Catalysis: Chemistry and Engineering
Advance your understanding of chemical transformations and how to tackle challenges in the field of catalysis.
Advance your understanding of chemical transformations and how to tackle challenges in the field of catalysis.
Gain first-hand insights from leading employers at the forefront of green technology developments.
Apply your research skills across an extensive nine-month project.
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
September 2025
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£14,900 Home
£41,300 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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White City
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Course overview
Build your appreciation of how catalysis underpins a huge range of modern chemical transformations on this course.
With around 90% of all chemical products produced on a commercial scale involve catalysis, you'll explore how this 'green technology' limits waste and improves selectivity.
Imperial is internationally recognised as a leading centre for catalysis research, with over 30 members of the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering departments active in the area.
You'll benefit from this expertise to receive a coherent overview of homogenous, heterogeneous (solid- liquid, solid-gas interface) and (reaction) engineering disciplines.
Training in practical and theoretical skills is provided to help you build towards a career in catalysis research and development. Experts from industry leaders including BP, INEOS and Pfizer deliver some taught elements of this course, opening up opportunities for you to network with future employers.
You'll also explore an area of catalytic research on a nine-month project.
Through this work and taught modules, you'll appraise issues such as scale-up and commercialisation, and the environmental impact of tools and technologies.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take the following core modules.
Core modules
Examine modern concepts of catalysis and understand catalyst activity and selectivity.
Explore current applications and challenges in sustainable chemical processes and products.
Understand reactor design requirements relevant to catalysis and review catalytic processes in the chemical industry.
The proposal assesses your aptitude to critically analyse scientific literature to provide context to your research. You’ll also plan the work packages necessary to complete the research project and reflect on ethical, safety and commercial/societal considerations.
You'll undertake a nine-month research project, which incorporates a research proposal, manuscript, oral exam and oral presentation.
The manuscript will evaluate your skills at presenting, describing and critically discussing your own experimental data.
At the oral presentation, you'll be assessed on your ability to present your research with the help of visual tools in a concise fashion.
You’ll answer questions relevant to your project in the oral examination, which probes your overall understanding of the work and its possible future direction.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Taught modules and project planning
- Individual research
- 33% Taught modules and project planning
- 67% Individual research
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Lab work
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Computational work
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Seminars
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Workshops
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Group discussions
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Virtual learning environment
Balance of assessment
Key
- Essay and examinations
- Research proposal
- Research project
- 22% Essay and examinations
- 11% Research proposal
- 67% Research project
Assessment methods
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Essay
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Written exams
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Oral exams
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Presentations
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Project proposal
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Manuscript
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 1 closes on Thursday 16 January 2025
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Applications open on Friday 27 September 2024
- Applications close on Thursday 16 January 2025
- Decision by Thursday 6 March 2025
Round 2
- Applications open on Friday 17 January 2025
- Applications close on Thursday 27 March 2025
- Decision by Thursday 1 May 2025
Round 3
- Applications open on Friday 28 March 2025
- Applications close on Thursday 15 May 2025
- Decision by Thursday 17 July 2025
Round 4
- Applications open on Friday 16 May 2025
- Applications close on Friday 4 July 2025
- Decision by Thursday 31 July 2025
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
- £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
- £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH07-02-01
- Descriptor: chemistry
- Supervisor name: Professor Oscar Ces
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
The description of the MRes course that you should use in your ATAS application is the below:
- Title of the research: Catalysis
- Description: The MRes course in Catalysis at Imperial College London is designed to improve the students understanding and experience in all areas of Catalysis by promoting the design and efficient use of catalytic systems for the production of fine and bulk chemicals. The student’s research project will be based in a multidisciplinary area, supervised by a chemist and another academic. This will often be a chemical engineer, who will provide complementary expertise to the project. The student will be examining areas such as homogenous and heterogeneous catalysis, catalyst design and synthesis, reaction mechanisms and reaction engineering. These studies will include a proposal, dissertation, oral presentations, a viva and exams.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£14,900
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£41,300
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Explore international careers in chemistry, chemical engineering, or PhD programmes.
Industry links make this an excellent program for students pursuing careers in this field.
Find out what researchers are doing across industries at UK research and development facilities.
Engage in personal networking with prospective employers.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: T: +44 (0)20 7594 2678
- Email: chemres@imperial.ac.uk
Course Directors: Professor George Britovsek and Dr Silvia Diez-Gonzalez
View the Department of Chemistry website.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications