WELCOME!
As the city where modern atomic theory was first proposed, Manchester has a long history of innovation and excellence in Chemistry.
Our Department is made up of academics specialising in every area of modern chemistry, with access to cutting-edge equipment that empowers their research.
Outside the lab, we have a vibrant network of research groups where staff and students can collaborate and continue to push the boundaries of our subject forward.
We house a range of outstanding facilities, including high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers and several powder systems for X-ray crystallography, which enable us to research and teach at the forefront of modern Chemistry.
Ranked 4th in the UK (QS World Rankings by Subject 2025)
Ranked 22nd globally (QS World Rankings 2025)
Ranked Number 2 in the world and 1st in Europe for action towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
(THE University Impact Rankings 2024)
OUR RESEARCH AREAS AND THEMES
Research across the many varied fields of modern chemistry is at the heart of our department.
We have large institutes where chemistry researchers work with scientists from other disciplines, such as the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, the Photon Science Institute and the Dalton Nuclear Institute.
Our research spans diverse, socially relevant themes, meeting the evolving needs of industry and society.
Key areas include:
- Analytical methods and physical chemistry – the determination and prediction of chemical structure and dynamics
- Chemical biology and biological chemistry – chemical techniques applied to the study of biological chemistry
- Computational and theoretical chemistry – exploring molecular and solid state chemistry across the periodic table.
- Inorganic chemistry – structure, bonding and magnetism of lanthanide and actinide complexes, and more.
- Materials chemistry – exploring materials at the atomic, molecular and supermolecular level
- Organic chemistry – constructing of molecules with reagents as precision building tools.
This broad expertise ensures our research delivers meaningful contributions to industrial innovation and societal progress.
The University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL UK
Royal Charter Number: RC000797