BSc Materials Science and Engineering / Course details

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.

• 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.

Excellent facilities and links

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 .

We're getting ready to move into a £400million Manchester Engineering Campus Development. Learn more  

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.

Accreditation

The course is accredited by the Institute of Materials (IOM3) and counts as academic training towards the professional qualification of either Chartered Scientist or Chartered Engineer. 

In addition to excellent academic reputations in teaching and research, we pride ourselves on our friendly atmosphere, and high level of staff-student contact both on a formal and informal basis.

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.

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

The Department of Materials is home to an extensive array of unique 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, Electron Microscopy Centre, Dalton Cumbrian Facility and BP International Centre for Advanced Materials.

Manchester's Engineering Campus Development, MECD

Get ready to collaborate, create and innovate in a brand-new £400m purpose-built building which will allow you, our future engineers and material scientists, to come together and make your mark on the world. The Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) will officially open from September 2022 and will include hundreds of flexible teaching and learning spaces with unrivalled world-class research facilities - whatever your inspiration, with MECD the possibilities are endless. Learn more