Analytical Chemistry MRes
About this course
Are you an analytical professional seeking to refresh your knowledge of analytical chemistry? Are you a recent graduate in a wide range of sciences allied to chemistry?
We can provide you with the advanced knowledge, skills and attributes required to start or progress a career in Analytical Chemistry and its sub-disciplines, or act as a base for entry to PhD studies. This Master's would be a good stepping stone for those in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Forensic Science and Physics.
This course enables you to develop and further your knowledge of chemical analysis, with a range of core modules. You can expand your interests further by selecting module options and an analytical chemistry lead research project within one of our diverse range of internationally recognised research groups.
You'll study chromatography, spectroscopy, and spectroscopic methods in drug analysis. You'll gain knowledge in advanced instrumentation and analysis covering special topics in metabonomics and metabolomics, high-throughput screening, drugs and pharmaceuticals in the environment, drugs in biological samples, and receptor activation.
Supporting you
As a postgraduate Chemistry student, you'll receive tailored support to help you develop the advanced laboratory skills needed for your research and future career.
When you choose your research project, you won’t be doing it alone. You'll work closely with your academic supervisor to identify the specific techniques and skills required for your project – whether that's analytical chemistry, synthesis, instrumentation, or something more specialised. From there, you’ll receive guidance and training to build those skills with confidence.
This personalised approach ensures you’re fully prepared to carry out your research to a high standard, while also developing practical expertise that’s highly valued in both academic and industrial settings.
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The Chemistry team is comprised of academic and support staff that are subject experts in organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry.
What you’ll study
Masters Research Conference
As a postgraduate Chemistry student, you'll have the opportunity to take your research beyond the lab and into the spotlight at our prestigious Masters Research Conference – a highlight of the course and a unique platform to present your project work.
This event isn’t just an academic showcase – it’s a professional networking opportunity. Leading employers from across the industry are invited to attend, offering you the chance to discuss your research, exchange ideas, and make valuable connections that could shape your future career.
Top industry representatives also judge the event, awarding prizes for the most innovative and impactful projects – giving you the chance to stand out and get noticed.
Whether you're looking to continue into a research role or step into industry, this event is a powerful way to build your profile, gain feedback from professionals, and start building your network before you even graduate.
Core Modules
Drug Detection, Analysis and Screening (20 cp)
Study analysis methods include IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques, GC / HPLC, related hyphenated techniques, and immunoassays. Other areas include spectroscopy, chromatography, multivariate data processing, biophysics, and disciplines related to the analytical chemistry of drugs and drug-containing materials.
Research Methods and Independent Study (20 cp)
This module provides an underpinning in research skills relevant to independent study. You will be introduced to the techniques required to formulate a research project and carry out a literature review. You will be given practice in the use of the library and learning resources, including relevant IT packages.
Research Project (120 cp)
You will work on laboratory-based research and will evaluate and review the scientific literature relevant to the topic. Design and conduct experimental work, and present the findings in the form of a presentation, a poster, and a written thesis.
Optional modules
Choose one module from the following:
Analytical Toxicology (20 credit points)
You will understand the science and practice of analytical chemistry applied to forensic toxicology, specifically regarding working knowledge of various drug separation and detection techniques. Applying various analytical approaches, you will learn to detect drugs and metabolites in biological fluids and tissues.
Computational Chemistry and Drug Design (20 credit points)
This module aims to develop the concepts of quantum chemical approaches to molecular drug design and the properties which can be determined with this approach. You will also examine the successes and limitations of contemporary computational approaches to understanding and designing novel drug molecules.
Research project title examples
- MRI Contrast Agents
- Peptide-mineral Interactions
- Small Molecule Approaches to the Elucidation of Protein Function
- Multiplexing
- Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
- Fluorescence Microscopy
- X-ray Diffraction
- Development of Screenable Essays
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
Study hours
Contact hours for 20 cp modules are typically around 50 hours, with a further 150 hours expected from you for directed and independent study.
Assessment
- written exam
- oral presentation
- assignment
- poster presentation
- research project
Learn a new language
Alongside your study, you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have. Find out more about the ULP.
Gain hands-on experience
As well as working and studying under the direction of world-leading pharmaceutical and medicinal science staff, you will gain hands-on experience in a variety of modern instrumentation including:
- multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR)
- mass spectrometry
- transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
- scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
- high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)
How you're assessed
Coursework (37%), written (46%) and practical (17%)
Contact hours
Lectures / seminars / workshops (10%) and independent study (90%)
Careers and employability
At Nottingham Trent University, we know that your employability and job prospects are crucial factors in your choice of university. You need to know that your postgraduate degree will be worth the time and money you spend on it.
Our strength lies in the relevance of our degrees to the real world. In all subject areas, we encourage you to recognise your transferable skills and their application to a multitude of careers. By taking an Analytical Chemistry postgraduate degree, you will benefit from the progressive development of a variety of skills, such as advanced laboratory techniques and the critical analysis and synthesis of breadth and depth of relevant chemistry-specific research.
Chemistry graduates have gone on to work in a variety of job markets, and recent employers include:
- AstraZeneca
- Reckitt Benckiser
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Pfizer
- Alfa Aesar
- Birds Eye.
Although this course does not offer a formal placement, it is vocationally focused and benefits from strong links with the industry.
Re:search Re:imagined
To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From conservation management to sustainable farming, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) and Rosalind Franklin Building with your own allocated fume hood and access to equipment including mass spectrometers and NMR machines.
Our first-class facilities support our high quality teaching and world-leading research across subjects and disciplines. As a Chemistry student you will have access to the:
- a modern electron microscope suite.
- gas and liquid chromatography
- mass spectroscopy
- atomic absorption spectroscopy
- structure determination including powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction
- solution and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR)
- infrared spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy.
Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your course mates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!
You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
Academic entry requirements: UK honours degree (minimum 2.2) or equivalent in a chemistry-related subject (including forensic science, pharmacology, and pharmacy, subject to an assessment of your course content by the admissions tutor).
Applicants with relevant employment experience or qualifications will also be considered
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: UK honours degree (minimum 2.2) or equivalent in a chemistry-related subject (including forensic science, pharmacology, and pharmacy, subject to an assessment of your course content by the admissions tutor).
Applicants with relevant employment experience or qualifications will also be considered
We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
Student visas
Following an update to the immigration rules in January 2024, if you intend to study in the UK on a Student visa, you can only bring your partner / children (‘dependants’) if you are studying one of the following:
- a PhD or other doctorate (RQF8)
- a research-based higher degree.
Please note that all of our MRes courses are classed as ‘postgraduate taught’ and therefore do not meet the requirement for you to be accompanied to the UK by your dependants.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
