- UCAS course code
- J501
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Master of Engineering (MEng)
MEng Materials Science and Engineering
Exploiting the full potential of new materials, you can tackle some of greatestchallenges facing the planet.
Duration: 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: J501 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Scholarships available
Accredited course
- Typical A-level offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 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:
Polymer Physics & Physical Properties
| Unit code | MATS42802 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | Level 7 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The unit builds on prior knowledge of polymer physics and properties and introduces some new advanced physical properties to characterise elastomers and new polymers.
Aims
The unit aims to:
- Provide an understanding of the principles underlying the structure property relationship of polymers and illustrate their applications as multifunctional materials, including polymer solar cells.
- Show how basic physical principles can be used to explain the behaviour of industrial materials and how they are processed and tailored to optimise their performance
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, online learning resources (Blackboard), group and small-group tutorials, non-assessed problems/quizzes, assessed coursework, recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard), feedback sessions, revision sessions. Formative feedback will be available during synchronous sessions and model solutions to problems/quizzes. Non-assessed questions will form the basis of group tutorials in which the answers will be discussed. Feedback will also be given on the outcomes of assessments.
Knowledge and understanding
- Identify the origin and nature of rubbery network elasticity and its mechanical description.
- Apply the principles and underlying theories of common techniques for molecular and thermal characterisation of polymers.
- Interpret and evaluate the results of various advanced polymer characterisation techniques and processing.
- Design strategies for materials characterisation for specific applications
- Design multi-functional polymers for specific applications including polymer solar cells
Intellectual skills
- Apply knowledge of polymer structure and properties to explain the outcomes of polymer processing
- Predict the mechanical properties of network polymers.
- Explain the multi-functionality of “new” polymers.
- Predict performance of polymer solar cell based on the structures of the polymer components used for construction.
Practical skills
Develop the ability to manipulate equations to calculate material properties
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Demonstrate improved logical reasoning, problem solving and ability in applied mathematics
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 70% |
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 30% |
Feedback methods
Feedback given (Written and verbal)
Recommended reading
- “Introduction to Polymers”, R.J. Young and P.A. Lovell, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, 2011 (or 2nd Edition, CRC Press, 1991)
- Other books, chapters or articles as indicated by lecturers
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 30 |
| Practical classes & workshops | 6 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 114 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Brian Saunders | Unit coordinator |