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Science and Engineering of Materials MRes

Start date
Contact the School directly for further information
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Combined research and taught
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024/25:
£4,778 (UK)
£27,360 (International Students)
Further fee information is available.

Metallurgy and Materials Science at Birmingham is a major research centre with world class facilities. Our research is at the leading edge of Materials Science and Engineering, and we work closely with a range of industrial partners to ensure that the potential of our discoveries are maximised.

New materials underpin development and progress across a wide variety of sectors. New technologies, from planes to batteries, from hip implants to electronic devices, are made possible, and often limited by, the materials we currently know and use. Materials Scientists and Engineers work hard to understand how and why materials behave the way they do, and exploit this knowledge to develop new materials with amazing properties.

This programme comprises a major research project and six taught modules, four compulsory and two optional.

The research project can be taken full-time or part-time and can be carried out in the University or by industrial collaboration with a company. We will provide the research supervisor and will arrange for all necessary facilities and resources.  Alternatively, the research project can be carried out in an industrial research laboratory with both academic and industrial supervisors.  This route is suitable for candidates seconded from industry. 

This programme can be taken on a full- or part-time basis. This one-year Course (full-time) comprises a major research project (two-thirds of the year) and six taught modules (one-third of the year), which are taken intermittently throughout the year. 

Students with an appropriate technical background (a Materials Science first degree) can start the course at any time.  Students without a background in Materials Science are required to take the Introduction to Materials module (see module section), and must start the MRes Course at the beginning of the academic year, in September. 

Why study Science and Engineering of Materials MRes at Birmingham?

  • Metallurgy and Materials at Birmingham is one of the the largest centre for materials research in the UK. 
  • Our diverse research portfolio ranges from fundamental aspects of materials science to practical high performance engineering applications. Research is funded from a wide range of sources including the UK research councils, the EU and a cross-section of UK and overseas industry.
  • Most of our research projects involve active collaboration with industrial partners which can benefit you during your research project on this course.

Modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Select 60 credits of optional modules. Examples of optional modules listed below, all 10 credits:

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.

Fees

Annual Tuition Fees 2024/25 academic year

  • £4,778 UK students, full-time
  • £27,360 International students, full-time

Learn more about fees and funding.

 

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) for Masters students

UK and EU students (with settled or pre-settled status) looking to pursue a Masters programme in the UK can apply for a non-means-tested loan from the British government via the Student Loans Company (SLC).

The loan will be paid directly to you, into a UK bank account. It is intended to provide a contribution towards the costs of Masters study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs is at your own discretion.

Learn more about applying for PGL 

  

Scholarships

We offer a range of postgraduate scholarships for taught programmes and research opportunities to ensure the very best talent is nurtured and supported at postgraduate level.

 

How To Apply

Learn more about applying. 

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.

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

A 2:1 Honours degree in a physical science or engineering subject. Learn more about entry requirements. 

International Requirements



International Students

English language

For students whose first language is not English, one of the following English language qualifications is required:

 
  • IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band
  • TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component
 

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.

Research interests in the School of Metallurgy and Materials:

Advanced Materials Processing
Driven by innovation in manufacturing methods, our work focuses on application in industry. Our extensive capability includes additive manufacturing, solidification technology and thermomechanical processing via experimental and modelling techniques.

Materials for Challenging Environments
Driven by the behaviour of materials during their life cycle, we have expertise in structural integrity, in-service degradation and the evolution of material properties & microstructure across a range of length scales.

Materials for Sustainability
Our interests focus on technologically relevant energy materials, their modelling, characterisation and recyclability.

Multifunctional Materials and Devices
We develop smart materials with wide ranging applications from consumer electronics to biomedical applications. Our expertise includes composites, functional ceramics, polymers and surface engineering.

The programme is currently delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, project-based and laboratory-based teaching and learning methods.

Examples of Science and Engineering of Materials MRes Research Projects

  • Reliability of optical fibre sensors for smart structures 
  • Mechanical reliability of optical fibres for telecommunications
  • Chemistry and stability of localised corrosion sites
  • High Resolution Synchrotron X-ray studies of pitting corrosion
  • Simultaneous thermal (DSC), spectral (FTIR) and physical (TMA) analyses of polymers
  • Design, fabrication and evaluation of a novel fibre optic acoustic emission sensor 
  • Detection (and modelling) of moisture ingress in composites using optical fibre sensors 
  • Self-sensing glass fibre composites: Chemical process monitoring
  • Self-sensing glass fibre composites: Damage detection
  • Characterisation of photo-curable dental resins using a non-contact probe

University Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.

If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.