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

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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:
Biomaterials & Biological Interactions

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATS23801
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 5
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit introduces the basic principles of cell biology to explain how cells interact with different materials based on their physicochemical properties. The understanding of the ways biological tissues interact with materials will be advanced by examining the concepts of immunological response, haemocompatibility, toxicology and ultimately biocompatibility.  The unit investigates how we can study cell behaviour with the ultimate goal the engineering of biomaterials that will control and instruct cell responses. 

 

Aims

The unit aims to: 

  • Develop the theoretical and practical principles required to understand biomaterials in the body. 
  • Understand how we can engineer materials to control cell responses. 
  • Develop an understanding of biocompatibility.

 

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 tutorials (problem sessions), lab classes, recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard), peer-assisted study sessions (PASS).

 

Knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate an understanding of the key components of cells and tissues that are of relevance to biomaterials. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic patho-physiological responses of the body relevant to biomaterials such as immune responses, inflammation, and toxicity. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of how the patho-physiological responses of the body are triggered by implanted materials. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of the range of factors that influence cell responses for a material. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of how materials physical properties (strength, stiffness etc) alter the cell response. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to manipulate these properties to control cell responses. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the main types of tissue interactions with biomaterials, on a local and systemic level.
• Understand the concept of biocompatibility. 
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of some key applications of biomaterials.
 

Intellectual skills

• Show knowledge of the various processes of the body that are involved in biocompatibility. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of changing the chemical and physical properties of materials on cell behaviour.
 

 

Practical skills

•    Develop awareness of practical aspects associated with experimental design.
•    Perform cell-material interaction studies. 
•    Record and analyse data from cell culture experiments.
•    Analyse data from cell culture experiments.
 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

• Work effectively in a group to solve problems. 
• Compose simple technical reports on laboratory tests. 
• Ability to analyse and discuss experimental procedures and results.
 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 70%
Written assignment (inc essay) 15%
Set exercise 15%

Feedback methods

Verbal and written

Recommended reading

  • Biomaterials Science, 2nd or 3rd Edition, Ratner, Elsevier Academic Press.
  • Biochemistry: Berg, Tymoczko and Stryer ‘Biochemistry’ (ISBN: 0-7176-4684-0) I will use the 5th Edition for teaching but earlier editions will be fine for you to work from too. 
  • Molecular Biology of The Cell: Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts and Walter (ISBN: 978-0-8/153-4106-2.  I will use the 5th Edition for teaching but again, earlier editions will be fine too.

There are plenty of copies in the library and you can often pick up 2nd hand copies of these textbooks from local bookshops/sales. In addition ask Olga for pdf versions of the textbooks.

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Independent study hours
Independent study 80

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Alison Harvey Unit coordinator

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