MRes Analytical Chemistry

Year of Entry 2025/26
Student in lab coat

MRes

Analytical Chemistry

Work in cutting-edge facilities, gaining the skills and knowledge you need to work as an analytical scientist — employing classical and modern techniques.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £11,590 for the course
    International/EU: £19,705 for the course

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    1 Year

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025


1. Course summary

  • Combine taught modules with an extended research project in a professional lab.
  • Learn to obtain and interpret analytical data using a variety of instrumentation.
  • Apply experimental design techniques and statistical methods for data evaluation.
  • Develop your expertise in laboratory quality management.
  • Operate industry-standard analytical lab instruments.

On our MRes course you'll advance your knowledge of analytical chemistry and its applications across different industries. You'll gain hands-on experience in key analytical techniques – including separation sciences, liquid and gas chromatography, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. You’ll also develop the skills to apply analytical methodologies to solve complex problems in real-world scenarios.

To complete additional theory modules, see our MSc Analytical Chemistry course.


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2. How you learn

You’ll engage with an interactive and supportive learning environment, designed to develop your expertise and professional skills. The course follows our Hallam Model, ensuring an applied and collaborative approach that helps you thrive academically and professionally.

Lectures introduce key concepts – with interactive discussions and problem-solving exercises to enhance critical thinking. You'll deepen your understanding by engaging with recent scientific developments and applying theoretical knowledge to real-world contexts. Key skills are embedded in your modules and extended research project – including scientific writing, literature and database searching, data handling and critical analysis. 

You’ll progress from tutor-led to student-centred learning, encouraging independence and professional growth. You’ll receive continuous guidance and constructive feedback to support your academic journey.

You learn through:

  • lectures and seminars
  • interactive workshops
  • practical laboratory classes
  • an extended research project
  • working in a professional laboratory

Key themes

In trimester 1 you’ll gain key laboratory skills, modern analytical techniques and data interpretation fundamentals. 

You’ll then complete an extended research project in trimesters 2 and 3, working in one of our research groups to investigate and advance an area of analytical chemistry. You’ll gain hands-on independent experience with a range of advanced analytics equipment – reporting your findings to your supervisor and the wider research team. 

Course-level support

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas. These include:

  • access to academic and career development support
  • one-to-one guidance from student support advisers
  • online and in-person resources from the Skills Centre, including assignment planning and structuring assistance

Course leaders and tutors

Robert Bradshaw
Robert Bradshaw
Senior Lecturer in Analytical Science. Co-Placement Lead for Department of Biosciences and Chemistry.

Robert is a lecturer in Analytical Science specialising in Mass Spectrometry

Applied learning

You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in our laboratories, applying your skills with state-of-the-art instrumentation.

Live projects

Through practical laboratory work, you’ll explore real-world scientific challenges, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in professional environments.

Networking opportunities

You'll benefit from strong links with industry partners and professional organisations such as the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). Career fairs, mentoring schemes and leadership programmes will help you build industry connections and enhance your employability.


3. Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in:

  • academic or industrial research
  • quality assurance
  • analytical laboratories
  • the pharmaceutical industry

Previous graduates have gone on to work within:

  • academia

4. Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


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Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Biosciences and Chemistry Facilities Tour

Take a look around the biosciences and chemistry facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with senior lecturer and recruitment lead Dr Susan Campbell.

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5. Equipment and facilities

Teaching takes place in lecture theatres, seminar rooms and specialist laboratory facilities. Through our virtual learning environment Blackboard you’ll be able to access learning materials, interactive resources and course information – both on-campus and remotely.

You’ll also have access to industry-standard equipment, gaining hands-on experience in scenario-based practical sessions. You’ll gain the technical expertise and practical experience needed for a career in analytical chemistry, using facilities such as:

  • analytical equipment such as HPLC, NMR, GC, IR and Raman Spectroscopy
  • cutting-edge research instrumentation, including mass spectrometry suites with various ionisation techniques (EI, ESI, MALDI, ICP) and mass analysers (QQQ, TOF)

360 tour - biosciences and chemistry facilities

6. Entry requirements

All students

A 2:1 in a relevant Honours degree is normally accepted as the entry requirement for the course. Applicants with a 2:2 are also actively encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants with alternative qualifications with academic attainment or skills in subjects which are directly relevant to the course will also be considered.

To be successful on this course, you must have relevant practical laboratory experience. Details of your laboratory experience must be specifically detailed in your personal statement and verified by one of your referees.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Applied Laboratory Practice
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Modern Analytical Techniques And Data Interpretation
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(60%) , Exam(40%)
Research Design And Laboratory Practice
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Research Development And Data Analysis
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(70%) , Practical(30%)

8. Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £11,590 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,705 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.

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Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Biosciences and Chemistry (PDF, 131.3KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

You apply for this course via our online application form.

Apply for September 2025

You can also use the application form above to apply for future years of entry.

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

Rated Gold in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and graduate outcomes

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Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

Where next?

Find out more about Sheffield Hallam's postgraduate opportunities and community.

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Information for international students including entry requirements by country and funding.

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