Welcome to the Graduate section of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology website. We are proud of our program and pleased you are interested in it.
About Chemistry in Our School
Chemistry is the study of how the tiny world of atoms and molecules can explain and improve our lives and the world we live in. In learning how to do chemistry research, you will experience the thrill that comes with gaining new knowledge and insight into the world. You will also fit yourself for a variety of rewarding careers. As a UCD PhD graduate, you will become an independent scientist, capable of identifying areas of significance, and developing approaches to solving the major problems in chemistry and its many associated fields. Therefore we have an excellent record of placement of our graduates in, for example, the pharmaceutical and materials science industries, in academic positions and in government laboratories and agencies, both in Ireland and abroad.
About Our School and Our PhD Degree Program
The School is home to more than 100 PhD students, from all over the world, who were attracted here by our excellent research facilities and by the exciting intellectual environment provided by a large and thriving Graduate School. The PhD degree is based primarily upon carrying out research, and submission of a thesis, and typically takes about four years to complete. In addition the School offers several programs of activities designed to enhance personal and professional skills. Thus PhD students are expected to attend lectures by visiting speakers and undertake a program of lectures in advanced topics. The largest of these programs, called Dublin Chemistry is offered jointly with the Department of Chemistry in Trinity College Dublin. All of our PhD students are also expected to spend some time assisting in undergraduate laboratories or teaching undergraduates in tutorials. As well as providing some extra income, these duties provide stimulating teaching experience and contact with our BSc students.
An important part of Science is communication of your research and these skills are developed by the presentation of seminars on your research within the School. Each year, our students present at the annual chemistry symposium of Irish universities sponsored by the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland and most students also make poster or oral presentations in at least two major international conferences.
Many of our students also spend a short period doing research in a university or industrial laboratory abroad. This is usually on the continent of Europe but may be in the United States or the UK. Experience of working abroad has been encouraged by the European Community's 'Erasmus' program; under this scheme students also come to work in UCD and countries sending students to the School in recent years have included Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Russia.
Taught MSc in Chemistry by Negotiated Learning
This 1 year full time programme involves the selection of 90 credits of material (including a 30 credit 4 month research project) from a broad suite of modules and is designed for students that want to either broaden their knowledge of the field or concentrate on a specific area in preparation for a research degree.
For further information and details please see http://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/coursefinder/taughtprogrammes/msc-chemistry/
How to Apply to our Graduate Study Program in Chemistry
We welcome applications from suitably qualified graduates with BSc (Hons) degrees in Chemistry, or equivalent.
Firstly, you should familiarise yourself with the wide range of research interests of our academic staff. Feel free to contact any of the staff members to find out more about their research programs. I think you will find that they share my enthusiasm for our School and for the quality of our research program and teaching.
Alternatively, email chemistry@ucd.ie, enclosing a Curriculum Vitae, indicating if you need funding, and a choice of the academic staff whose research areas you are interested in, who may contact you directly. Please indicate 'Postgraduate Studies' in the subject field of your email.
Once a match with a member of academic staff has been identified, our School administrative staff, can provide more general information about admissions procedures. They can be contacted at chemistry@ucd.ie.
General information about postgraduate studies at UCD can also be found on the UCD Graduate Studies website
Declan Gilheany
School Head of Postgraduate Studies
UCD School of Chemistry and Chermical Biology
