Master of Engineering (MEng)

MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Metallurgy

If you think your future lies in metallurgy, then join us and study advanced alloys, which will enable you to change the world.
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: F200 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

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Course unit details:
Stem Cell & Tissue Engineering

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATS32302
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 6
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The unit will demonstrate various types of stem cells: adult, embryonic, induced pluripotent and their specialised culture methods.

Aims

The unit aims to:

  • Introduce students to various types of stem cells, their differentiation capabilities and their potential applications.
  • Discuss how we can use stem cells combined with biomaterials for in vitro and in vivo applications.
  • Develop an understanding of the principles of tissue engineering, the biomaterials commonly used and discuss some specific examples of engineered tissues.

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), recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard).

 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Recognise the differences between stem cell types.
  • Describe how to engineer materials to support directed differentiation.
  • Define the various material properties that can be exploited to control stem cell differentiation.
  • Recognise the principles of tissue engineering.
  • Explain how biomaterials can be used to fabricate 3D scaffolds.
  • Be able to give specific tissue and organ examples.
  • Discuss the importance of mimicking structures of tissues and organs.

Intellectual skills

  • Ability to understand, digest and reproduce information in a concise format.
  • Be able to design a scaffold to direct differentiation.
  • Be able to apply the correct (stem) cell type for a particular application.

Practical skills

  • Team work.
  • Ability to reproduce work in a suitable format for a lay audience.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Presentation and communication skills.
  • Team working.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 70%
Written assignment (inc essay) 30%

Feedback methods

Written and verbal

Recommended reading

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Practical classes & workshops 6
Tutorials 3
Independent study hours
Independent study 69

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Julie Gough Unit coordinator

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