Materials Science and Engineering with a Year Abroad
Swansea University
UCAS Code: J510 | Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)
Swansea University
UCAS Code: J510 | Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
Considered on an individual basis.
We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success. If you are predicted a Grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include 5 at Higher Level or 6 at Standard Level Mathematics or, if following the new Maths Curriculum, 5 at HL (or 6 at SL) "Mathematics: analysis and approaches", or 5 at HL (or 7 at SL) "Mathematics: applications and interpretation". Plus 4 at Higher Level or 5 at Standard Level English Language.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
To include B at A Level Mathematics. Must be in relevant subject. If student is not taking A Level Mathematics, they must achieve a minimum D in ‘Mathematics for Technicians’ and D in ‘Further Mathematics for Technicians’ modules of the BTEC. Students are also required to have minimum two A grades at GCSE, to include a minimum grade B in Mathematics and two other Science subjects.
Swansea University accepts the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales as fully equivalent to x1 A-Level.
Accepted in lieu of one non-subject specific grade at A Level.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Successful innovation depends on the selection and performance of key materials. From cars, aeroplanes and cruise ships, to sports equipment and musical instruments, the right materials can help to define technological progress.
Materials Science and Engineering explores how the properties of matter can be controlled. It includes elements of physics and chemistry, connecting closely with most other areas of engineering.
This degree will prepare you for a rewarding career across engineering sectors including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, sports, and energy generation.
Develop your analytical abilities whilst gaining hands-on experience of advanced equipment, establishing skills which are vital to securing employment in industry.
This course offers you the opportunity to spend a Year Abroad at a partner university which enriches the degree, giving you a valuable cultural experience which can broaden your horizons when seeking employment.
Why Materials Science and Engineering at Swansea?
• 1st in the UK for Student Voice* (NSS 2024)
• 1st for Student Experience (The Times Good University Guide 2025)
• 3rd in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
• 8th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2025)
• 8th in the UK Materials Technology (The Times Good Univertsity Guide 2025)
• Top 131 in the World (QS World University Rankings 2025)
Our state-of-the-art facilities include world-leading equipment for the characterisation of mechanical properties of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite materials.
We also have an extensive range of laboratories housing scanning electron microscopes with full microanalysis and electron backscatter diffraction capabilities.
Visits to Tata Steel, Timet, Ensinger and Airbus will give you real industrial world insights. Our graduates also go on to have interesting and varied careers at companies such as, Tata Steel, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover, Atkins, GE Aviation, Mott MacDonald and Babcock International Group.
Modules
In Year 1, you will typically study areas including:
Introduction to Materials Engineering, Materials Resources, Manufacturing Technology, Mechanical Properties of Materials, Instrumental and Analytical Chemistry
In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Software Engineering, Functional and Smart Materials, AI, Machine Learning and Data Analysis, Order and Disorder in Materials, Materials for Energy, Computational Materials
As part of this programme, you will spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year.
In Year 4, you will typically study areas including:
Advanced Optical Materials and Devices, Fracture and Fatigue, Individual Engineering Project, Microstructure and Characterisation, Propulsion, Composite Materials, Ceramics
Assessment methods
Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Materials technology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Materials technology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Materials technology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£21k
£32k
£38k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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