Key information

Study mode:

Full time

Duration:

1 year full-time, September to September

Application status:

Open

Start date:

September 2025

Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our postgraduate courses will be published from mid-October 2025.

Our MRes in Interdisciplinary Chemical Research provides a unique opportunity to work with two academic supervisors from multiple specialisms on an interdisciplinary research project. This will encourage you to think innovatively, outside of the traditional boundaries of chemistry. You will also gain key skills in research techniques, analytical and ethical thinking, project planning, and communication. This MRes provides the ideal platform for anyone contemplating a career in scientific research in industry or academia and is particularly beneficial to those considering a PhD.

Key benefits

You will initially be based in the heart of London at the Department of Chemistry’s Britannia House (near London Bridge), where you will be taught using state-of-the-art lab research facilities.
The Department of Chemistry is research-focused but excels in teaching as well, ranking 1st in London (source: Guardian University Guide 2020 - League Table for Chemistry).
This is a research-led course taught by staff who are recognised leaders in their fields.
You will be studying innovative modules covering modern interdisciplinary research skills, with a focus upon chemistry.
The open-ended research project is 75 percent of this course, which contrasts significantly with MSc programmes where the emphasis is more classroom based. Your interdisciplinary research project will compel you to work outside of the traditional boundaries of chemistry, to address cutting-edge research topics and real-world issues. 
Your research supervisors can be from multiple disciplines including Engineering, Physics, Imaging Sciences, Dentistry, Neuroscience, The Francis Crick Institute and The Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics. This allows you to explore diverse topics aligned to your interests.

I chose to study at King’s as I was drawn to the rapport between staff and students in the Chemistry department.”

Hayley, Chemistry with Biomedicine MSci

The MRes in Interdisciplinary Chemical Research is an inter-Departmental course. The first three months will equip you with the required skills to better understand research in general: how to better plan and communicate research and how to best execute it either experimentally, computationally or theoretically depending on your project. The first three months will also cover some cutting-edge area of scientific research at King's, and broader skills such as understanding ethics and inclusivity in research. The remainder of the course will be an open-ended research project that you perform under the close supervision of two different academic supervisors, working together to help you perform an interdisciplinary research project. This might be physically in two laboratories or fully computational; it could also be bridging two different fields of chemistry, or combining cutting edge chemistry with parallel sciences, such as pharmacy, physics, biophysics, biology, biomaterials, biochemistry, etc. All projects enable you to become an active scientist and researcher. The MRes in Interdisciplinary Chemical Research is currently comprised of three required modules, totalling 180 credits. Each module provides some flexibility allowing students to customise their study based upon previous experience or your desired research skills. You will complete the course over one year. The majority of assessment focuses upon active skills required to be a modern researcher, including writing literature reviews, research proposals, computational and experimental laboratory reports, poster presentations, oral presentations and oral vivas. Your research will culminate in your thesis, which will be written in the style of a scientific article. You will initially be based at the Department of Chemistry’s research-dedicated building, Britannia House (close to Guy’s Campus, and London Bridge). If required, some learning activities such as lectures will be held at the Franklin Wilkins Building, at the Waterloo Campus. However, the locations of research projects are determined by which research project students are assigned; it will be within London and time might be spent in research labs at any of the King’s Campuses, or King’s-affiliated research institutes (such as the Francis Crick Institute or Randall Centre).

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Application closing date guidance

We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed and we may need to request further information from you during the application process. In addition, if you receive an offer, this programme requires all non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (with some exceptions) to have an ATAS certificate before they can enrol at King’s and this can take some time. We therefore advise applying as soon as possible to avoid any delay in obtaining this certificate.

Our first application deadline is on 9 March 2025 (23:59 UK time). The final application deadlines for this programme are:

Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2025 (23:59 UK time)
Home fee status: 25 August 2025 (23:59 UK time)

After the first application deadline in March:

if the programme is not yet full, we will continue to accept applications until all available places are filled up to the final application deadlines above
if the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications

Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline, and we are unable to process further offers because places are filled and we close the course before the final application deadline.

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Programme-Specific Requirements

Applicants should have a Bachelors degree with a minimum 2.1 Honours (or overseas equivalent) in Chemistry or subjects with analogous labs, e.g. Physics; Biochemistry; Chemical Engineering; Pharmaceutical science; Nanoscience; Materials.

Applications will also be considered from those with a Bachelor's degree at 2:2 level (or overseas equivalent) if accompanied by a demonstration of laboratory research experience.

China - Degree from Prestigious Institution:

Award of Bachelor degree with an average score of 80% as evidence by a Bachelor Degree Certificate and Final Transcripts (with official English translations). 

China - Degree from a Recognised Institution:

Award of Bachelor degree with an average score of 85% as evidenced by a Bachelor Degree Certificate and Final Transcripts (with official English translations). For postgraduate programmes within the King’s Business School and some programmes (i.e. Data Science MSc, Master of Laws (LLM), Political Economy MA, Public Policy MA): offers will usually only be made to applicants from universities considered prestigious by UK ENIC at the point of assessment. A 'prestigious institution' is one which is classified as by UK ENIC or within the Project 211/Double First Class list of institutions. You will be a stronger candidate for admission if you have high grades and are attending a university considered prestigious.

English language requirements

English language band:

D

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King's Apply, the Admissions Portal. A non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.  

ATASIf you receive an offer, this programme requires all non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (with some exceptions) to have an ATAS certificate before they can enrol at King's and this can take some time. We therefore advise applying as soon as possible to avoid any delay in obtaining this certificate.    

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Personal StatementYes  

A personal statement is required. You must answer the following three questions on the application form:

Why are you applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit with your future plans? (max 250 words)
How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words)
Please briefly outline 2-3 chemistry modules you have taken/are currently taking, which might include an undergraduate project/dissertation, which you have particularly enjoyed (max 250 words)  

Previous Academic StudyYes  A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.  
ReferencesYes  One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.  
OtherOptional  Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application.  

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Recorded material

Workshops

Laboratory Training

Individual Research Project

Taught elements of the course in Semester 1 will use a combination of lectures, recorded material, group workshops and individual laboratory training to establish the base skills and knowledge required. However, most of your time will be spent on your individual research project in Semesters 2 and 3; here you will learn on the job, mentored by two academics and their research students.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work, e.g. 150 hours work for a 15-credit module. These hours cover every aspect of the module, including independent study.

Assessment

Tests
Assessed Problem Solving in the Lab
Oral Presentations
Poster Presentations
Literature Review
Research Proposals
Thesis written up as a scientific publication

Your performance will be assessed throughout, with a focus on activities relevant to a researcher. This includes knowledge-based (by exam-style tests), practical skills (by assessed problem solving in the lab), communication skills (by oral and poster presentations) and written skills (by literature review, research proposal, and a final thesis written up as a scientific publication).

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Courses are divided into modules, and students on this course take modules totalling 180 credits.

Required modules

You are required to take:

Expanding the Frontiers of Chemistry (30 credits)

Research Methods in Experimental & Computational Chemistry (30 credits)

Research Project in Interdisciplinary Chemistry (120 credits)

Optional modules

There are no optional modules for this course; all of the choice is built into the above modules, i.e. in ‘Research Project in Interdisciplinary Chemistry’ there is an extensive list of research projects to pick from.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Our MRes in Interdisciplinary Chemical Research provides the ideal foundation for those wishing to enter a career in scientific research. Specifically, this course is ideal for those planning to go onto PhD studies, with many of the skills covered here being required when applying for competitive PhD positions. Additionally, it will benefit any career touching upon research, such as the fields of scientific communication, publishing, patents, etc. Finally, numerous transferrable skills are included in this programme, which is useful in securing a wide range of professional roles.

Tuition FeesUK:

Full time: £13,500 (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £37,800 (2025/26)

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment. The deposits for the 2024-25 academic year are available on the course web page. For further information, please visit the fees and funding section of our website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/fees-and-funding.

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

If you receive an offer before March, payment is due by 20 March.
If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
Library fees and fines 
Personal photocopies
Printing course handouts 
Society membership fees
Stationery 
Graduation costs
Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

原文連結：https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/interdisciplinary-chemical-research