Course summary
Based at the School of Chemistry, our alternative to the traditional PhD offers a unique training period designed to strengthen your research techniques and introduce new technologies and digital methods for Chemical Synthesis through lab rotations. You will benefit from developing a range of transferable skills (including presentation, teamwork and problem-solving) and broader professional skills to enhance your employability. After successfully completing the training element, you will embark on a research project related to Chemical Synthesis. During this time, your scientific development will continue to be enhanced by entrepreneurship training and further professional and academic courses provided by our industrial partners. As a result, you will end your PhD as a well-rounded candidate for careers in both industry and academia. We are seeking applications from students with interests covering the whole breadth of the synthetic chemistry spectrum. We encourage applications from students who would like to carry out research in areas including:
- Chemical synthesis of bioactive molecules
- Sustainable catalysis and biocatalysis
- Synthetic methodology and mechanism
- Computational modelling and analysis
- Experimental and theoretical photochemistry
- Synthetic organic electrochemistry
- Designer ligands for catalysis
- Biological chemistry and synthetic biology
- Inorganic and materials chemistry
- Supramolecular & systems chemistry
- Modern reactor technology: automation and high throughput experimentation
- Synthetic materials chemistry
- Spectroscopy: structure elucidation and reaction dynamics.
Assessment method
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/postgraduate/admissions-statements/2025/phd-technology-enhanced-chemical-synthesis.pdf
How to apply
International applicants
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for postgraduate study. If you study or have studied at a university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualifications, scholarships and education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries
Entry requirements
An upper second-class honours MSci/MChem degree in chemistry, or international equivalent. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £4850 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £4850 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £4850 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £4850 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £4850 | Year 1 |
| EU | £26700 | Year 1 |
| International | £26700 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/
Provider information
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queen’s Road
Bristol
BS8 1QU