Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry

Summary

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years. As well as your supervised original research, through your doctoral programme you will have opportunities to expand and develop your personal and professional skills. Doctoral candidates present their work at local and international conferences, and are encouraged to network and collaborate with a wide range of experts in their research field.

This course is also offered at overseas.

Chemistry is the science behind inventions such as semiconductors, polymers, pharmaceuticals and a wide range of advanced materials.

Chemistry gives you a sound understanding of the chemical nature of matter and a grounding in laboratory-based chemical science. It is an extraordinarily multidisciplinary science and the interaction with other sciences has an enormous influence on our modern lifestyle and standard of living.

You will explore the impact of chemistry, from the chemistry of elements and their compounds and the relationship between molecular structure and reactivity, to the role of energy, concepts of bond formation and chemical equilibrium.

Issues such as green science and sustainability, energy and fuels, drug design and development and the creation of new materials will provide a robust foundation to your study, alongside bonding and reactivity, synthesis and reactivity, and the physico-chemical principles and techniques that underlie a wide range of modern analytical methods used in chemistry and the biomedical sciences.

You may then concentrate on advanced materials chemistry, biomolecular chemistry, environmental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, structural and computational chemistry, or the synthesis of bioactive molecules amongst other research interests.

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On possible to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes specialist subject librarians to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.