Chemistry - MRes
The focus of the MRes in Chemistry is learning through substantial "hands-on" research training along with completion of a final written thesis. Alongside this is a module of research-led teaching, to compliment the chosen chemistry research discipline.
Month of entry
- September
Mode of study
- Full time, Part time
Fees for 2025/26 academic year
- UK - Full time £11,400 per year. Part time £6,300 per year.
International - £17,700 per year.
Duration of study
- Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years
Why study Chemistry at Keele University?
Course summary
Learning is facilitated through hands-on research training and the completion of a final written thesis. You will experience research-led teaching to compliment your chosen Chemistry research discipline which will derive from organic, inorganic, physical and chemical biology subject areas, along with the teaching of relevant research techniques.
You will have the opportunity to acquire postgraduate-level research and employability skills across a range of disciplines within Chemistry, providing a strong background for a research career in either academia or industry or for further study (PhD).
Chemistry at Keele conducts internationally recognised fundamental research in many areas, ranging across the traditional core subsets of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry and chemical biology. As a postgraduate student on the MRes in Chemistry course, you will benefit from our expertise in these areas and our collaborative research links within academia and industry.
Next steps
Course structure
The MRes in Chemistry programme runs full-time (FT) over one academic year (September to August). The programme totals 180-credits, comprising modules delivered and completed over the year.
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Core taught modules
CHE-40052 MRes Chemistry Research Project (120 Credits)
To enhance and further develop your independent research skills in the chemical sciences, focusing on experimental and instrumental skills, development, selection and execution of appropriate research methodologies, data interpretation and analysis, and scientific methods of presentation commensurate with professional standards in the field. It is also possible to complete the course via a Part Time (PT) route over two years.
CHE-40054 Advanced Research Training for Chemists (60 Credits)
To further develop information literacy skills in searching for, selecting and critically evaluating relevant peer-reviewed research literature. To gain an appreciation of the chemistry research process, through engagement with issues surrounding funding, publishing, research integrity and ethics, and impact. To further develop written communication skills.
Next steps
Entry requirements
Successful applicants will be interviewed by the proposed research project supervisor, who they will have made prior contact with before applying for the course, and a member of the MRes programme team or another appropriate member of chemistry staff.
Next steps
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in chemistry or a related subject from a public university
or
CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in chemistry or a related subject from a private university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
65% in a degree in chemistry or a related subject from a '211' university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information
or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in chemistry or a related subject
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in chemistry or a related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Successful applicants will be interviewed by the proposed research project supervisor, who they will have made prior contact with before applying for the course, and a member of the MRes programme team or another appropriate member of chemistry staff.
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group C.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
Professional qualifications and work experience
The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.
Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
Funding
Some travel costs may be incurred if an external project or placement is undertaken; any such costs will be discussed with the student before the project is confirmed. It will be possible for the student to select an internal project and that would not incur any additional travel costs. There may be additional costs for textbooks and inter-library loans.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2025 start date falls in the 2024/25 academic year. Please see the January 2025 fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2025
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
Scholarships
We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage for more information.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Next steps
Your career
Upon successful completion of this programme, you will have completed a substantial research project in Chemistry which could act as a gateway to further research (e.g. PhD or industry).
In addition, you will be able to communicate scientific information, ideas and arguments. You will have developed your problem solving skills and demonstrate key independent learning skills which will inform your future opportunities. The programme aims to assist you with the development of key transferable skills, subject knowledge and awareness of related disciplines.
Keele careers and employability team
Our Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offer a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability. From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.
Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.
Next steps
Teaching, learning and assessment
A dynamic group of staff with a broad range of expertise teach on the programme and supervise research projects. They bring a wealth of experience acquired through fundamental and applied research across a diverse range of areas. Some current staff members are internationally recognised leaders in their field and manage research groups comprising postgraduate research students and postdoctoral researchers, some of whom contribute to the teaching on the programme.
Learning and teaching methods used on the programme may include:
- Lectures, lecture breaks and self-tests
- Screencasts and recorded lectures
- Demonstrations
- Detailed personalised and generic written and face-to-face feedback
- Electronic submission and return of marked coursework (with feedback)
- Audio feedback
- Screencast feedback
- Research projects
- Problem classes and workshops
- IT instruction (spread sheets, word-processing, chemical structure drawing, databases, textbook resources, information retrieval and literature searching)
- Information literacy activities
- Computer-aided learning (simulations and animations, online activities and exercises)
- Chemical Sciences Seminar Series
- Use of e-learning/the Keele Learning Environment (KLE)
In addition to the above, you will also be provided with regular opportunities to talk through particular areas of difficulty, and any special learning needs they may have, with your Academic Mentor or module lecturers on a one-to-one basis.
Assessment
The following list is representative of the variety of assessment methods that may be used on the programme:
- Unseen problem solving
- Oral examinations
- Information retrieval exercises
- Research projects and reports
- Research proposals
- Oral and poster presentations and reports
Next steps
Keele Postgraduate Association
Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.
Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.
Our expertise
You will be taught by a dynamic group of staff with a broad range of expertise who bring a wealth of experience to the programme. Chemistry at Keele conducts internationally recognised fundamental research in many areas, ranging across the traditional core subsets of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. As a postgraduate student on the MRes in Chemistry course, you will benefit from our expertise in these areas and our collaborative research links within academia and industry.
Below is a list of academic staff who supervise research projects for module CHE-40052 MRes Chemistry Research Project, alongside a brief description of their research area.
Please contact these staff members to find out more about possible projects in areas that interest you:
- Dr Sebastian Cosgrove: Chemical biology/Organic synthesis – biocatalysis, flow chemistry
- Professor Gavin Miller: Organic/Medicinal/Chemical Biology
- Dr Charlie Creissen: Materials/Physical/Electrochemistry
- Dr Rob Jackson: Computational Solid-State Chemistry
- Dr Rebecca Ruscoe: Chemical biology/Organic synthesis/Analytical
- Dr Peter Matthews: Inorganic/Materials/Interesting Chemistry for Energy
- Dr Juliana Morbec: Computational Materials Science
- Dr Richard Jones: Inorganic/Materials
Next steps
Facilities
Chemistry research at Keele is based in the Lennard-Jones building which houses excellent, modern, well-equipped research laboratory facilities. You will have the opportunity to use key equipment including NMR (2 x 400 MHz Multi-probe NMR spectrometers), low and high-resolution Mass Spectrometry, X-Ray Crystallography (Bruker D8 Quest Eco single crystal diffractometer), analytical and preparative HPLC and microanalysis laboratories.
Next steps