The University of Cambridge Department of Chemistry is a world-class teaching and research centre recognised for its exceptional record in discovery, innovation and excellence. We consistently rank as the top chemistry department in the UK, and within the top five departments worldwide. We admit around 80 postgraduate students each year. Most of these are PhD students, plus around 20 MPhil students. All postgraduate students are enrolled on to our comprehensive Postgraduate Education programme.
To learn more about what we do here in the Department, and what you can gain by joining us for your postgraduate studies, please see the video on the right. To find out more about being a postgraduate student at the University please see the Postgraduate Guide.
Important dates
We accept applications all year round but can only enter candidates for University Scholarships if they apply by the appropriate deadline. If you apply outside of the deadlines, you should contact potential supervisors to see if they are willing to consider applications and you may need to secure your own funding.
- 4th September | University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions Applicant Portal opens
- 11th October 2023 | US Gates Funding Deadline (12:00 GMT)
- 26th October 2023 | The Open Day will be virtual. Details available here
- 5th December 2023 | Application deadline for all those seeking funding from the University or Department of Chemistry.
- 16th May 2024 | Final deadline for Michaelmas 2024 applications - please note that any application after 5th December will not be eligible to be put forward for the funding competition
SynTech Centre for Doctoral Training
The SynTech Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) offers a four-year PhD programme to train students from a range of backgrounds to think differently and creatively about making molecules, like new drugs, by combining state-of-the-art chemical synthesis with the latest developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Find out more about our SynTech Centre for Doctoral Training here.
NERC Doctoral Training Programme
About the Department of Chemistry
Here in the Department we progress fundamental science in three strategic areas:
- Chemistry of Health Advancing the understanding of health and disease in areas of global importance (ageing, cancer and infection).
- Innovative Molecular & Materials Design Transforming the development and assembly of important functional chemicals to produce new high-value products for novel applications in health care, agriculture, energy, and consumer products.
- Sustainable Energy, Environment & Climate Investigating the impact of chemical processes on the environment and working to develop sustainable energy systems.
At a departmental level academic interests in chemistry are defined according to five research areas, which constitute the department's Research Interest Groups (RIGs): Biological, Materials Chemistry, Theory, Physical & Atmospheric Chemistry, and Synthetic Chemistry.
Our research culture is extensive, inclusive and dynamic. The department sits in the centre of Cambridge, one of the world’s greatest intellectual communities. This enables all who study here to find opportunities to engage and benefit from this extraordinary hub of creative, scientific activity – encompassing the department, its collaborators, industry partners and through the unique experience of College life.