Excited to learn more? For a taster of what you can expect to study on our Materials Science and Engineering course, take a sneak preview of some of the modules you may have the opportunity to study below.

Semester 1 & 2

Compulsory

Engineering Principles and Design

The aim of this module is to:

  • Introduce the commercial, social and environmental context of engineering design, including sustainability and ethics, process economics, and EDI.
  • Introduce a structured approach to engineering design, applying the principles of mechanical design, engineering drawings, and professional standards.
  • Promote the development of key professional and transferable engineering skills from teamwork and time management to written and verbal communication and personal development.
  • Provide perspective of engineering careers within different sectors and industries.

Thermofluids

The aim of the module is to:

  • Introduce the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
  • Solve practical engineering problems using thermodynamics and fluid mechanics principles.

Mathematics for Materials

The aim of this module is to introduce a range of mathematical methods appropriate to the needs of first year materials engineering students.

Experimentation and Practical Skills

The aims of this module are:

  • To provide students with the knowledge and practical skills relating to materials testing, and their applications.
  • Enable students to become aware of and develop their academic, professional and personal skills through Personal Best.

Introductory Materials Science

The aim of this module is:

  • To give the students an introduction to engineering materials, their properties and processing and how these are interrelated.
  • To provide students with an understanding of the major principles used in determining the properties and structure of materials.
  • Introduction to processing a range of material types from raw material to finished part.
  • How the processing method can influence the properties of the material.

Computer Aided Engineering

The aims of this module are to:

  • Provide an introduction to standards and conventions in engineering drawing.
  • Provide an introduction to Computer Aided Design tools.
  • Provide an introduction to Computer Aided Engineering through MATLAB.
  • Provide an introduction to Computer Aided Manufacturing.
  • Develop transferable skills, particularly with respect to oral presentation and group working.

Compulsory modules

Data Analysis and Modelling

The aims of this module is to introduce the principles of data analysis and modelling relevant to materials and chemical engineering.

Group Design Project

The aims of this module are to:

  • Continue the development of skills within engineering design to be applied to complex designs/systems with interacting parts.
  • Further enhance the skills required to work within a diverse group to manage projects and communicate ideas with different stakeholders.

Structures and Characterisation

The aims of this module are:

  • To develop a fundamental understanding of the structures of materials at different length scales, from the atomic scale upward.
  • To develop understanding and skills in the applicability and use of different characterisation techniques used to determine the structure and properties of materials.

Materials in Action

The aims of this module are to provide students with knowledge of factors which determine how materials may evolve and fail in service, and the implications this has on the lifetime of components.

Materials Processing

The aim of this module is to develop understanding of the underlying principles determining the relationships between composition, processing, structure at different length scales, and properties for a range of materials.

Optional modules

Machine Elements and Automotive Materials

The aim of this module is to provide understanding of the engineering requirements in order to choose appropriate materials and machine elements for designing vehicular subsystems/components.

University-wide Language Programme

This is a 10 credit module from the University-wide language programme.

Optional

Composite Materials

The aim of the module is to provide students with a knowledge of the properties, processing and applications of composite materials and the development of new composites.

Introduction to Chemical, Biochemical Processes and Sustainability

The aims of this module are:

  • To equip students with core chemistry and biochemistry knowledge related to the Chemical Engineering course.
  • To introduce students to industrially significant aspects of chemical/biochemical processes and microbiology.
  • To make students aware of engineering ethics.
  • To introduce the principles of sustainability (environmental, social, economic) to chemical/biochemical processes.

Biomaterials 1 (Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

The aims of the module are to:

  • To provide students with an understanding of the types of materials used in tissue engineering.
  • To relate the mechanical/physical/chemical properties of a material with its correct use in the different biological tissues.
  • To consider the design and development of devices to replace or augment damaged or diseased body parts.

Vehicle Development and Electrification

The aim of this module is for the student to understand the vehicle design and development process and to understand why the more analytical modules are necessary areas of study for the would-be vehicle designer. The student will understand the different requirements for the development of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) compared to the traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle and the original equipment manufactures (OEM) programme structures to deliver these vehicles to the market place.

University-wide Language Programme

This is a 10 credit module from the University-wide language programme.

Compulsory modules

Sustainability, Recycling and Environment

This module introduces students to key concepts for the sustainable development and use of materials, including the full life cycle of materials from extraction to end of life.

Students will develop an understanding of issues around working towards net zero both in the UK and globally, water and energy usage, ethically sourcing and manufacturing critical materials, and what happens to materials at their end of life.

Students will critically analyse the impact on the environment resulting from materials throughout their life, and will study life cycle assessment as a tool to quantify impact.

Project

The aim of the module is to impart the skills required:

  • To plan, develop and conduct a research programme in the fields of Materials Science, Materials Engineering or Biomaterials Engineering.
  • To communicate the findings, using a range of techniques, to a technical audience.

Vehicle and Component Design

The aims of this module are for the student to work within a group to:

  • Use design principles, including an appreciation of design requirements, constraints and approaches, to design an automotive component.
  • Use the principles of materials selection to select and justify materials for specific applications.
  • Integrate their knowledge of materials properties, manufacturing techniques and engineering principles to produce a solution of a practical automotive design problem.
  • Contribute to the management of the team to present outputs of their work which demonstrate progress and meet specific objectives.

Biomedical Component Design

The aims of this module are for the student to:

  • Understand how to use basic design principles, including an appreciation of design requirements, constraints and approaches.
  • Use the principles of materials selection in conjunction with biological requirements, and the different approaches adopted in commercial material selection systems in a regulated industry.
  • Integrate their knowledge of biomaterials properties, manufacturing techniques and engineering principles in the solution of practical biomedical design problems.

Optional modules

Advanced Principles of Materials

The aim of this module is to acquaint students with the fundamental theory of mechanical properties, transformations in materials and defects in crystals.

Advanced Processing Methods

The aims of the module are to:

  • Provide a broad knowledge of the principles of advanced preparation and processing of a range of materials.
  • Provide in-depth knowledge and skills in specific advanced processing methods.
  • Make students aware of the environmental and societal impacts of advanced preparation and processing methods.

Nanomaterials

The aims of the module are to:

  • Explain the changes in the properties of a material as its size is reduced to the nanoscale.
  • Provide students with knowledge of the range of nanomaterials, their synthesis, processing and application.
Optional

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The aims of this module are:

  • To present a range of issues on managing entrepreneurship and innovation.
  • To present and discuss these issues for both large multinational corporations (MNCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • To present a range of frameworks and tools in support of managing entrepreneurship and innovation.
  • To develop relevant transferable skills.

Automotive Crash Protection

This module provides a detailed understanding of the interactions between engineering and human tolerance to impact as they relate to the crash protection of vehicle occupants and other road users. An introduction to impact biomechanics and crash protection standards will also be provided.

University-wide Language Programme

This is a 10 credit module from the University-wide language programme.

Industrial Case Studies

The aim of this module is to provide students with a broad experience in the application of materials science and engineering in the context of particular industrial case studies and the associated issues of manufacturing, economic and legislative constraints. The module provides a mechanism for the integration of the knowledge gained in the various specialist modules by its practical application in the solution of 'real-life' engineering problems.

Functional Materials

The aims of the module are to:

  • Introduce the principles of functional behaviour. Examples may include magnetism, semiconductivity and photovoltaic materials.
  • Provide students with knowledge of the materials science that underlies the functional behaviours covered.
Optional

Biomaterials 2 (Biomaterials for Drug Delivery)

The aims of the module are to:

  • To provide students with an understanding of the types of materials used in controlled delivery.
  • To relate the mechanical/physical/chemical properties of a material with its correct use for different types of delivery.
  • To consider the design and development of new materials and structures that can target delivery to specific organs/tissues and in specific timeframes.

University-wide Language Programme

This is a 10 credit module from the University-wide language programme.

The information above is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please also see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.