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Image from Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers
Image from Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers
Image from Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers
Image from Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers
Image from Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers

Master of Engineering - MEng

Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers

Entry requirements

Here's what you will need to get a place on the Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers course at University of Manchester.

Select a qualification to see required grades

A level

A,A,A

AAA including two from Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. If you are not taking A-level Mathematics, Grade 7/A at GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics is required. If you do not have the required grades or subjects you may want to consider our integrated foundation year. Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore there will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A-level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offers you will receive. Typical Contextual Offer: AAB including two from Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. If you are not taking A-level Mathematics, Grade 7/A at GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics is required. For further information and to check eligibility, visit our contextual admissions page . Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below Contextual offers are available for applicants who: - live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and - live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and - have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years. See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

Course summary

What this course is about

UCAS code: F204

Here's what University of Manchester says about its Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers course.

Begin your journey into Materials Science and Engineering at Manchester, with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers. Material scientists are shaping our world and in the Department of Materials you will develop a true understanding of the science - in practical subjects that meet the needs of an ever-changing industry.

Manchester is home to the most diverse university activity devoted to materials research in Europe, with this four-year degree, aimed at students who wish to become specialists in a huge range of applications which use polymeric materials.

Our four-year MSc course gives you extensive knowledge of both the fundamentals of materials science and engineering, and the opportunity to specialise in the in the areas that interest you most. In your final year, you'll study an extensive (half year) project that enables you to tackle a topic at the forefront of Materials Science in depth.

You'll be taught by leading academics in their field - we are proud of the Department of Materials' excellent Research ratings, and our high staff-to-student ratio means you will receive close individual attention and frequent tutorial sessions. Known for our congenial atmosphere, we place emphasis on academic and pastoral support, helping students from a range of educational backgrounds to reach their full potential.

What's more, our students typically go on to enjoy an average six-months-after-graduating salary in excess of £24,000 - significantly higher than the sector average.

Source: University of Manchester

Course details

Qualification

Master of Engineering - MEng

Department

Department of Materials

Location

Main Site | Manchester

Duration

4 Years

Study mode

Full-time

Subjects

• Polymer science and technology

• Materials science

Start date

21 September 2026

Application deadline

14 January 2026

University of Manchester reviews

(4)
Based on 210 reviews from University of Manchester's students and alumni
5 star
40%
4 star
30%
3 star
20%
2 star
6%
1 star
2%
All reviews

Showing 200 reviews

1st year student

Five stars: Excellent

(5)

1 year ago

1st year student

Five stars: Excellent

(5)

1 year ago

1st year student

Three stars: Good

(3)

1 year ago

1st year student

Five stars: Excellent

(5)

1 year ago

1st year student

Four stars: Great

(4)

1 year ago

1st year student

Three stars: Good

(3)

1 year ago

National Student Survey (NSS) scores

The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.

The Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers course at University of Manchester features content from more than one subject area. Using the options below, you can see ratings from students who took courses in each of these subject areas at this uni

Materials and technology
Materials science

Select an option to see a detailed breakdown

How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?

90%

med

How good are teaching staff at explaining things?

92%

med

How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?

79%

med

How often is the course intellectually stimulating?

89%

med

To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?

85%

med

How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?

85%

med

How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?

81%

low

To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?

83%

med

To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?

71%

low

How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?

86%

med

How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?

81%

low

How often does feedback help you to improve your work?

73%

med

How often have you received assessment feedback on time?

76%

med

How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?

79%

med

How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?

83%

low

How well have teaching staff supported your learning?

88%

low

How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?

75%

med

How well organised is your course?

85%

med

How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?

82%

med

How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?

86%

med

How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?

84%

med

How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?

72%

med

To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?

92%

high

To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?

81%

med

How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?

71%

med

During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?

90%

med

How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?

90%

high

Select an option to see a detailed breakdown

How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?

88%

low

How good are teaching staff at explaining things?

92%

med

How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?

83%

med

How often is the course intellectually stimulating?

91%

low

To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?

84%

low

How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?

85%

med

How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?

83%

med

To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?

85%

med

To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?

72%

low

How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?

90%

high

How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?

85%

med

How often does feedback help you to improve your work?

75%

med

How often have you received assessment feedback on time?

76%

med

How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?

88%

high

How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?

79%

low

How well have teaching staff supported your learning?

88%

med

How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?

76%

med

How well organised is your course?

83%

med

How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?

82%

low

How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?

90%

low

How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?

83%

med

How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?

88%

high

To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?

93%

high

To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?

86%

med

How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?

68%

med

During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?

95%

high

How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?

87%

high

Student information

The Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers course at University of Manchester features content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below to find out about the students taking courses in each of those subject areas at this uni.

Materials and technology
Materials science
Mode of study
Full-time100%
Gender ratio
Female37%Male63%
Where students come from
International63%UK37%
Student performance
2:1 or above84%
Number of students525
Most popular A-levels studied
SubjectGrade
MathematicsA
ChemistryA
PhysicsB
BiologyA*
Further MathematicsB
Mode of study
Full-time100%
Gender ratio
Female30%Male70%
Where students come from
International63%UK37%
Student performance
2:1 or above83%
Number of students390
Most popular A-levels studied
SubjectGrade
MathematicsA
ChemistryA
PhysicsB
Further MathematicsB
BiologyA
Source: HESA

Graduate prospects

What graduates do next

The Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers course includes content from more than one subject area. Choose an option below for information about University of Manchester graduates across each of those subject areas.

Materials and technology
Materials science

Graduate statistics

85%

In a job where degree was essential or beneficial

95%

In work, study or other activity

65%

Say it fits with future plans

50%

Are utilising studies

Top job areas

25%

Business and public service associate professionals

15%

Engineering professionals

15%

Information Technology Professionals

10%

Artistic, literary and media occupations

Graduate statistics

90%

In a job where degree was essential or beneficial

95%

In work, study or other activity

70%

Say it fits with future plans

50%

Are utilising studies

Top job areas

25%

Engineering professionals

15%

Business and public service associate professionals

15%

Information Technology Professionals

10%

Administrative occupations

Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates

Earnings after graduation

Earnings from University of Manchester graduates who took Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers - or another course in the same subject area.

Materials and technology

Earnings

£29.6k

First year after graduation

£30.7k

Third year after graduation

£35.8k

Fifth year after graduation

Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers.

Source: LEO

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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