EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award: PhD positions in Chemistry

Up to 15 PhD studentships are available across Durham University’s Faculty of Science, for October 2026 start, funded by the EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA).  The studentships are administered through the University’s Science Comprehensive Offer for Postgraduate Education (SCOPE) programme.

Applications will be considered in any area of Chemistry carried out in the Department that fall within the remit of EPSRC, but applicants must first contact prospective supervisors to discuss the possibility of applying and to devise a research project by mutual agreement.

A list of supervisors, with a summary of their research interests, can be found here.

Entry requirements

An integrated Masters degree in Chemistry with a minimum of a 2.1 classification, or an M.Sc., or equivalent from other countries, is normally required for entry.  Note that this scheme is highly competitive.

Closing date: 15/12/2025.

Details

Start date: 1 October 2026.

Funding: will cover tuition fees and stipend at EPSRC rates for 3.5 years.

Eligibility:  The scheme is open to UK and international applicants, but the proportion of studentships awarded to international applicants is limited by conditions of the DLA.

How to apply

Please contact prospective supervisors directly in the first instance for preliminary discussions.  Should they wish to support you in an application, they will provide you with the details to apply through the University’s postgraduate admissions portal.  Applications submitted without the support of a prospective supervisor will not be considered.

Durham University and the Department of Chemistry

Durham University, in the North of England, is a world top 100 university (QS World University rankings) with a global reputation for teaching and research.  It is one of the UK’s most historic universities, sitting in a beautiful, hilly city whose Romanesque Cathedral and Castle form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  As a PhD student in Durham, you will become part of a dynamic and friendly community, and benefit from cutting-edge facilities.

The Department of Chemistry is well-equipped, with modern research laboratories, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and world-class facilities located on the Science Campus, just a short walk from Durham city centre.  At the last REF review of research at UK universities, 96% of our research outputs were rated world-leading or internationally excellent. The Department also has close research links with many industrial partners and other universities in the UK and abroad, with leading scientists from around the world visiting and collaborating with us.

The University provides a working and teaching environment that is inclusive and welcoming, where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.  We actively encourage applicants with diverse career paths and backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and religious beliefs.