- UCAS course code
- J500
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course description
Begin your journey into Materials Science and Engineering at Manchester, home to the most diverse university activity devoted to materials research in Europe. Material scientists are shaping our world and in the Department of Materials you will develop a true understanding of the science - in practical subjects that meet the needs of an ever-changing industry.
Our three-year BSc course provides both the fundamentals of materials science and engineering and the opportunity for specialisation in the areas that interest you most. In your final year, for example, you can choose to focus on a specific topic such as nanomaterials, metallurgy, polymers, biomaterials, textiles or corrosion science, getting hands-on with Manchester's incredible range of unique facilities as part of your final-year research project.
You'll be taught by leading academics in their field, we are proud of the Department of Materials' excellent Research ratings, and our high staff-to-student ratio means you will receive close individual attention and frequent tutorial sessions. Known for our congenial atmosphere, we place emphasis on academic and pastoral support, helping students from a range of educational backgrounds to reach their full potential.
What's more, our students typically go on to enjoy an average six-months-after-graduating salary in excess of £24,000 - significantly higher than the sector average.
Aims
- We will provide a broad and balanced curriculum in materials science and engineering that both meets the requirements for accreditation with the professional body and equips you with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to pursue a successful career - in either an industrial or research environment.
- You will be taught by academic staff at the forefront of research in materials science and engineering, learning through both advanced course units and project work.
- You will foster subject-specific and transferable skills, including experience of materials processing and characterisation methods, oral and written communication, group work and IT skills.
- We will monitor, review and enhance educational provision to ensure it remains relevant to both the needs of your progression and to current developments in research and industry.
Special features
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Engineering Council and Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). Upon graduating with an accredited Bachelor’s (with Honours) in engineering, plus further learning of an accredited Master’s degree, students will have fulfilled the educational requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
(All our Master’s degrees are also accredited, and so if taken in combination with this BSc course would fulfil the educational requirements.)
Excellent facilities and links
In our new Home of Engineering and Materials , we're ripping up the rule book to offer a truly innovative teaching and learning experience. You'll have access to world-leading sustainable research facilities and some of the most unique, industry-leading equipment and instrumentation in the sector to meet today's requirements and those of the future.
Get hands-on with a fantastic range of on-site facilities and equipment . The Department of Materials is associated with a number of leading centres and institutes, including Graphene@Manchester and the Henry Royce Institute .
Project work opportunities
Our final-year research project will provide you with in-depth experience of working in a team conducting cutting-edge research. It can be the ideal grounding for progressing into work in research and development, or going on to study at PhD level.
Teaching and learning
Coursework and assessment
Assessment is by a combination of coursework and examinations. The subject is by nature practical and this is reflected in the teaching and assessment methods which as well as lectures and exams include:
- Laboratories
- Problem Classes
- Computing Exercises
- Team Projects
- Case Studies
- Essays
Coursework is a key element across all units, with a minimum of 20% coursework based assessment for each unit.
Course content for year 1
Year one provides an overview of the full range of engineering materials used today and the key principles of Materials Science and Engineering that will be used throughout the course.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1G1 | MATH19731 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Mathematics 1G2 | MATH19732 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Physics of Materials | MATS15101 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Equilibrium Thermodynamics | MATS15201 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Microstructures of Materials | MATS15301 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Computing & Communication | MATS15501 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Preliminary Chemistry Materials | MATS15551 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Mechanical Behaviour | MATS16102 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Structure of Solids | MATS16202 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Functional Properties | MATS16302 | 10 | Mandatory |
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Course content for year 2
Year two builds on the foundations established in the first year by focusing more on the processing, design, selection and application of different materials types in real industrial situations.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanics of Materials | MATS23101 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Materials Synthesis and Sustainability | MATS23201 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Phase Transformations and Microstructure Control | MATS23301 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Materials Processing | MATS23401 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Deformation Mechanisms | MATS23502 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Functional Behaviour | MATS23602 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Design, Management and Team Project | MATS23702 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Biomaterials & Biological Interactions | MATS23801 | 10 | Optional |
| Smart & Nano Materials | MATS23901 | 10 | Optional |
| Engineering Alloys in Service | MATS24102 | 10 | Optional |
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Course content for year 3
In year three, alongside core units, you will have the opportunity to specialize through a choice of options. A key part of year three is an extensive final-year project. During this project, you will choose a topic of particular interest to undertake in-depth research. Working within one of the established research groups in the School, this enables you to develop further practical and analytical skills, as well as gain real experience of Materials Research. In the past, such projects have led to students presenting their work at international scientific conferences as well as winning prestigious national awards.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modelling and Data Tools for Materials Scientists | MATS31101 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Materials Characterisation and Analytical Techniques | MATS31201 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Composite & Advanced Materials | MATS31301 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Advanced Manufacturing Processes and Microfabrication | MATS31401 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Functional Materials & Devices | MATS31501 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Structural Integrity | MATS31601 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Themed Research Project | MATS31702 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Drug Delivery & Biosensors | MATS31802 | 10 | Optional |
| Polymer Synthesis & Characterisation | MATS31902 | 10 | Optional |
| Metallurgy of Engineering Alloys | MATS32102 | 10 | Optional |
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Scholarships and bursaries
The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.
For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our Department funding pages.
What our students say
Facilities
The Department of Materials is home to an extensive array of unique facilities and equipment, across both materials science and engineering, and fashion business and technology.
Our new Home of Engineering and Materials opened in 2022 and is a place like no other. This is where engineers, material scientists and fashion students collaborate, innovate and make their mark on the world. Unleash your potential in our creative, academic playground that signals the evolution of a proud history of innovation spanning almost 200 years.
In this very special place, we're ripping up the rule book, offering you a truly innovative teaching and learning experience. As well as our creative classrooms, you'll also have access to world-leading sustainable research facilities in our new buildings.
Our variety of spaces allows for greater collaboration for all our students, and it is the place to connect and tackle real-life challenges together. So, a chemical engineer could be sat alongside a materials scientist working on clean water, or bump into a fashion student developing their own sustainable brand, or an aerospace engineer sending a rocket into space. It is a place like no other for interactions and one of the biggest communities of engineers and materials scientists in any University in the world.
Dive into a world of possibilities, whether you are interested in aerospace, robotics, or sustainable fashion, there's a home for you here. Explore Our Home for Engineering and Material Science .
We also benefit from close ties to a long list of leading centres, institutes and research hubs, including but not limited to, the National Graphene Institute, the Photon Science Institute, Henry Royce Institute, Electron Microscopy Centre, Dalton Cumbrian Facility and BP International Centre for Advanced Materials.