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Nanomaterials
Discover how investment in nanotechnology is helping deliver major scientific and technological advances.
Discover how investment in nanotechnology is helping deliver major scientific and technological advances
Receive the interdisciplinary science training required for a career in industrial or academic research
Investigate an area of nanomaterials study on an extended research 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 2024
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£14,650 Home
£40,500 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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White City
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Minimum entry standard
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2:1 in chemistry, physics, mathematics, materials, biochemistry, engineering or an appropriate subject
Course overview
Discover how nanotechnology is set to deliver major scientific and technological advances on this Master's course.
You'll explore a growing field of science that represents a fundamental change in the way we interact with the natural world.
This area of study bridges chemistry, physics, materials science, biology and engineering. You'll receive interdisciplinary teaching towards a career in cutting-edge nanotechnology research, whether in industry or academia.
A novel research project is a major component of your studies. This nine-month project will help develop your management and communication skills and problem-solving expertise.
You'll also benefit from this course’s association with the London Centre for Nanotechnology, allowing you to embark on a wider choice of collaborative opportunities.
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
Understand key concepts in experimental and computational nanomaterials science and how scientific advances in the chemistry of nanomaterials are leading to technological applications.
Become familiar with key aspects of nanomaterials research.
Critically analyse published scientific literature, identify a novel contribution and put it in the correct context, and plan towards your final research project.
Optional modules
Explore how lipid structures and dynamics help regulate key biological processes in biology and how this knowledge can be used to design and assemble artificial cells and control molecular interactions.
Become familiar with the science and application of plastic electronic materials and understand the structure property relationships of organic semiconductors and their applications.
Examine aspects of renewable energy generation relevant to the chemistry context, including the generation of electricity and fuels from solar energy.
You'll undertake a nine-month research project, which incorporates a research proposal, project report and oral presentation.
The manuscript will evaluate your skills at putting your contribution in context and drawing conclusions.
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
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures and self-study
- Research project
- 23% Lectures and self-study
- 77% Research project
Teaching and learning methods
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Lab work
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Computational work
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Seminars
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Lectures
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Practical workshops
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Conference
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Presentations
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Virtual learning environment
Balance of assessment
Key
- Taught modules
- Research proposal
- Research project
- 22% Taught Modules
- 11% Research proposal
- 67% Research project
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Written exams
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Literature review
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Research proposal
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Research project
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Oral presentations
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Poster
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Written dissertation
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 2 closes on Friday 19 January 2024
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by midnight (UK time) on the relevant application round deadline to ensure that you receive the outcome of your application by the decision date.
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.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Apply by 3 November 2023
- Decision by 16 December 2023
Round 2
- Apply by 19 January 2024
- Decision by 9 March 2024
Round 3
- Apply by 29 March 2024
- Decision by 11 May 2024
Round 4
- Apply by 24 May 2024
- Decision by 27 July 2024
Round 5
- Apply by 5 July 2024
- Decision by 3 August 2024
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: Nanomaterials
- Description: The course aims to provide theoretical and hands-on practical training to equip students to carry out state-of-the-art nanomaterials research in future PhD studies at University or in Industry; we encourage an analytical approach to a wide range of topics relevant to research and industry and provide training in communication of scientific results.
The course consists of a set of lectures and a research project. In the Autumn term core lectures cover the synthesis, characterisation and modelling of nanostructures, as well as some of their applications, particularly in solar energy. Lectures in the spring term provide brief introductions to specific advanced topics, such as microfluidics, nanomedicine, single molecule detection, etc.
The ten month research project is conducted within active research groups at Imperial College and typically involves two supervisors with experience of different aspects of nanomaterials research. The project starts with a review of existing literature and a project planning phase. The new research can be conducted in either experimental or computational laboratories. A broad range of projects are offered. Broadly, the projects usually involve relating device or material performance to underlying nanostructure. In addition, students will attend departmental seminars and receive training in professional and transferable skills.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2024 entry
£14,650
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, 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 government has not yet published the loan amount for students starting courses in Autumn 2024. As a guide, the maximum value of the loan was £12,167 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2023.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2024 entry
£40,500
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, 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 government has not yet published the loan amount for students starting courses in Autumn 2024. As a guide, the maximum value of the loan was £12,167 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2023.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Develop the essential core knowledge and skills for a career in nanotechnology or similar fields.
Learn what it takes to conduct translational multidisciplinary research to prepare for PhD studies.
The Department of Chemistry also has strong sponsorship links with industry for those considering further study at PhD level.
Chemistry graduates are often employed by leading pharmaceutical companies.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: T: +44 (0)20 7594 2678 and +44 (0)20 7594 1241
- Email: chemres@imperial.ac.uk
Course Directors: Professor Nicholas Harrison and Professor Saif Haque
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