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Materials Science and Engineering

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B

AAB, including Mathematics and either Physics or Chemistry. Where an A-Level Science subject is taken, we require a pass in the practical science element, alongside the achievement of the A-Level at the stated grade. Excludes A-Level General Studies or Critical Thinking. Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and International Project Qualification (IPQ): We recognise the value of these qualifications and the effort and enthusiasm that applicants put into them, and where an applicant offers an A in the EPQ or IPQ we may make an offer of ABB at A-Level with an A in Mathematics and a B or higher in either Physics or Chemistry.

Access to HE Diploma

D:30

Pass 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3. 30 credits needed at Distinction including an appropriate amount of Mathematics and either Physics or Chemistry and the remaining 15 credits at Merit or above.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3,D3,M2

D3, D3, M2 including Mathematics and either Physics or Chemistry.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

English Language at grade C (4) or above, or an appropriate English language qualification.

16 points at higher level to include 5 points in Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H2,H2,H2,H2

H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 including Mathematics and either Physics or Chemistry.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

DDD (RQF) with Distinctions in relevant Mathematics and Chemistry or Physics units. Some Mathematics and Chemistry or Physics units may be optional on your BTEC but are required by the Faculty. We can only consider the BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science if the applicant is also studying A-level Mathematics. Please contact us for further information.

Scottish Higher

A,A,B,B,B

AB at Advanced level, including Mathematics and either Physics or Chemistry, and AABBB at Higher level.

UCAS Tariff

136-147

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

5 years | Full-time with time abroad | 2024

5 years | Full-time with year in industry | 2024

Subjects

Materials engineering

Metallurgy

Materials science

From aerospace, communications and medicine, right through to everyday consumer goods like TVs, technical fabrics for high-performance clothing and sports equipment, the discovery and development of new materials have impacted the world monumentally. Materials science is also at the forefront of global challenges like the move towards net zero, with new materials for energy generation and storage enabling reduced carbon emissions. This is why material scientists are highly sought after across a whole range of industries — and why it’s such a relevant discipline to learn.

Studying materials science and engineering at Leeds will equip you with a thorough grounding in the concepts that underpin materials science, alongside learning a range of transferable skills to equip you for a career in this fast-moving field.

As it’s a multidisciplinary course, you’ll benefit from the world-class facilities, research and teachings from three separate schools: the School of Chemical and Process Engineering, the School of Physics and the School of Chemistry.

You’ll be taught by academics who are leaders in this sector, many of whom are members of the Sir Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials and the Bragg Centre for Materials Research, giving you the chance to interact and develop professional relationships with researchers at the forefront of the industry.

You’ll also have access to world-class research and specialist facilities right here on campus, alongside exciting opportunities like studying abroad and industrial work placements to ensure you have the best grounding to head out into your professional career.

**Why study at Leeds:**
- Graduate with a degree from a university ranked in the Top 10 in the UK for Chemical Engineering, The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

- Take advantage of our world-leading research here at Leeds, which has been responsible for engineering new technologies and led industry-driven developments that have impacted virtually all industrial sectors.

- Experience expertise teaching, delivered by a programme team who specialise in a wide range of materials science and engineering disciplines and have extensive industry experience.

- Start building your future career path from day one, establishing relations in the field with industry professionals through our strong partnerships with UK industry such as Rolls-Royce, Samsung, Johnson Matthey, IBM, Dow Corning and AstraZeneca.

- Put theory into practice, with access to our specialist facilities across three Schools, including state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation, along with labs fully equipped with the latest technology to support your learning.

- Broaden your experience before you graduate and enhance your career prospects with our study abroad programmes and paid industrial work placement opportunities.

- We have over 300 clubs and societies you can join at Leeds — including academic societies across many disciplines. There you can meet more of your coursemates and lecturers, whilst gaining guidance and invaluable insight from industry professionals at regular talks and networking events throughout your degree.

**Online taster course**
Chemical Engineering: Shaping a Sustainable Future is an online course, delivered via FutureLearn, which explores how chemical engineers are developing and designing chemical manufacturing processes to tackle global challenges such as climate change, food security, and effective healthcare. Register now: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/chemical-engineering-shaping-a-sustainable-future

The Uni


Course location:

University of Leeds

Department:

School of Chemical and Process Engineering

Read full university profile

What students say


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

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

53%
UK students
47%
International students
57%
Male students
43%
Female students
83%
2:1 or above
10%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
A
A

Materials science

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

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.

£26,500
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

58%
Engineering professionals
6%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
3%
Business, finance and related associate professionals

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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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:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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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