electrocatalysis
• Computational modelling of heterogeneous catalysis
  • Supervising academic: Professor Elena Besley
• Development of electrolytes and additive for automotive batteries
• Synthesis of redox molecules for organic batteries
  • Supervising academic: Dr Lee Johnson

Molecular Bonding and Spectroscopy

• Quantum pseudohalides magnets.
• Computational investigation of nets for spin liquids.
  • Supervising academic: Dr Matthew Cliffe
• Introducing heterogeneous photocatalysts into flow chemistry processes
• New avenues for C-C coupling reactions using heterogeneous photocatalysis
  • Supervising academic: Dr Anabel Lanterna
• Oxidation Mechanisms of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Plants and their Atmospheric Impacts
  • Supervising academic: Dr Rabi Pun
• Computational modelling of solvation entropy.
• Applications of atomic charge densities in quantum chemistry.
  • Supervising academic: Professor Richard Wheatley
• The study of ionic liquids for thermal transfer
• The development of supported SILP based systems for decarbonised chemical processing
  • Supervising academic Professor Pete Licence

Entry Requirements

Home / UK Students

• 2:2 in an MSci/MChem or BSc degree
• Applications are initially assessed and successful applicants are then invited to an interview.

EU / International Students

• 2:2 in an MSci/MChem or BSc degree
• International and EU equivalents: We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.
• IELTS: 6.0 (5.5 in each element)
• English language requirements: As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications.

Meeting Our English Language Requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language.

Applying

The application procedure is straight forward and similar to a PhD. You can apply at any time. We recommend you contact potential supervisor(s) to find out more about the research projects available before making your application.

Fees

• MRes (Master of Research)
  • Home / UK: £5,006
  • International: £32,400 or £38,400 depending on the nature of your project

Additional Information for International Students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

Funding

You may be able to get a Postgraduate Masters Loan from the government. Check eligibility and how much you could get.

Support

Graduate Centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

• Studying
• Socialising
• Computer work
• Seminars
• Kitchen facilities

Student Support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

• Academic and disability support
• Childcare services
• Counselling service
• Faith support
• Financial support
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Visa and immigration advice
• Welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Previous Postgraduates

• Research Chemist, Pfizer USA
• Others have pursued research careers doing PhDs here at Nottingham in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Chemistry.

90% of postgraduates in the School of Chemistry secured work or further study within 15 months of graduating. The average annual salary for these graduates was £30,053*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time, postgraduate, home graduates within the UK.