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Welcome to the Department of Chemistry at Durham

We're proud to be a World Top 100 department with an extensive research base.

"It's incredible to watch our exceptional students develop as scientists and become highly engaged problem solvers ready to shape the future!"

Professor Chris Greenwell, Head of Department

Find out more about us
96% of our research outputs are world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
5th in the Complete University Guide 2024
10th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
11th in the Guardian University Guide 2024

What's new?

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  • Repairing artificial human joints

    Congratulations to Dr Paul McGonigal and Dr Yulong Sun of Durham Chemistry on their study in the prestigious journal Chem.
    An image describing part of the research in Chem article by McGonigal
  • UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship for Dr Clare Mahon

    Dr Clare Mahon has been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship worth £1.7 M.
    Photo Clare
  • EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships Award for Chemistry's Professor Wilson and the ANTENNA project team.

    The £1.9 million funding boost for the ANTENNA partnership investigating sustainable cleaning products was awarded to Chemistry's Professor Mark Wilson, Professor Colin Bain, Professor Andy Beeby, Dr Clare Mahon and Dr Richard Thompson in collaboration with Durham's Centre for Soft Matter, colleagues from Imperial College London and Procter & Gamble (P&G).
  • Chemistry's Aisha Bismillah wins 2021 Merck Research Award for Underrepresented Chemists of Color

    Congratulations to Aisha Bismillah (McGonigal Group) on winning the 2021 Merck Research Award for Underrepresented Chemists of Color! This award is for underrepresented groups in chemistry including third year chemistry graduate students (minimum) or postdocs.
  • Solid State Materials Chemistry Book By Professor John Evans

    Professor John Evans co-authors an authoritative text book on Solid State Materials Chemistry; an example of our excellence in research leading to broad impact and research-led teaching by one of the world experts in materials chemistry and X-ray powder diffraction.
  • EPSRC Programme Grant Award

    Congratulations to Dr Basile Curchod who is Co-Investigator on a recent successful EPSRC Programme Grant worth £7.9 million.
  • Chemistry RSC Prizes 2021

    Congratulations to Professors Steed and Verlet who have both won prestigious RSC Prizes. Both are major or flagship awards from the RSC, well done to both Jan and Jon for their achievements. Please check out the links for a Q+A with both Jon and Jan. For example, did you know Jon’s favourite element is ruthenium and that Jan’s is hydrogen!

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship for Dr Clare Mahon

Dr Clare Mahon has been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship worth £1.7 M.
Photo Clare

EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships Award for Chemistry's Professor Wilson and the ANTENNA project team.

The £1.9 million funding boost for the ANTENNA partnership investigating sustainable cleaning products was awarded to Chemistry's Professor Mark Wilson, Professor Colin Bain, Professor Andy Beeby, Dr Clare Mahon and Dr Richard Thompson in collaboration with Durham's Centre for Soft Matter, colleagues from Imperial College London and Procter & Gamble (P&G).

Chemistry's Aisha Bismillah wins 2021 Merck Research Award for Underrepresented Chemists of Color

Congratulations to Aisha Bismillah (McGonigal Group) on winning the 2021 Merck Research Award for Underrepresented Chemists of Color! This award is for underrepresented groups in chemistry including third year chemistry graduate students (minimum) or postdocs.

Solid State Materials Chemistry Book By Professor John Evans

Professor John Evans co-authors an authoritative text book on Solid State Materials Chemistry; an example of our excellence in research leading to broad impact and research-led teaching by one of the world experts in materials chemistry and X-ray powder diffraction.

EPSRC Programme Grant Award

Congratulations to Dr Basile Curchod who is Co-Investigator on a recent successful EPSRC Programme Grant worth £7.9 million.

Chemistry RSC Prizes 2021

Congratulations to Professors Steed and Verlet who have both won prestigious RSC Prizes. Both are major or flagship awards from the RSC, well done to both Jan and Jon for their achievements. Please check out the links for a Q+A with both Jon and Jan. For example, did you know Jon’s favourite element is ruthenium and that Jan’s is hydrogen!

Respiratone shortlisted for Emerging Technologies Competition final

Respiratone shortlisted for Emerging Technologies Competition final
Royal Society of Chemisty Emerging Technologies Banner

The 2023 Annual MoSMed CDT conference at the Helix in Newcastle

The 2023 Annual MoSMed CDT conference at the Helix in Newcastle

Study with us

  • Undergraduate Study

    We offer both BSc and MChem undergraduate courses, many accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

    Research student in laboratory
  • Postgraduate Study

    Discover our MSc and PhD research degrees at a world-leading university.

    A student with goggles on, conducting an experiment

Undergraduate Study

We offer both BSc and MChem undergraduate courses, many accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Research student in laboratory

Postgraduate Study

Discover our MSc and PhD research degrees at a world-leading university.

A student with goggles on, conducting an experiment

Our research

We are a vibrant, research-led department with an international reputation for cutting-edge science.

Our research is consistently seen as internationally excellent in research assessments and was the best in the UK for impact that has arisen from that research in the last exercise.
Research and impact at Durham

Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, (EDI) is fundamental to a supportive, progressive and successful Department. The Chemistry Department provides an open and inclusive workplace and study culture where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We are responsible for promoting best practice in everything we do.

Meet us and get involved

Our facilities and equipment

We provide services to our in-house researchers and students. We also work with many UK and overseas companies and other universities and research institutions.

We are a recognised centre of excellence in crystallography, attracting academic collaborations from all over the world due to our unique range of instrumentation. Our state-of-the art equipment for powder diffraction measurements and members of staff have considerable expertise in all aspects of this analytical technique.
Our world-leading facilities
Facilities at Durham University Chemistry department

Get in touch

Enquiries about Chemistry and our courses should be sent via the emails below:

Department of Chemistry
Durham University
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE
United Kingdom

 

Telephone (UK): +44 (0191) 334 2076
Telephone (International): +44 191 334 2000

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

Your Durham prospectus

Order your personalised prospectus and College guide here.

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