Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £15,800
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £39,400

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

International student CAS deposit

Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2500 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. Some applicants will be required to pay a higher deposit. More information on tuition fee deposits .

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.

The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study, and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Master's Bursaries are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.

We also welcome the best and brightest international students each year and reward excellence with a number of merit-based scholarships. See our range of master’s scholarships for international students .

And, if you have completed an undergraduate degree at The University of Manchester, or are currently in your final year of an undergraduate degree with us, you may be eligible for a discount of 10% on tuition fees if you choose to study on a taught postgraduate course here. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply .

For more information on master's tuition fees and studying costs, visit the University of Manchester funding for master's courses website to help you plan your finances.

Course unit details:
Chemical Engineering Molecular Simulation

Course unit fact file
Unit code CHEN60232
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Modelling at a molecular level is a fast-growing area in modern chemical engineering. It allows the prediction of accurate material information where no or highly limited experimental data is available and also provides a detailed insight into the mechanisms of complex chemical reactions and the phase behaviour of complex fluids. The unit will provide an introduction to quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics and Molecular Dynamics, giving the underlying theory and providing hands-on practical experience.

 

Aims

The unit aims to:

Provide a survey of the modelling techniques used within chemical engineering to predict and control the properties of matter and to give the necessary theoretical background to these techniques. The modelling will include Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Dynamics and will be backed up by an account of relevant aspects of Statistical Mechanics. Hands-on modelling experience will be provided for all these techniques.

 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of CHEN60232, a student will be able to… (1) Assess force fields, thermostats, and numerical integration algorithms to select optimal choices for molecular dynamics simulations. (2) Appreciate the tools of Molecular Modelling and understand the various types of modelling and select an appropriate technique to solve a problem. (3) Use Matlab to create and appraise molecular dynamics code and apply to problems of chemical engineering interest. (4) Employ the principles of quantum mechanics to calculate the structure of molecules and chemical reaction mechanisms. (5) Solve fundamental statistical mechanical problems to allow prediction of system thermodynamics. (6) Examine intermolecular forces and statistical mechanics to explain the phase behaviour and material properties of fluids.

 

Teaching and learning methods

There will be a mixture of normal lectures and tutorial sessions. E-learning resources will be provided. Students will be required to do project work, which will be aided by demonstrators. The assessment will take the form of in-house tests, usually involving computer work.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 34%
Written exam 33%
Oral assessment/presentation 33%

Assessment task

Weighting

Statistical mechanics assessment

Quantum Mechanics assessment

Molecular dynamics assessment

34%

33%

33%

 

Feedback methods

Feedback will be available via the virtual learning environment following marks release.

Recommended reading

  1. D. Frenkel and B. Smit. 2001. Understanding Molecular Simulation: From Algorithms to Applications. Academic Press; 2nd edition (available as an ebook).
  2. P. Atkins and L. Jones. Chemical Principles; any edition.
  3. P. Atkins. Molecular Quantum Mechanics.
  4. A. Leach. 2001. Molecular Modelling: Principles and Applications Paperback. Prentice Hall; 2nd edition.
  5. M. P. Allen and D. J. Tildesley. 2017. Computer Simulation of Liquids. Oxford University Press; 2nd edition.

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Work based learning 36
Independent study hours
Independent study 114

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Samuel De Visser Unit coordinator
Andrew Masters Unit coordinator

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