Chemistry

Overview

Your degree programme will place you in the world-leading Department of Chemistry, with multi-disciplinary research expertise, unparalleled facilities and dynamic support infrastructure to revolutionise your research and development.

Introduction

The Department of Chemistry is a place where academic and industrial researchers work side by side, sharing knowledge in highly advanced research labs and supporting your career development.

Join us and you’ll be based in a state-of-the art environment that has a strong focus on cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. We are internationally known for our research, with 99% of our outputs ranked as internationally leading or excellent in the Research Excellence Framework, 2021 . Our 50 academic staff cover a broad scientific spectrum, and we operate in 5 flexible research groupings. Our research impact is felt on a global scale, from antimalarial drug discovery to one of the best-known methods for making nanoparticles.

Few organisations can match our facilities, team and programmes if your passion lies in chemistry research. As part of your research training, you will be encouraged to attend conferences and present your results both within the Department of Chemistry and externally.

It’s possible to study full or part-time for an MPhil or PhD. Part-time study is arranged through enquiry on an individual basis and is useful if you work in industry and want to continue with your career while studying.

Research topics

PhD students can undertake research in a range of cutting-edge areas within Chemistry. Our research is structured around the following key research groupings:

• The Chemical Models cluster innovates all aspects of modelling chemical systems (electronic structure calculations, classical and quantum simulations, data-based and machine learning models and novel combinations thereof)
• The Chemistry of World Health cluster focuses on medicinal chemistry, materials chemistry for nanomedicines, molecular modelling, antimicrobial surfaces research, and bio-organic chemistry with on-campus collaborations with the Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• Energy and Interfaces focuses on renewable energy and interface and nanoscale science with additional core research activities in biomass transformations, heterogeneous catalysis and antimicrobials
• Materials Chemistry focuses on renewable energy and interface and nanoscale science with additional core research activities in biomass transformations, heterogeneous catalysis and antimicrobials
• The Organic Synthesis and Catalysis cluster spans studies on fundamental reactivity through to the provision of synthetic methods for fine chemical synthesis (e.g. pharmaceuticals), bulk chemical manufacture and materials chemistry.

Research culture

Join us and you’ll be based in a state-of-the art environment that has a strong focus on novel interdisciplinary research. Our research groups carry out cutting-edge research in fast-moving fields such as nanotechnology and drug design. Often this involves collaboration with colleagues in other fields such as biology, materials science and physics.

As a postgraduate researcher, you’ll be fully involved in our research activity. This will bring you into contact not only with new concepts, but also our prestigious partners in academia, industry and research worldwide.

(Research Excellence Framework, 2021)

How to apply

• 1. Identify potential supervisors View the staff list for the Department of Chemistry, for details of potential supervisors in this area. If you’d like any help finding a supervisor, please email spspgr@liverpool.ac.uk .

1. Identify potential supervisors

• 2. Prepare your application documents You may need the following documents to complete your online application: A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake) University transcripts and degree certificates to date Passport details (international applicants only) English language certificates (international applicants only) A personal statement A curriculum vitae (CV) Contact details for two proposed supervisors Names and contact details of two referees.

2. Prepare your application documents

• A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake)
• University transcripts and degree certificates to date
• Passport details (international applicants only)
• English language certificates (international applicants only)
• A personal statement
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Contact details for two proposed supervisors
• Names and contact details of two referees.
• 3. Apply Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.

Fees and funding

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

Tuition fees

If you’re a UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland student, tuition fees for academic year 2026/27 are:

If you’re an international student, tuition fees for academic year 2026/27 are:

Please note, the tuition fee you pay will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others, for example if you’re required to undertake laboratory work. You’ll be informed of the fee for your intended PhD in your offer letter.

The University may administer inflationary rises to international fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

• Full time: £5,238 per year
• Part-time: £2,619 per year.
• Full time: £25,350 or £32,200 per year.
• Part time: £12,650 or £16,100 per year.

Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this degree, as well as general student living costs .

Funding your PhD

If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.

There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding . These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.

We've set the country or region your qualifications are from as United Kingdom . Change it here.

Scholarships and bursaries

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

Duncan Norman Research Scholarship

If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £23,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.

John Lennon Memorial Scholarship

If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

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.

Facilities and resources

The Department of Chemistry offers a wide range of facilities to support research including analytical services , technical services and X-ray services . There are facilities across the Faculty of Science and Engineering shared research facilities. The Materials Innovation Factory has a large array of open access equipment worth £14 million.

The department benefits from online subscriptions to a vast number of primary research journals and access to online databases to facilitate your research.

Careers and employability

A Ph D /MPhil degree in Chemistry is very well recognised by employers which means that our graduates are very well equipped to take up employment in diverse career paths across academia, industry, and beyond.

Graduates are well-equipped for careers in a variety of sectors. Potential career paths include:

• Academic and research institutes
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry
• Chemical and materials industry
• Data science, AI, digital technologies
• Industrial R&D and innovation
• Patent law and intellectual property
• Consulting and business development
• Government, policy and regulatory roles
• Non-profit and international development
• Education and science communication.

Career support from day one to graduation and beyond

Once you graduate after completing your PhD, you’ll gain free access to Prosper to help you unlock your potential and kickstart your postdoctoral research career.

Prosper provides structured career development and support, designed specifically for postdocs, in close collaboration with employer partners and principal investigators.

Opportunities include coaching, workshops, webinars and a buddy scheme designed to help you realise the next step in your career journey.

You can also access online resources including the Prosper portal so you can manage your personal and professional development at your own pace.

As a postgraduate researcher at the University of Liverpool, you have access to an exciting portfolio of development opportunities, designed to support your ongoing success and help you realise your ambitions.

These development opportunities, available through The Academy’s PGR Development Hub , are suitable for all subject specialisms. You might be just commencing your research or in the final stages of completing your PhD.

An initial Development Needs Analysis will encourage you to reflect on your abilities. This exploration of your personal, professional and career development needs will form the foundation of a bespoke development plan you’ll agree with your supervisor.

The aim is to immerse yourself in new experiences, engage in development opportunities designed exclusively for postgraduate researchers, and reflect on your progress.

Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in planning for your future career.

You can access tailored guidance and support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops.

The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.

Meet our PhD researchers

These are the trailblazers, the leaders, the true originals. Our postgraduate researchers are shaping their future, and the future of the world we live in, advancing knowledge with each discovery.

Entry requirements

Discover the qualifications you'll need to apply for this course.

You’ll typically need a Frist Class or 2:1 class MChem degree, or their international equivalents, in Chemistry or a closely-related discipline. Applicants with good 2:2 degrees may be accepted but each case is considered on its merits and depends on a suitable award being available. An optional entry route is available for students who already have a research master’s (MRes) degree and wish to go on to PhD, for which a minimum of two years of study is needed.

You’ll typically need a Frist Class or 2:1 class MChem degree, or their international equivalents, in Chemistry or a closely-related discipline. Applicants with good 2:2 degrees may be accepted but each case is considered on its merits and depends on a suitable award being available.

An optional entry route is available for students who already have a research master’s (MRes) degree and wish to go on to PhD, for which a minimum of two years of study is needed.

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.

Qualification | Details

IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 5.5

TOEFL iBT | If you took a TOEFL test on or before 20 January 2026, you’ll need 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 17, writing 17, reading 17 and speaking 19. If you took a TOEFL test from 21 January 2026 onwards, when a new scoring system was introduced, you’ll need 4.5 overall, with 4 or above in all components. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted.

Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59

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.

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.

Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online

6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 6 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with no more than one component at 5.0 | 10 weeks | On campus or online

5.5 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | Online

5.0 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus

5.0 overall, with no component below 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus

4.5 overall, with no more than one component at 4.0 | 40 weeks | On campus

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 6.5 overall, with no component below 5.5, for further details.

Contact us

Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Research areas