Chemical Biology and Bio-Entrepreneurship
Learn the skills needed to address future scientific challenges in the emerging discipline of chemical biology.
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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White City
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Minimum entry standard
2:1 in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biophysics, Biochemistry or Bioengineering, with at least 50% Physical Science content.
Course overview
Advance your understanding of the emerging discipline of chemical biology on this Master's course.
This area of science sits at the interface of traditional chemistry and biology.
You'll draw on ideas of modern physical sciences and apply them to the solution of biological problems at the molecular level.
You'll also explore the techniques being used to address this next great challenge in biological science: how gene products interact with the molecular and cellular environment.
This course will help you build a range of skills in biomolecular research, with teaching carried out in a multidisciplinary environment.
You'll then apply these techniques to an extended research project exploring a set area of chemical biology.
The programme is run by the Institute of Chemical Biology’s Centre for Doctoral Training.
The research element provides physical scientists with the ability to bridge disparate fields and gain the confidence to grapple with biomolecular research in a multidisciplinary environment.
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
You’ll design a presentation, which you’ll then deliver using visual tools, in an area of chemical biology.
Assessments that test your understanding and communication of various prototyping methods, and experimental evaluation of the created prototype equipment.
The proposal will assess your aptitude to critically analyse published scientific literature and help you plan towards your final research project.
You’ll also reflect on ethical, safety and commercial/societal considerations within this area of study.
You'll undertake a research project, which incorporates a manuscript, a presentation, and an oral examination
The manuscript will evaluate your skills at presenting, describing and critically discussing your own experimental data.
At the presentation, you'll be expected to present your research with the help of visual tools in a concise fashion, while answering questions directly relevant to your project.
Your oral examination will probe your overall knowledge of the project and the research techniques used, and the potential future direction of the work carried out.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Seminars
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Practicals
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Lab work
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Computational work
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Workshops
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Virtual learning environment
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Research project
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Research proposal
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Oral presentations
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Written manuscript
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
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.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
Round 5
- Applications open on Thursday 29 April 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 16 June 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 14 July 2027
Round 6
- Applications open on Thursday 17 June 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 18 August 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 25 August 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
Students who require a student visa to study at Imperial should apply no later than 18 June 2026 to allow for CAS processing.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
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: MRes in Chemical Biology and Bio-Entrepreneurship
- Description: This is a one year stand-alone multidisciplinary MRes course that equips students with knowledge in the understanding of advances in the biomolecular processes and the development of novel therapeutics. A multidisciplinary approach is taken involving the collaborative efforts of biochemists, chemists and physicists from within Imperial College.
Training is provided by academic and industrial scientists in the chemical biology field. The major focus of the course will be an 8 month multidisciplinary research project, jointly supervised by at least one physical and one life scientist. The taught component of the MRes course will equip students with the foundations necessary to complete their research project within a multidisciplinary environment.
Fees and funding
Home fee - MRes Chemistry courses
2026 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £15,600
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.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee - MRes Chemistry courses
2026 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £43,000
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.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Graduates of our Department go on to succeed in a wide range of sectors. These include pharmaceuticals, research and development, consultancy, financial services, food and drink, insurance, defence and data science.
What jobs do our graduates do?
Scientist, Researcher, Business Analyst, Medical Writer, Data Analyst, Sales Representative.
Who do our graduates work for?
GSK, Sygnature Discovery, BCG, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, NatWest, Oliver Wyman, Evotec, Kubrick Group, British Airways. Syngenta, JP Morgan, Deloitte, Cancer Research UK, Charles River Laboratory.
What about further study?
Many graduates go on to MSc, PhD or PGCE study at leading universities.
What careers support does Imperial offer?
Our Careers Service works closely with the Chemistry Department to deliver a range of careers talks tailored specifically for chemistry students.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: T: +44 (0)20 7594 2678
- Email: chemres@imperial.ac.uk
Course Directors:
Dr Laura Barter: l.barter@imperial.ac.uk, +44 (0)20 7594 1885
Dr Rudgier Woscholski: f.aprile@imperial.ac.uk, +44 (0)20 7594 5545
View the Department of Chemistry website.
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Request info
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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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