Entry requirements
Candidates applying from the UK for entry into the School of Chemistry as a postgraduate student should possess, or should expect to obtain, a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree in Chemistry or in another subject appropriate to the proposed field of study. Candidates applying from outside the UK should possess, or should expect to obtain, a degree at a level equivalent to a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree in the UK system; this degree should be in Chemistry or in another subject appropriate to the proposed field of study.
Months of entry
January, December, November, October, September, June, May, April, March, February
Course content
Please consult the
School of Chemistry website and decide the area of Chemistry in which you want to work, and with which member(s) of staff (see Research interests below) or within which research theme. You can then approach staff members directly, or alternatively contact Norihan Taib, the School Postgraduate Admissions Secretary (see contact details above), who will be happy to provide advice about the admissions process and help put you in touch with members of staff who have similar research interests to your own.
Over the last four years, expenditure of over £2 million has allowed the School of Chemistry to purchase new instrumentation and refurbish and redevelop its facilities for research and teaching. This has been accompanied by the creation of several new staff positions. This increased research strength has been recognised by the research councils, who have given substantial support for research in the School in the last few years. With the facilities and opportunities available to our researchers, we can make real contributions to tackling the scientific challenges that face chemists today.
Research in the School is divided into four research units; examples of specific research topics are given below each unit heading and unit leader.
Biomolecular, Supramolecular and Nanoscale Chemistry
Unit Leader: Dr Zoe Pikramenou
Molecular and biomolecular recognition; supramolecular architectures; nanoparticles; self assembly and self organisation; liquid crystals; bioinorganic systems; light and redox sensitive sensors; photophysics and photochemistry; peptide design; DNA recognition motifs; luminescent labels; metallo-drugs and imaging agents; molecular imaging.
Molecular Synthesis and Catalysis
Unit Leader: Dr Paul Davies
Asymmetric synthesis; carbohydrates; cascade reactions; catalyst design; functional molecules; lipids; molecular design and diversity; natural products; organic reaction mechanisms; peptides; reactive intermediates; reaction design; organocatalysis; organometallic chemistry; sustainable chemistry; synthetic organic chemistry; transition-metal mediated reactions and catalysis.
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Unit Leader: Dr Graham Worth
Atmospheric chemistry; bio-nanotechnology; chemical reaction dynamics; clusters and nanoparticles; computational and theoretical chemistry; electrochemistry; gas-phase molecular chemistry; magnetic resonance imaging; photoelectron and ultraviolet spectroscopy; simulation and modelling; surface and interfacial chemistry; X-ray spectroscopy.
Solid State Chemistry
Unit Leader: Dr Peter Slater
Fuel cell and Li ion battery materials; biomaterials; functional materials; heterogeneous catalysis; high-pressure chemistry; hybrid organic-inorganic materials; hydrogen storage and separation; magnetic materials; nanoparticles and nanowires; organic materials; polymorphism; superconductors; structural chemistry; thermoelectric materials; nuclear waste encapsulation materials; zeolites.
Department specialisms
Materials chemistry; Molecular processes and theory; Molecular synthesis and chemical biology.
First, we recommend you consult our website www.chem.bham.ac.uk and decide the area of Chemistry in which you want to work, and with which member of staff.
Information for international students
The school currently attracts its young researchers from 28 different countries. Many have sponsorship / fellowships from their own countries.
