BSc/MEng Materials Science with an Integrated Foundation Year / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Begin your journey to a materials science degree with our one-year Integrated Foundation Year programme, which aims to improve your mathematical and scientific understanding and skills to a level where you are able to start a degree with us in the Department of Materials.

By completing the course and meeting the specific progression criteria, you can continue to a degree in one of the following subject areas:

Materials Science and Engineering, BSc

Materials Science and Engineering,MEng

Materials Science and Engineering with Biomaterials, MEng

Materials Science and Engineering with Corrosion, MEng

Materials Science and Engineering with Metallurgy, MEng

Materials Science and Engineering with Nanomaterials, MEng

Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers, MEng

Materials Science and Engineering with Textiles Technology, MEng

On the Foundation Year you will study mathematics, physics and chemistry. You will also take modules in Academic Skills and ICT (Information and Communications Technology), and complete a group project related to your intended degree programme and supervised by an academic from the Department of Materials.

You will be part of The University of Manchester and have the best possible preparation for first year on one our materials science degrees.

Aims

  • We aim to help you improve your mathematical and scientific understanding to a level where you are able to start a materials science degree.
  • You will be taught mathematics, physics and chemistry, and will take modules in Academic Skills and ICT (Information and Communications Technology).
  • You will be an undergraduate at The University of Manchester, benefitting from full access to the University's facilities.

Special features

Welcoming environment

We accept students from a wide range of educational and cultural backgrounds, and foster a welcoming, collegiate atmosphere.

Teaching and support

You will be taught by highly experienced university academics, with a proven track record in their field. We also provide high levels of both academic and pastoral support.

Being part of the University

On the Materials Science with an Integrated Foundation Year you are an undergraduate at The University of Manchester, with access to all University facilities. Successful completion then guarantees you a place on the first year of your chosen materials science degree.

Teaching and learning

The programme embraces a variety of approaches to teaching and learning, including lectures, small group tutorials, seminars and project work. Particular strengths are the high level of staff contact and individual learning support, individual pastoral support, project work in natural science-based Departments and associated disciplines within the Faculty.

Your focus is the Foundation Studies Office, where staff provide day to day support. The dedicated Common Room offers you a place to study, prepare coursework, carry out work using the computers, or simply socialise. There is a strong sense of community within the student body and excellent tutorial support. Materials Science with an Integrated Foundation Year is delivered on the University campus by University staff.

With strong links with the Department of Materials, the environment for study is essentially the same as for undergraduate study on degree programmes in natural science and associated disciplines. You will find that this assists greatly in easing your move into first year of your chosen degree programme on successful completion of the foundation year.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment is based primarily on formal examinations at the end of each semester, in January and May/June. A smaller proportion (typically 20%) of your overall assessment is based on coursework carried out throughout the academic year.

Course unit details

Students take a total of 12 units (120 credits) from the list below. Students will take either Mathematics 0B1 and 0B2 or Mathematics 0C1 and 0C2, according to the outcome of a diagnostic assessment at the start of the course. Students choose either Matter and Energy (Phys 1) or World of the Electron (Phys 2).

Course units for foundation year

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Chemistry 1 FOUN10001 10 Mandatory
Information and Communications Technology FOUN10011 10 Mandatory
Foundation Year Project FOUN10022 10 Mandatory
Academic Skills FOUN10031 10 Mandatory
Chemistry 2 FOUN10042 10 Mandatory
Chemistry 3 FOUN10052 10 Mandatory
Matter and Energy Phys 1 FOUN10061 10 Mandatory
Waves and Particles Phys 3 FOUN10072 10 Mandatory
World of the Electron Phys 2 FOUN10111 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 0B1 MATH19801 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 0B2 MATH19812 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 0C1 MATH19821 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 0C2 MATH19832 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 0F2 MATH19842 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 0N1 MATH19861 10 Mandatory
Matter and Energy Phys 1 FOUN10061 10 Optional
World of the Electron Phys 2 FOUN10111 10 Optional
Mathematics 0B1 MATH19801 10 Optional
Mathematics 0B2 MATH19812 10 Optional
Mathematics 0C1 MATH19821 10 Optional
Mathematics 0C2 MATH19832 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 21 course units for foundation year

Scholarships and bursaries

The Foundation Year Bursary  is available to UK students who are registered on an undergraduate foundation year here and who has had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance.

Details of country-specific funding available to international students can be found within our  International country profiles .

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability, therefore, we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships please visit our  undergraduate student finance pages  and the Department funding pages that you intend to progress to after successfully completing the Foundation Year.

What our students say

Find out what it's like to study at Manchester by visiting the Department of Materials blog .

Facilities

As an Integrated Foundation Year student you will have full access to all University facilities.

The Department of Materials is home to an extensive array of facilities and equipment, across both its materials science and engineering, and fashion business and technology arms.

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, Dalton Cumbrian Facility and BP International Centre for Advanced Materials.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk