- UCAS course code
- J500
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Materials Science and Engineering
Material scientists tackle some of the planet's greatest challenges and help shape the future of our world.
Duration: 3 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: J500 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Scholarships available
Accredited course
- Typical A-level offer: AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBB including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 35 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £38,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
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
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.
Course unit details:
Materials - Shaping the World
| Unit code | MATS16402 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 20 |
| Unit level | Level 4 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Offered by | Department of Materials |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This unit provides an overview of the application of different types of materials, and how they perform in extreme conditions, to reinforce the knowledge learnt in first semester units by a combination of taught examples and self-learning through applying concepts in the form of case studies.
Aims
- Reinforce the basic knowledge and theories learnt in first year units.
- Improve confidence in the use of skills, team working, peer review and communication of ideas.
- Provide an overview of the applications of different types of materials, why they are selected and how they are designed to perform in extreme conditions.
Learning outcomes
A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Intellectual skills
- Practical skills
- Transferable skills and personal qualities
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, group excises, guided team work case studies, recommended textbooks, web resources, electronic supporting information (Blackboard), peer-assisted study sessions (PASS), peer review.
Knowledge and understanding
- Discuss the general factors driving new materials developments
- Understand the thought processes and complexities involved in balancing a range of material property requirements for a demanding application, including mechanical performance, degradation in the environment, cost, environmental issues and the production process.
- Apply basic materials’ concepts to understanding in developing new materials for demanding applications.
- Discuss the unique microstructure and property balance that determines the applications of different types of important advanced structural and functional materials.
- Discuss of the unique property balance that has evolved in natural materials and underpins their biological function.
Intellectual skills
- Show improved logical reasoning and problem solving.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of changing the chemistry and microstructure/architecture of a material on its properties
Practical skills
- Research literature sources
- Design and créate an e-media file / e-book
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Work effectively in a team with defined roles to solve problems.
- Plan, prioritise, delegate/distribute and deliver a programme of work within a team.
- Communication of ideas in an oral and video format.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 100% |
Feedback methods
Feedback given verbal + written
Recommended reading
- “Stuff Matters: The Strange Stories of the Marvellous Materials that Shape Our Man-made World”. M. Miodnownik, Penguine, 2013.
- “Materials Science and Engineering - An Introduction”, W. D. Callister, D. G. Rethwisch, Pub. Wiley, 2010.
- “Materials engineering, science, processing and design”, M.F. Ashby, H.R. Shercliff and D. Cebon. Butterworth-Heinemann, 3rd edition, 2013.
- “Materials and Design: The Art and Science of Material Selection in Product Design” M.F. Ashby, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2010.
- “Corrosion Engineering”, M.G. Fontana, McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 24 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 176 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Dirk Engelberg | Unit coordinator |