Chemistry,PhD

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Entry requirements

For PhD or MPhil, you will need a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, from a recognised academic institution.

If English isn't your first language, you'll also need to have a recent UKVI-recognised Secure English Language Test (SELT) qualification. Refer also to English Language Requirements.

The application

During the application, you'll be asked for the following:

• your full contact details
• transcripts and certificates of all degrees
• proof of English language proficiency if English isn't your first language
• two references, one of which must be academic
• funding or scholarship information
• research proposal of 250 to 1,000 words in length, detailing the subject area and topic to be investigated

By filling out these details as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay in your application being processed by the University.

Supervisors

You can identify and interact with a research supervisor before applying, or we ask that you highlight a potential supervisor in your application and the department will team you up with the best supervisor for your project.

Once we've received your application, your research proposal is passed to potential supervisors for consideration. If it's not compatible with the researcher's current projects and they are unable to supervise, it's passed along to another supervisor for consideration. If they can supervise you, they'll confirm and nominate a potential second supervisor.

As soon as a second supervisor is confirmed, an offer will be sent to you through Pegasus, our online application system.

If you accept our offer of study, you'll receive a full offer in writing via the email address you provide.

Accepting an offer

Once you've accepted our offer, we'll need you to fulfil any academic, administrative or financial conditions that we ask.

UK or EU students

If you're applying as a UK or EU student, you'll then be issued with your registration documentation.

International students

An ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate is a mandatory requirement for some postgraduate students in science, engineering and technology.

Find out if you need an ATAS certificate.

We accept a number of English language tests as proof of proficiency in English. IELTS is the most widely available. Information on this can be found on the British Council Website.

Our current standard requirements are:

• IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)
• Faculty of Science: IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)
• Faculty of Engineering (Undergraduate only): IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall (no individual band less than 5.5)

Some degree programmes have different English language requirements to the above so please check each individual course page for details.

Other English language tests may be acceptable and you can find these here:

• Recognised English language qualifications for pre-sessional and degree entry

If you have a qualification not listed, you should contact our Recruitment & International Office for advice.