POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN CHEMISTRY

Professor Martin Wills

Director of Postgraduate StudiesDepartment of Chemistry

PG Co-ordinator (Research students): Mrs Sukhjit Takhar

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN CHEMISTRY

Contents:

What postgraduate programmes are available?Why do postgraduate research?What are the entry requirements?What subject?How do I apply?How do I get funding?

What type of postgraduate degrees can I do?

Taught Masters degrees, MSc (1 year). 1) Analytical Science (AS:MIT); Claudia Blindauer.2) Polymer Chemistry; Remzi Becer.

Doctor of Philosophy, PhD (3 - 4 years).1) Research (Chemistry) 4 years maximum registration but

funding may be for less than this depending on source.2) Research with additional taught courses CTA (requires

industrial collaboration).3) Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells (MOAC) –

a four year degree (and other DTCs); 1+ 3 year model.4) BBSRC DTG studentships (3 or 4 years).

Why undertake Postgraduate study?

1) I really enjoy my subject and want to learn more.2) I wish to have a career in research in the chemical industry3) I wish to have a career in any aspect of the chemical industry4) I don’t wish to have a career in chemistry but it will get me a

better job5) I don’t know what to do at this stage and would like to keep

my options open.

PG’s are also sought for their level of skills which transfer into a range of sectors not just those in chemical research.

A Good Reason to NOT Undertake Postgraduate study

‘I haven’t been able to get a job, so I might as well do a PhD because I need the money’

Research is hard work, with no promise of success, and only you can get the results!

If you are not motivated then don’t do it.

(Be careful what you ask for)

What are the entry requirements?

PhD entry requirements

BSc: First or 2:1 degreeMChem: First, 2.1 or 2:2 degree** Special case has to be made.

BSc: 2:2 degree followed by MSc

MSc entry requirementsBSc: First, 2:1 or 2:2 degree

Think carefully before you apply for a PhD direct from BSc…

Research areas at Warwick

        Chemical BiologyStudying the chemical basis for a vairety of biological problems and developing new chemical methods for the study of biological systems.

        Materials Design, synthesis & application of macromolecular assemblies. Development of chemical and strucural imaging techniques for micro-nanoscale systems.

        Physical Chemistry and Chemical PhysicsFocussing on the structure, properties and reaction dynamics of clusters and biomacromolecules in the gas-phase.

        Synthesis and CatalysisWide ranging research bridging organic, organometallic and inorganic chemistry.

        Theory and ComputationalDeveloping and applying methods for the calculation of the properties and reactivities of matter.

How do I apply ?

1) Decide what type of degree to apply for.2) Decide who you would like to work for (with?).3) Fill in application forms online, 4) Accept formal offer.

Be sure to talk to current PhD students as well as supervisors for a true reflection of the Warwick PG experience.

Note – Warwick system offers studentship without automatic link to funding – you should discuss this with supervisor and/or

Director of Graduate Studies.

Funding your studies1) Determine the area of research that interests you2) Identify academics who have grants.

Or

Apply for Warwick Chancellors Scholarship (CS) or Chancelors International Scholarship (CIS) (note closing date is 31st January 2012).

Or any other scheme you may know of.

From October 2012

CS/CIS Grant will pay EPSRC level stipendALL fees also covered.

PhD’s at Warwick

Normal intake PhD 40-45, MSc 20+

Different grants available

Government research councils (EPSRC/BBSRC) 15-20

Industrial sponsored grants (CASE, ChemD) 4-8

Warwick Sponsored grants (WPRS) 3-4

Self funded any no.

Charities, EU any no.

PhD progression and monitoring

1) Assigned supervisor (day to day supervision)2) Assigned advisory committee (monitors progress independently)

Progress monitored byFirst year: 3 month report, then full report/viva at end of year.Second year: 1 report/viva at end of year, poster presentation.Third year: lecture to department.

Vivas with advisory committee of 2 members of staff in field of study (not supervisor).

Taught MastersAS:MIT replaced IAMBEC from Oct 2010.

1) Taught modules on different analytical techniques2) Five month research project in the area of Analytical ChemistryModules examined by written examsResearch project examined by thesis

1 year MSc in Polymer Chemistry will be available from October 2012.

More details in next talks.

Interdisciplinary Science degrees at the Warwick

Doctoral Training Centres

MSc and PhD at interfaces between disciplines

– MOAC (Mathematical Biology and Biophysical Chemistry)

– Systems Biology– Complexity Science

Typically ~10 studentships available for 2011 for UK students