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Materials Science with an Integrated Foundation Year

Entry requirements


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.

Acceptable only in combination with other qualifications.

Each application is considered individually. Applicants should contact the Admissions Office to discuss their particular circumstances. We normally require a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma (a minimum of 60 (10 hour) credits) with at least 45 at level 3 and the remainder at level 2. Specific grades in specific subjects will be part of the offer.

Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year. The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. However, the qualification will not form part of your offer conditions.

The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. We may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of literacy and numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade C/4 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and Grade B/6 in GCSE/iGCSE Mathematics if not studied at A-level and at least Grade B/6 from one of GCSE/iGCSE Physics, Chemistry or Combined Science if not studied at A-level. GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.

32 points overall with 5,5,5 at Higher Level, including at least one from Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry and Mathematics at Standard Level if not studying at Higher Level. For this programme of study we will accept either Mathematics: analysis and approaches or Mathematics: applications and interpretation at SL or HL.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the Integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the Integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the Integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact the academic Department for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the Integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the Integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Students are accepted from a wide range of education backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Student are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

Student are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and all qualifications are considered on their individual merits. Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken. Decisions are based on the application as a whole, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference. In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year. Please contact us for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.

We will accept the following T Levels: Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing These T Levels will be considered on a case by case basis depending on the units taken, applicants presenting with these T Levels will be required to complete an academic assessment prior to receiving an offer. We strongly encourage students to contact the department before submitting an application via UCAS. Students will be expected to achieve a Distinction overall with a minimum of grade A in the core component and Distinction in the occupational specialism. GCSE Minimum grade C/4 in English and B/6 in Mathematics if not studied at A level and B/6 in one from Physics, Chemistry or Combined Science if not studied at A level.

The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and usually requires two A-levels or equivalent to be included within this. The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in the A-level entry requirements.

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About this course


Course option

5years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Materials science

Materials Science with an Integrated Foundation Year is a one year programme designed to improve your mathematical and scientific understanding and skills to a level where you will be able to start a degree in the Department of Materials in one of the following subject areas:

- Materials Science and Engineering, BSc

- Materials Science and Engineering, MEng

- Materials Science and Engineering with Biomaterials, MEng

- Materials Science and Engineering with Corrosion, MEng

- Materials Science and Engineering with Metallurgy, MEng

- Materials Science and Engineering with Nanomaterials, MEng

- Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers, MEng

- Materials Science and Engineering with Textiles Technology, MEng

On the Foundation Year you will study mathematics, physics and chemistry. In addition, you will take modules in Academic Skills and ICT (Information and Communications Technology). You will also complete a group project, related to your intended degree programme and supervised by an academic from your future Department.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

Extra funding

The Foundation Year Bursary is available to UK students who are registered on an undergraduate foundation year here and who has had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance.

Details of country-specific funding available to international students can be found within our International country profiles.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Manchester

Department:

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

87%
Materials science

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 science

Teaching and learning

86%
Staff make the subject interesting
93%
Staff are good at explaining things
83%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
81%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

84%
Library resources
87%
IT resources
86%
Course specific equipment and facilities
72%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

37%
UK students
63%
International students
70%
Male students
30%
Female students
87%
2:1 or above
12%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
A
A

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 science

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.

£21,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

35%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
9%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
7%
Business, finance and related associate professionals

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Materials science

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£24k

£24k

£26k

£26k

£30k

£30k

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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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the 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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here