Postgraduate students are offered a variety of practical training courses which include the full use of the analytical instrumentation and services available and are encouraged to attend our seminars and to attend international scientific meetings relevant to their research area.
We offer programmes leading to a PhD degree in four classical divisions of chemistry: inorganic, organic, physical and computational. While students will be formally associated with one of these divisions, the research carried out in our Department is interdisciplinary.
The current focus areas are: Catalysis and Synthesis, Energy, Environment and Health, Materials, and Sustainability. Each focus group is composed of members of staff that approach these topics from very different points of view, thus allowing our students to understand fully the context of their research.
Professional Development
Professional development is a crucial element of doctoral study, not only in supporting your research but also as part of your longer term career development. Our DoctoralSkills workshops and courses will help you build your skills and help you succeed in your doctorate.
Assessment description
Most research students who ‘do a PhD’ register in the first instance as probationer for the degree of PhD. Candidates are expected to carry out supervised research at the leading edge of their chosen subject, which must then be written up as a substantial thesis; this can be written in both traditional as well as alternative (by publication) style.
The confirmation of the PhD programme (and the end of the probationary period) is subject to students passing an assessment process, which normally involves submission of written work and on oral examination which usually takes place 12 months after the initial registration.
The final stage of the PhD degree is the oral or viva voce examination, in which students are required to defend the thesis to a Board of Examiners.
