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Materials Science and Engineering MEng

Start date
September
Duration
4 years
UCAS code
F2H1
Course Type
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025/26:
£9,535 (UK)
£29,560 (International)
Further fee information

Video transcript

Our stimulating Materials Science and Engineering MEng degree programme provides you with a thorough understanding of the properties of materials – from metals to plastics – essential for the development of new and improved products.

 If you like solving problems creatively and relish the opportunity to combine science, maths and engineering to understand how the materials that surround us – from bricks to body scanners – behave, and how they can be used and improved to develop new products, then this Materials Science and Engineering MEng degree has been made for you.

You will be taught by lecturers who are global experts in their field. enabling you to gain strong theoretical and practical skills in Materials Science and Engineering. Our leading-edge teaching facilities and laboratories will enhance your learning experience, and your individual final-year project will provide you with vital employability skills that will give you a competitive edge in applications forms, interviews and assessment tests for graduate jobs.

The department has strong partnerships with key employers who provide projects and work placements for our students, allowing you to put all your skills into practice.

At Birmingham, our staff and students work on a diverse range of research areas in the aerospace, automotive, biomedical, sport and sustainable development fields. As a student of Materials Science and Engineering at Birmingham, you will get a front-row seat to the latest developments in the field. 

There is an opportunity to apply for a year in industry during your degree, usually between Year 2 and Year 3. Academic members of staff will help you to find suitable internships, review your application materials, and assist and mentor you throughout your year in industry. A year in industry is an invaluable opportunity to take on a role within a company, apply the theoretical knowledge of your degree course to real-world issues and will enhance your career prospects. Contact the Admissions Team for further details.

Why study Materials Science and Engineering MEng at Birmingham?

  • Consistently ranked in the top-5 for both research and UG teaching in the UK. We are currently a top 100 global university for Materials Science - QS 2023 university ranking for Materials Science
  • Recent £60M redevelopment of School facilities
  • Strong partnerships with industry: Rolls-Royce, Timet, BAO Steel, Tata, JLR, Network Rail, BAE Systems, etc
  • Research groups often working at intermediate technology readiness levels, delivering new materials technology to industry for inclusion in their products
  • An opportunity to apply for an industrial placement

Meet our Student Bloggers

The best way to find out what life is really like as a student in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham is to hear from our students. Our students study a range of programmes from across our college – from Mathematics to Mechanical Engineering. Get some great tips and a real insight into what life is really like if you choose to study with us.

Read our blogs >> 

When I joined the course I didn’t really know where it would lead me in my future career, however, as the course has progressed I have found that there are so many applications to what I am learning and I am really enjoying the subject. I also love the fact that the university is campus based which really gives a student-vibe to the area. It’s also very close to the city centre which means you get the best of both worlds in my point of view.

Emma Russell, MEng Materials Engineering

Interested in Computer Science?

Our ' Year in Computer Science'  offers students from non-computing disciplines the chance to gain in-depth knowledge of computing and enhance their work-based skills through the study of Computer Science. 

Modules

Year 1

All modules 20 credits.

  • Electrical and Magnetic Engineering
  • Materials, Manufacturing and Sustainability
  • Mathematics and Computing for Engineers
  • Mechanics and Structures
  • Practical and Design Skills for Materials Science
  • Thermodynamics Kinetics and Fluids

Year 2

All modules 20 credits.

  • Design for Functional Applications 2
  • Fracture, Fatigue and Degradation
  • Materials Characterisation and Data Analysis
  • Modelling Materials Behaviour
  • Physical Materials Science
  • Polymers, Composites and Ceramics

There is an opportunity to apply for a year in industry during your degree, usually between Year 2 and Year 3. Academic members of staff will help you to find suitable internships, review your application materials, and assist and mentor you throughout your year in industry. A year in industry is an invaluable opportunity to take on a role within a company, apply the theoretical knowledge of your degree course to real-world issues and will enhance your career prospects. Contact the Admissions Team for further details.

Year 3

Core modules

  • Advanced Manufacturing - 20 credits
  • High Performance Materials - 20 credits
  • Group Project - 20 credits

Optional modules

Choose 60 credits, all modules 10 cedits. Example optional modules:

  • Advanced Electronic Materials
  • Advanced Polymer Systems
  • Alloy and Microstructure Design
  • Battery Technology and Manufacturing
  • Biomaterials
  • High Toughness Ceramics
  • Intermetallics, Metal Matrix Composites and Ceramic Matrix Composites
  • Irradiation Materials Science
  • Materials for Sustainable Environment Technology
  • Materials Modelling
  • Self-Sensing Materials and Advanced Condition Monitoring
  • Surface Engineering Technologies

Year 4

Core modules

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Annual tuition fees 2025/26

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

  • £9,535
  • £29,560 - International

Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Scholarships

At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded.

  

Tuition fees for placement years (where applicable)

There is a reduced tuition fee for the academic year spent in industry or whilst studying abroad (where available). Fee information and further clarification is available on the University fees and funding page.

How To Apply

Apply through the UCAS website using code F2H1

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

View advice on how to apply for undergraduate courses.

 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
AAA
Required subjects and grades:
A level Mathematics and one A level from Physics, Chemistry or Design and Technology.

General Studies not accepted, but a good performance may be taken into account if you fail to meet the conditions of the offer.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

6,6,6 at Higher Level, including Mathematics and either Physics, Design Technology or Chemistry, with a minimum of 32 points overall.

BTEC

Only considered when combined with other qualifications.

Other qualifications are considered – learn more about entry requirements.

Foundation Year

Are you a UK student and would like to study for one of our degrees but lack the entry qualifications we require? If you are not studying A Level Mathematics you can consider a Foundation Year programme which can lead to entry onto one of our courses.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

We accept a range of international qualifications, please contact the admissions tutor for more information.

  

Standard English language requirements apply, learn more about international entry requirements.

 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

Programmes at Birmingham combine teaching from lecturers who are global experts in their field, with leading-edge teaching facilities and laboratories to enhance your learning experience. We have strong partnerships with key employers who provide projects and work placements for our students and regularly recruit our graduates.

How you will learn

Our programmes include lectures, practicals and case studies, group and individual research projects and the development of transferrable skills to give you access to a wide range of careers. At Birmingham, we advocate an enquiry-based learning approach, so from the outset you’ll be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner – qualities much sought-after by employers.

There are many opportunities for industrial internships and placements within the School during the summer, giving you the chance to put your skills into practice.

The third and fourth years will allow you to gain specialist knowledge in areas that most interest you, such as aerospace, biomaterials and computer simulations. You will also take part in a group research project during your third year. MEng students will undertake an individual project in their final year.

How you will be assessed

Assessment is through a mixture of written exams and continually assessed coursework. 

As well as end-of-year exams and written assignments, assessment methods include oral presentations, computer-based tests, laboratory and project reports. Each module is assessed independently and most contain some components of continuous assessment. Some modules are completely assessed by either examination or coursework.

Your personal tutor

As soon as you join us, you’ll be assigned a personal tutor who will remain with you throughout your studies to help you in three important areas: supporting your academic progress, developing transferable skills and dealing with any welfare issues.

Seminars and tutorials

Small-group tutorials and personal tutorials run alongside the lecture course and are aimed at addressing any individual problems you may have and allowing you to consolidate the lecture material, as well as testing your understanding through problem-solving exercises.

Lecturers and world-leading researchers

You’ll be taught by a mixture of professors, doctors and postgraduates, thus giving you a rich diversity of academic knowledge and experience. Our lecturers are not only experts in their field; they are passionate about passing on their expertise. All our researchers work at the cutting edge, often at intermediate technology readiness levels, delivering new materials technology to industry for inclusion in their products.

Resources and facilities

Our School is part of the largest centre for materials research in the UK. Our facilities provide you with the best possible environment to grow and succeed. Our first-class teaching and laboratory facilities include state-of-the-art study spaces and computer suites where we use the latest educational technologies to reinvent lab classes and showcase the fundamental principles behind materials engineering.

Contact Hours

You can expect an average of about 20-25 hours of contact time per week, comprising approximately 5 hours of laboratory based activity, 14 hours of lectures and 4 hours of small-group teaching (tutorials). As you progress through the programme, an increasing amount of time will be devoted to project-based learning.

Your degree will equip you with the technical, analytical and professional skills necessary to leader future change and innovation in a variety of sectors – from automotive and aerospace to law and finance. The superb opportunities you have for industrial experience before you graduate will add greatly to your employability. 

Birmingham has been very kind to me and I've got so many good memories from here, it's really hard to choose. I look back on it and just smile, as you can probably see!

Annabel Fitzgerald, Materials graduate

Graduates who have studied our courses:

Example employers

  • Rolls Royce
  • AeroEngine Controls
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • BMW Group
  • BP
  • Tata Steel
  • Schlumberger
  • Doncasters Limited
  • Sandvik
  • BAe Systems 

Example careers

  • Aerospace engineer
  • Materials tester
  • Failure analyst
  • Financier
  • Lawyer
  • Marketing manager
  • Materials scientist
  • Teacher

Rolls-Royce has recruited a significant number of students from Birmingham at both graduate and postgraduate level. Undergraduates are able to experience real life industrial situations via vacation attachments in the company. We are very pleased with the quality of Birmingham graduates. They are stimulating change and making an impact on the output of the Materials Group. They possess a good balance of technical, interpersonal and IT skills.

Mike Hicks, Chief Technologist-Materials, Rolls-Royce

Careers Network

We provide a wealth of opportunities to develop your career. From your first day at Birmingham to after you graduate, the Careers Network  is here to help you identify and achieve your individual career aspirations through its wide range of services.

Our dedicated careers team brings you information, advice and guidance tailored to your specific needs. Careers advisers offer one-to-one advice appointments where you can discuss your career plans and explore your options. In addition, our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.

Visit the Careers Network website for more details

Professional Accreditation