Tackle current and future scientific challenges with research in Chemistry at Birmingham. You'll enter a high quality research environment that will provide you with the best starting point for your future career.
You’ll receive an excellent research experience at Birmingham. While becoming an expert in your chosen research field, you'll develop a diverse range of skills to equip you for a research career in science. You'll also develop key transferable skills that will be invaluable for pursuing a career in any discipline.
The best thing about my course was the quality of teaching I received. I also personally really enjoyed getting involved in the sporting activities at the University.
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly postgraduate students to get their thoughts on our courses, stunning campus and life in a vibrant and cultural city.
You will mainly be based in the School of Chemistry, but many of our research projects involve collaboration with industrial and government organisations. You are expected to undertake both Taught Modules (120 credits) and Research as part of this programme.
Make a real contribution to tackle challenges faced by chemists today. Join a thriving research department carrying out research across a range of chemical disciplines. You'll find your niche in a research-led school with a units in Molecular Synthesis and Biological Chemistry, Interactions, Interfaces and Sensing, Materials Chemistry. As a research-led School, which has received significant recent investment for research infrastructure, you'll work in a high quality research environment that provides its researchers with the best base for quality research.
100 postgraduate students and postdoctoral research fellows carrying out exciting research across a broad range of chemical disciplines
Join a high-quality research environment that will provide you with the best starting point for your future career
Birmingham is ranked 80th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, maintaining our position in the top 100 universities globally and placing us 12th amongst UK universities.
This is a research-based PhD programme seeking to recruit excellent researchers to assist us in building our quality portfolio.
At Birmingham, you can apply for an advertised PhD or propose your own research. An advertised PhD is typically part of an established research project and is usually funded by the University or another funding body.
If you want to pursue your own research project, you can apply to our research programmes to propose this. This is self-funded although scholarships are available.
If you’d rather propose your own research, the first step is to find your supervisor. We encourage you to browse the biographies of faculty members to familiarise yourself with the research going on in your preferred areas. Each of these contains detailed information on research interests, current projects and recent publications.
When you apply, you can suggest one or two potential supervisors, who you think might be a good fit for you. However, this is not essential. If you know what you want to work on, but are unsure on supervisors, you can indicate this in your application and the PhD programme co-directors will study your proposal in detail, and judge who is best suited to be your supervisory team.
Find a PhD project that suits your interests by using our FindAPhD tool.
Our current research priorities, facilities and infrastructure put us in a strong position to achieve urgent scientific challenges.
Research in this unit is focused on answering fundamental questions relating to molecular structure, chemical reactivity and physical properties.
Research in this Unit involves measurement, technique and instrument development and computation, with applications right across chemistry and with strong links to biosciences, chemical engineering, computer science, materials science, medicine and physics.
Our research is in the area of material design, synthesis and characterisation for applications such as battery and hydrogen storage/fuel cell materials, functional polymers, porous solids for catalysis, gas storage and nuclear waste remediation, nanoscience, drug delivery, recycling and sustainability.
The Physical Sciences for Health (Sci-Phy) Centre focuses on research at the interface between chemical, physical, biomedical, engineering and computer science.
The Faraday Institution is the UK’s independent, national institute for electrochemical energy storage science and technology, supporting research, training and analysis.
Our expertise in science, economics and law allows us to answer the challenges that are created by the need for strategic elements and critical materials.
Experts working together to advance new technologies and treatments that enable people to live longer, healthier and happier lives.
We are focused on creating technology and guiding policy which will shape the energy solutions of tomorrow.
in a relevant subject (e.g. Chemical/ Biochemical Engineering or any Physical Sciences subject) or a first degree of a lower classification, along with an MSc or evidence of substantial relevant industrial experience.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band, which is equivalent to:
Students who have not studied in English must pass a recognised English test. For more information on what proof you will need, visit our International Postgraduate requirements page
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, supervision, assessment and includes membership to the Guild of Students.
Full-time. Fee to be confirmed
Part-time. Fee to be confirmed
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.
The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.
Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.
Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.
These are most common in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) subjects, but they can sometimes be available for pre-defined research projects in the arts, humanities or social sciences. These may be advertised as fully funded (with fees and a stipend) or competition funded, meaning the projects compete against other projects at each institution.
You devise your own PhD topic, find a supervisor, write a research proposal and apply to the relevant programme. If you’re offered a place at Birmingham, you can then apply for studentships or funding from various sources. Our Postgraduate Scholarships and Funding database lists all available funding.
A limited number of scholarships and studentships may be available to outstanding applicants. For further information, please explore our scholarships and funding database.
To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
If you are applying to an ‘advertised PhD’, please check the details of the specific research project for application deadlines.
If you are submitting your own research proposal, applications are accepted all year round. However, if you wish to start in September, we would encourage you to apply by 1 June. Whilst you are still welcome to apply after this date, it is important to allow time for us to review your application.
If you are seeking funding, please be aware that the majority of funding opportunities have deadlines in early spring so we would encourage you to apply as early as possible.
We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
There are generally two routes to a Birmingham research degree.
You can apply to an ‘advertised PhD’, which means it is part of an established research project and is usually funded by the University or other funding body. Generally, advertised PhDs are associated with the physical and life sciences subjects. Some advertised PhDs will be pre-defined but some may require you to propose your own research.
Apply to any of our PhD programmes and propose your own research that is ‘self-funded’ (by you, a sponsor, or other sources not explicitly attached to the PhD on application). Usually you submit a research proposal and identify your proposed supervisor. These are generally associated with the arts and social sciences.
International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.
Prepare to face the world with upon completion of your research. Through your time with us, you will not only have acquired the diverse range of skills that equip you for a research career in science, but also have developed key transferable skills that will be invaluable for pursuing a career in any discipline.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one to one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters.
As a postgraduate researcher, you’ll benefit from tailored support to prepare you for a career in academia or set you up for a wide range of other professions.
We also offer subject specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
As a postgraduate researcher, you’ll have a variety of choices of accommodation. Stay with us in our dedicated postgraduate halls or explore a wide range of private accommodation close to campus.
As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham is a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.
Our green and spacious campus is the place where our community comes together to learn, relax and socialise. Like a town of its own, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students so that you can get the most out of your university experience.
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state of the art facilities.
