MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Begin your journey into Materials Science and Engineering at Manchester, with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers. 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.

Manchester is home to the most diverse university activity devoted to materials research in Europe, with this four-year degree, aimed at students who wish to become specialists in a huge range of applications which use polymeric materials. 

Our four-year MSc course gives you extensive knowledge of both the fundamentals of materials science and engineering, and the opportunity to specialise in the in the areas that interest you most. In your final year, you'll study an extensive (half year) project that enables you to tackle a topic at the forefront of Materials Science in depth. 

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

  • Provide a broad and balanced curriculum in Materials Science, meeting the requirements for accreditation with the professional body, in order to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to pursue successful careers in both industrial and research environments.
  • Provide a teaching environment in which undergraduate students can interact with academic staff at the forefront of research in Materials Science and Engineering, through advanced course units and project work.
  • Foster subject-specific and transferable skills, including experience of materials processing and characterisation methods, oral and written communication, group work and IT skills.
  • Provide students with effective academic and pastoral support, to cater for students from a wide range of educational backgrounds and enable all students to achieve their full potential.
  • Monitor, review and enhance educational provision to ensure that it remains relevant to the needs of student progression and to current developments in research and industry.

Special features

Loading
Where ideas come to life

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.

Accreditation

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

Additional course information

Our student community

MÁTSOC is a student-run society open all Department of Materials students; from Materials Science and Engineering to Fashion Business and Technology.

The society aims to create a fun environment to connect all students across the Department's network by putting on regular nights out, day trips, events and having guest speakers.

There's also have a women's Netball team and a men's football team, which all MÁTSOC members are able to join.

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Teaching and learning

Your typical week will be made up of:
  • Lectures
  • Small group tutorials
  • Laboratory classes
  • Group work
  • Individual research projects

PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) and Peer Mentoring

We're proud of our innovative PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) and Peer Mentoring scheme. The PASS scheme provides additional support in the area of the current week's tutorial. It's entirely voluntary and second, third and fourth-year students help first years to tackle problems defined by the content of the current tutorial. The emphasis is on showing students how to think about the problems, how to develop problem-solving skills and how to get the most from the educational resources available.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment is by a mixture of examinations, coursework, laboratory practical and tutorials. 

Most unit's assessments are split 70% exam/30% coursework. Although some 100% coursework units are also required. 

Examinations take place in January and May each year.

Practical units are usually assessed by experimental report and/or short written assignment.

The proportion of independent study assignments increases during each year of study.

Course content for year 1

Year 1 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.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/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
Materials - Shaping the World MATS16402 20 Mandatory
Preliminary Physics MATS16661 0 Mandatory
Displaying 10 of 12 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

Year 2 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.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/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
Performance Polymers, Fibres and Textiles MATS24112 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 11 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

In Year 3, alongside core units, you will have the opportunity to specialize through a choice of options.

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.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/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
Polymer Synthesis & Characterisation MATS31902 10 Mandatory
Multiphase Polymers & Nanocomposites MATS32402 10 Mandatory
Drug Delivery & Biosensors MATS31802 10 Optional
Metallurgy of Engineering Alloys MATS32102 10 Optional
Corrosion Science & Engineering MATS32202 10 Optional
Stem Cell & Tissue Engineering MATS32302 10 Optional
Textile Manufacturing Techniques MATS32602 10 Optional
Nanotechnology MATS32702 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 15 course units for year 3

Course content for year 4

In Year 4, students on the MEng course undertake a core of eight research level modules on technical topics covering the full range of materials technologies. A six-month research project is undertaken, enabling you to gain in-depth experience of working in a research team conducting a cutting-edge project. Students have the option to complete the research project in industry or in one of the research groups within the Department. For students interested in higher level study (for example, leading towards a PhD) the research project provides an ideal experience of the research environment and methodologies.

Course units for year 4

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
Individual Research Project or Industrial Project MATS42101 60 Mandatory
Group Management Project MATS42302 15 Mandatory
Natural Materials & Biological Matrices MATS42402 15 Optional
Lab to Clinic MATS42502 15 Optional
Soft Matter MATS42602 15 Optional
Control & Design of Polymerisation Reactions MATS42702 15 Optional
Polymer Physics & Physical Properties MATS42802 15 Optional
Advanced Metals Processing MATS43102 15 Optional
Superalloys & High Performance Materials MATS43202 15 Optional
Corrosion Management for Sustainability MATS43402 15 Optional
Corrosion Control for Industrial Practice MATS43502 15 Optional
Corrosion Control for Oilfield and Renewable Energy MATS43602 15 Optional
Advanced Textile Technology MATS43702 15 Optional
Textiles Evaluation & Clothing MATS43802 15 Optional
Technical & Biomedical Textiles MATS43902 15 Optional
Advanced Composites MATS44102 15 Optional
Graphene & Nanomaterials MATS44202 15 Optional
Applied Functional Materials & Devices MATS44302 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 18 course units for year 4

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 the Department funding pages.

What our students say

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

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.

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