Masters Degrees (Polymer Engineering)

make sound judgements associated with engineering design for polymer based products by means of existing, new and emerging manufacturing processes. The course aims to ensure that graduates will be able to demonstrate self-direction and originality and are equipped with the appropriate knowledge to practise professionally and ethically in future employment roles.

Thus, the course will:

Address industry’s demand for graduates who can apply engineering design solutions for rapid and cost effective manufacture of discrete parts and tooling across the engineering sector

Develop the ability to research a range of subject areas within manufacturing, mechanical, materials science and engineering disciplines, underpinning the ability to act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level

Generate graduates capable of synthesising their detailed understanding of polymer engineering design and related material science in order to offer confident justified solutions to complex, unpredictable and open ended situations.

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Take advantage of one of our 100 Master’s Scholarships to study Mechanical Engineering at Swansea University, the Times Good University Guide’s Welsh University of the Year 2017. Postgraduate loans are also available to English and Welsh domiciled students. For more information on fees and funding please visit our website.

Mechanical Engineering at Swansea maintains a high standard of teaching and research, set in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. As a student on the Master's course in Mechanical Engineering, you will be provided with a high quality overview of the techniques of modern mechanical engineering, presenting examples of use from a wide range of disciplines and industries.

Key Features of MSc in Mechanical Engineering

The MSc Mechanical Engineering course is stimulating and our graduates are rewarded with excellent job prospects. It will equip you with the ability to make informed judgements on the most appropriate approach to a range of mechanical engineering problems.

The MSc Mechanical Engineering course covers the development of mechanical engineering tools, methods and techniques for problem solving, the ability to formulate an adequate representation of sets of experimental data, the use of these tools and techniques for real world applications, the ability to formulate an accurate representation of sets of experimental data, and business and management methods and their application in the field of engineering.

The research project undertaken as part of the MSc Mechanical Engineering course is industrially relevant and the topics of the course are of high industrial relevance.

Mechanical Engineering at Swansea University is recognised as one of the top 200 departments in the world (QS World Subject Rankings).

MSc programmes are modular in structure. Students must obtain a total of 180 credits to qualify for the degree. This is made up of 120 credits in the taught element (Part One) and a project (Part Two) that is worth 60 credits and culminates in a written dissertation. Students must successfully complete Part One before being allowed to progress to Part Two.

Modules

Modules on the MSc Mechanical Engineering course can vary each year but you could expect to study:

Strategic Project Planning
Additive Manufacturing
Entrepreneurship for Engineers
Optimisation
Composite Materials
Simulation Based Product Design
Advanced Thermo Fluid Mechanics
Advanced Solid Mechanics
Environmental Analysis and Legislation
Polymer Processing
Systems Monitoring, Control, Reliability, Survivability, Integrity and Maintenance
Process Metallurgy and Optimisation
Power Generation Systems

Accreditation

The MSc Mechanical Engineering course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The MSc Mechanical Engineering degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng(Hons) or an Accredited IEng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree.

Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Facilities

Our new home at the innovative Bay Campus provides some of the best university facilities in the UK, in an outstanding location.

Mechanical Engineering at Swansea University has extensive laboratory and computing facilities for both teaching and research purposes.

In the mechanical laboratories are two large rotating rigs. One is used to study the dynamics of high speed machinery whilst the other is devoted to the analysis of heat transfer in turbine blade.

Careers

The modules on the MSc Mechanical Engineering course are of high industrial relevance and the benefits to employability are immediate in a wide range of industries.

Links with Industry

Members of staff work closely with a range of industries through knowledge transfer projects, consultancy and strategic research, which informs the practical problems used in our teaching.

Within Wales we have close interaction with large companies such as Tata Steel and Ford, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Across the UK there is or has been recent work with companies such as Astra-Zeneca, British Aerospace, Qinetiq, GKN and Rolls-Royce whilst further afield there is close working with companies such as SKF (Netherlands), Freeport (USA), One Steel (Australia), Barrick Gold (USA) to name a few.

Careers

The modules on the MSc Mechanical Engineering course are of high industrial relevance and the benefits to employability are immediate in a wide range of industries.

Research

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 ranks Engineering at Swansea as 10th in the UK for the combined score in research quality across the Engineering disciplines.

The REF assesses the quality of research in the UK Higher Education sector, assuring us of the standards we strive for.

The REF shows that 94% of research produced by our academic staff is of World-Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*) quality. This has increased from 73% in the 2008 RAE.

Research pioneered at the College of Engineering harnesses the expertise of academic staff within the department. This ground-breaking multidisciplinary research informs our world-class teaching with several of our staff leaders in their fields.

Student Quotes

“Every single day at the College of Engineering has been a learning process for me. The MSc in Mechanical Engineering involves leading world class professors, tutors and academics with whom we were lucky to be associated with. There is also a great peer group too.

I would like to pursue a PhD from Swansea University and become an entrepreneur. The College of Engineering has helped immensely with these ambitions.”

Arnab Dasgupta, MSc Mechanical Engineering

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This programme provides professional training in polymer science and technology for graduates of science, engineering and technology subjects.

Lectures are supplemented by an extensive variety of laboratory exercises, spanning chemical and physical characterisation, and compounding and processing technology experiments on pilot-scale laboratory equipment.

Core study areas include polymer science, polymer process engineering, plastics and composites applications, polymer properties, polymer characterisation, polymerisation and polymer blends, plastics processing technology and a project.

Optional study areas include plastics processing technology, rubber compounding and processing, adhesive bonding, and sustainable use of materials.

See the website http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/materials/polymer-science-tech/

Programme modules

Full-time Modules:
Core Modules
- Polymer Science (SL)
- Polymer Process Engineering (SL)
- Plastics and Composites Applications (SL)
- Polymer Properties (SL)
- Polymer Characterisation (OW)
- Polymerisation and Polymer Blends (SL)
- MSc Project

Optional Modules
- Biomaterials (SL)
- Rubber Compounding and Processing (OW)
- Adhesive Bonding (OW)

Part-time Modules:
Core Modules
- Polymer Science (DL)
- Plastics and Composites Applications (DL)
- Polymer Properties (DL)
- Polymer Characterisation (OW)
- Polymerisation and Polymer Blends (DL)
- Plastics Processing Technology (OW)
- MSc Project

Optional Modules
- Rubber Compounding and Processing (OW or DL)
- Adhesive Bonding (OW)
- Sustainable use of Materials (OW or DL)

Alternative modules:*
- Design with Engineering Materials (DL)
- Polymer Process Engineering (SL)
- Materials Modelling (SL)

Key: SL = Semester-long, OW = One week, DL = Distance-learning

Alternative modules* are only available under certain circumstances by agreement with the Programme Director.

Selection

Interviews may be held on consideration of a prospective student’s application form. Overseas students are often accepted on their grades and strong recommendation from suitable referees.

Course structure, assessment and accreditation

The MSc comprises a combination of semester-long and one week modules for full-time students, whilst part-time students study a mix of one week and distance-learning modules.

MSc students undertake a major project many of which are sponsored by our industrial partners. Part-time student projects are often specified in conjunction with their sponsoring company and undertaken at their place of work.

All modules are 15 credits. The MSc project is 60 credits.

MSc: 180 credits – six core and two optional modules, plus the MSc project.
PG Diploma: 120 credits – six core and two optional modules.
PG Certificate: 60 credits – four core modules.

- Assessment
Modules are assessed by a combination of written examination, set coursework exercises and laboratory reports. The project is assessed by a dissertation, literature review and oral presentation.

- Accreditation
Both MSc programmes are accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), allowing progression towards professional chartered status (CEng) after a period of relevant graduate-level employment.

Careers and further study

Typical careers span many industrial sectors, including plastics, rubber, chemical and additives industries and packaging.
Possible roles include technical and project management, R&D, technical support to manufacturing as well as sales and marketing. Many of our best masters students who are interested in research stay with us to study for a PhD.

Bursaries and scholarships

Bursaries are available for both UK / EU and international students, and scholarships are available for good overseas applicants.

Why Choose Materials at Loughborough?

The Department has contributed to the advancement and application of knowledge for well over 40 years. With 21 academics and a large support team, we have about 85 full and part-time MSc students, 70 PhD students and 20 research associates.

Our philosophy is based on the engineering application and use of materials which, when processed, are altered in structure and properties.
Our approach includes materials selection and design considerations as well as business and environmental implications.

- Facilities
We are also home to the Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre – its state of-the-art equipment makes it one of the best suites of its kind in Europe used by academia and our industrial partners.
The Centre supports our research and teaching activities developing understanding of the interactions of structure and properties with processing and product performance.

- Research
Our research activity is organised into 4 main research groups; energy materials, advanced ceramics, surface engineering and advanced polymers. These cover a broad span of research areas working on today’s global challenges, including sustainability, nanomaterials, composites and processing. However, we adopt an interdisciplinary approach to our research and frequently interact with other departments and Research Schools.

- Career prospects
Over 90% of our graduates were in employment and / or further study six months after graduating. Our unrivalled links with industry are
hugely beneficial to our students. We also tailor our courses according to industrial feedback and needs, ensuring our graduates are well prepared

Find out how to apply here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/materials/polymer-science-tech/

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Take advantage of one of our 100 Master’s Scholarships to study Materials Engineering at Swansea University, the Times Good University Guide’s Welsh University of the Year 2017. Postgraduate loans are also available to English and Welsh domiciled students. For more information on fees and funding please visit our website.

Engineering at Swansea University has key research strengths in materials for aerospace applications and steel technology. As a student on the Master's course in Materials Engineering, you will be provided with the depth of knowledge and breadth of abilities to meet the demands of the international materials industry.

Key Features of MSc in Materials Engineering

Through the MSc Materials Engineering course you will be provided with training and experience in a broad range of topic areas, including metallurgy and materials selection, modern methods used for engineering design and analysis, the relationship between structure, processing and properties for a wide range of materials, materials and advanced composite materials, structural factors that control the mechanical properties of materials, and modern business management issues and techniques.

The MSc Materials Engineering course is an excellent route for those who have a first degree in any scientific or technical subject and would like to become qualified in this field of materials engineering.

MSc in Materials Engineering programme is modular in structure. Students must obtain a total of 180 credits to qualify for the degree. This is made up of 120 credits in the taught element (Part One) and a project (Part Two) that is worth 60 credits and culminates in a written dissertation. Students must successfully complete Part One before being allowed to progress to Part Two.

The part-time scheme is a version of the full-time equivalent MSc scheme, and as such it means lectures are spread right across each week and you may have lectures across every day. Due to this timetabling format, the College advises that the scheme is likely to suit individuals who are looking to combine this with other commitments (typically family/caring) and who are looking for a less than full-time study option.

Those candidates seeking to combine the part-time option with full-time work are unlikely to find the timetable suitable, unless their job is extremely flexible and local to the Bay Campus.

Modules

Modules on the MSc Materials Engineering course can vary each year but you could expect to study:

Composite Materials
Polymer Processing
Environmental Analysis and Legislation
Communication Skills for Research Engineers
Simulation Based Product Design
Aerospace Materials Engineering
Structural Integrity of Aerospace Metals
Ceramics
Environmental Analysis and Legislation
Physical Metallurgy of Steels

Accreditation

The MSc Materials Engineering course at Swansea University is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng(Hons) or an Accredited IEng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree.

Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Facilities

Our new home at the innovative Bay Campus provides some of the best university facilities in the UK, in an outstanding location.

Within Engineering at Swansea University there are state-of-the-art facilities specific to Materials Engineering.

- Comprehensive computer systems for specialist and general purposes.
- World-leading equipment for characterisation of the mechanical properties of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite materials.
- Extensive range of laboratories housing scanning electron microscopes with full microanalysis and electron backscatter diffraction capabilities.

Careers

Materials engineering underpins almost all engineering applications and employment prospects are excellent.

Employment can be found in a very wide range of sectors, ranging from large-scale materials production through to R&D in highly specialised advanced materials in industries that include aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, sports, and energy generation, as well as consultancy and advanced research.

Materials engineering knowledge is vital in many fields and our graduates go on to successful careers in research and development, product design, production management, marketing, finance, teaching and the media, and entrepreneurship.

Links with Industry

The internationally leading materials research conducted at Swansea is funded by prestigious organisations including:

Rolls-Royce
Airbus
Tata Steel

Rolls-Royce

The Institute of Structural Materials at Swansea is a core member of the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in Materials.

This venture supports a wide ranging research portfolio with a rolling value of £6.5 million per annum addressing longer term materials issues.

Airbus

Over £1m funding has been received from Airbus and the Welsh Government in the last three years to support structural composites research and development in the aerospace industry and to support composites activity across Wales.

Tata Steel

Funding of over £6 million to continue our very successful postgraduate programmes with Tata Steel.

Other companies sponsoring research projects include Akzo Nobel, Axion Recycling, BAE Systems, Bayer, Cognet, Ford, HBM nCode, Jaguar Land Rover, Novelis, QinetiQ, RWE Innogy, Timet, TWI (Wales), as well as many smaller companies across the UK.

These industrial research links provide excellent opportunities for great research and employment opportunities.

Research

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 ranks Engineering at Swansea as 10th in the UK for the combined score in research quality across the Engineering disciplines.

The REF assesses the quality of research in the UK Higher Education sector, assuring us of the standards we strive for.

The REF shows that 94% of research produced by our academic staff is of World-Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*) quality. This has increased from 73% in the 2008 RAE.

Research pioneered at the College of Engineering harnesses the expertise of academic staff within the department. This ground-breaking multidisciplinary research informs our world-class teaching with several of our staff leaders in their fields.

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The modern society relies on the work of Chemical Engineers who develop and design the processes that make the useful products for the society by efficient use and management of resources including water and energy while controlling health and safety procedures and protecting the environment.

Chemical Engineering provides essential tools based on the concept of sustainability and low carbon footprint for changing raw materials into useful products in a safe and cost effective way. Chemical Engineers understand how to alter the chemical, biochemical or physical state of a substance, to create everything from health care products (face creams, shampoo, perfume, drugs) to food (dairy products, cereals, agro-chemicals) and water (desalination for freshwater) to energy (petroleum to nuclear fuels).

Your study at MSc level at Bradford will be a foundation for life aimed at developing a deep understanding of advanced technical principles, analytical tools, and competence in their application together with a wide range of management, personal and professional skills. The course will provide you with essential tools based on the concept of sustainability and low carbon footprint for changing raw materials into useful products in a safe and cost effective way.

Why Bradford?

Flexibility of career path – Choice of three routes:
-Chemical Engineering - advanced chemical engineering and process technology skills for exciting and challenging careers in chemical and process industries
-Petroleum Engineering -matches the needs in different areas of oil and gas production and in medium/small operating and consulting companies
-Polymer Engineering - design and operation of processes to engineer materials with advanced properties leading to careers in diverse manufacturing sectors

Research Strengths - Internationally acclaimed research activities in the following areas:
-Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering
-Polymers
-Energy
-Water
-Pharmaceutical engineering
-Coating and advanced materials engineering

Rankings

Top Five: Chemical Engineering at the University of Bradford is ranked 5th in the UK in the Guardian University League Table 2017/

[[Modules
MSc Chemical & Petroleum Engineering (Chemical Engineering Background)
-Desalination Technology
-Materials & Manufacturing Processes
-Transport Phenomena
-Design Optimisation
-Computational Fluid Dynamics
-Upstream Production & Refinery Operations
-Research Skills
-Food & Pharmaceutical Processes Engineering
-Polymer Engineering
-Risk Management
-Engineering Computational Methods
-MSc Project

MSc Chemical & Petroleum Engineering (non-Chemical Engineering Background)
-Desalination Technology
-Transport Phenomena
-Chemical Engineering Practice
-Material & Manufacturing Processes
-Design Optimisation
-Computational Fluid Dynamics
-Upstream Production & Refinery Operations
-Research Skills
-Food & Pharmaceutical Processes Engineering
-Polymer Engineering
-Risk Management
-Engineering Computational Methods
-MSc Project

Career support and prospects

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

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About the course

Polymers and polymer composites are increasingly important in our everyday life and can be found everywhere around us. At the same time, more and more high-performance speciality polymers and polymer nanocomposites have been developed for advanced engineering, plastic electronics, biomedical applications.

Bringing together expertise from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemistry, and further supported by the Polymer Centre, the UK’s largest single-university academic network in the field of polymers, this course will provide you with a thorough understanding of advanced topics on polymer and composite science and engineering.

A welcoming department

A friendly, forward-thinking community, our students and staff are on hand to welcome you to the department and ensure you settle into student life.

Your project supervisor will support you throughout your course. Plus you’ll have access to our extensive network of alumni, offering industry insight and valuable career advice to support your own career pathway.

Your career

Prospective employers recognise the value of our courses, and know that our students can apply their knowledge to industry. Our graduates work for organisations including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the National Nuclear Laboratory and Saint-Gobain. Roles include materials development engineer, reactor engineer and research manager. They also work in academia in the UK and abroad.

90 per cent of our graduates are employed or in further study 6 months after graduating, with an average starting salary of £27,000, the highest being £50,000.

Equipment and facilities

We have invested in extensive, world-class equipment and facilities to provide a stimulating learning environment. Our laboratories are equipped to a high standard, with specialist facilities for each area of research.

Materials processing

Tools and production facilities for materials processing, fabrication and testing, including wet chemical processing for ceramics and polymers, rapid solidification and water atomisation for nanoscale metallic materials, and extensive facilities for deposition of functional and structural coatings.

Radioactive nuclear waste and disposal

Our £3million advanced nuclear materials research facility provides a high-quality environment for research on radioactive waste and disposal. Our unique thermomechanical compression and arbitrary strain path equipment is used for simulation of hot deformation.

Characterisation

You’ll have access to newly refurbished array of microscopy and analysis equipment, x-ray facilities, and surface analysis techniques covering state-of-the-art XPS and SIMS. There are also laboratories for cell and tissue culture, and facilities for measuring electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties.

The Kroto Research Institute and the Nanoscience and Technology Centre enhance our capabilities in materials fabrication and characterisation, and we have a computer cluster for modelling from the atomistic through nano and mesoscopic to the macroscopic.

Stimulating learning environment

An interdisciplinary research-led department; our network of world leading academics at the cutting edge of their research inform our courses providing a stimulating, dynamic environment in which to study.

Teaching and assessment

Working alongside students and staff from across the globe, you’ll tackle real-world projects, and attend lectures, seminars and laboratory classes delivered by academic and industry experts.

You’ll be assessed by formal examinations, coursework assignments and a dissertation.

Core modules

Polymer Characterization and Analysis; Polymer Materials Science and Engineering; Polymer Chemistry; Biopolymers and Biomaterials; research project.

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Why this course?

This course is aimed at those who wish to study advanced topics in mechanical engineering with a focus on materials.

It's been developed to provide you with an in-depth technical understanding of advanced mechanical engineering topics. You’ll also develop generic skills that allow you to contribute effectively in developing company capabilities.

The course is designed to make you more employable and also satisfies the Further Learning requirements necessary to obtain Chartered Engineer status.

This course is particularly suitable for graduate engineers in these sectors:
- chemical, petrochemical & process engineering
- design engineering
- power generation
- manufacturing
- oil & gas
- renewable energy

See the website https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/advancedmechanicalengineeringwithmaterials/

You’ll study

You’ll have the opportunity to select technical and specialist classes.

- Compulsory classes
You’ll study three compulsory classes:
- Engineering Composites
- Polymer & Polymer Composites
- Industrial Metallurgy

- Other specialist instructional modules
These focus on different technical aspects allowing you to tailor learning to your individual needs. When choosing technical modules, you’ll discuss the options with the course co-ordinator. These include:
- Pressurised Systems
- Aerodynamic Performance
- Aerodynamic Propulsion Systems
- Systems Engineering 1 & 2
- Machine Dynamics
- Machinery Diagnosis & Condition Monitoring
- Mathematical Modelling in Engineering Science
- Spaceflight Mechanics
- Advanced Topics in Fluid Systems Engineering
- Spaceflight Systems
- Advanced Boiler Technologies 1 & 2
- Materials for Power Plant
- Gas & Steam Turbines

- Faculty-wide generic instructional modules
You’ll choose three faculty-wide generic modules which satisfy the broader learning requirements for Chartered Engineer status. You'll choose from:
- Design Management
- Project Management
- Sustainability
- Information Management
- Finance
- Risk Management
-Environmental Impact Assessment
- Knowledge Engineering & Management for Engineers

- Individual project
MSc students take on an individual project which allows study of a selected topic in-depth. This may be an industry-themed project or one aligned to engineering research at Strathclyde.

Facilities

Our facilities include many laboratories and research centres including:
- Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory
- Energy Systems Research Unit
- Future Air-Space Transportation Technology
- James Weir Fluids Laboratory
- Mechanics & Materials Research Centre

We have local access to a 3500-node region supercomputer.

Accreditation

As this is a new course starting in 2014/15, accreditation by IMechE is expected (as has been obtained for the Advanced Mechanical Engineering course), after it has been operational for one year.

English language requirements for international students

IELTS - minimum overall band score of 6.5 (no individual test score below 5.5) or TOEFL iBT minimum total score of 95 (minimum scores of Listening-17, Writing-19, Reading and Speaking-20). Both tests are valid for two years.

Learning & teaching

Teaching methods include lectures and practical exercises. Site visits are also arranged.

Careers

Engineering graduates, particularly Mechanical Engineers, are in demand from recruiting companies. This course is designed to meet industrial demand for qualified staff in the area of Mechanical Engineering. This course is particularly suitable for Graduate Engineers in the following sectors:
- Chemical, Petrochemical & Process Engineering
- Design Engineering
- Power Generation
- Manufacturing
- Oil & Gas
- Renewable Energy

Find information on Scholarships here http://www.strath.ac.uk/search/scholarships/

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Our Polymer Science and Engineering research programmes have a long and esteemed history and today span a diverse range of themes and topics that have relevance to industrial needs worldwide.

Focus for polymer research

Our polymer research is closely integrated and encompasses the research of several members of academic staff, both individually and in collaboration. The research is built around fundamental studies of structure-property relationships for polymer materials of current and future importance.

Active areas of polymer research include:
-Biopolymers
-Coatings and Films
-Composites
-Deformation Micromechanics
-Fibres
-Multiphase Polymers
-Polymer Colloids
-Polymerisation
-Polymer Processing
-Responsive Polymers

Industry impact

Many of our polymer research projects are carried out in collaboration with industry and have important implications for the polymer materials sector.

Facilities

To underpin the research and teaching activities, we have established state-of-the-art laboratories, which allow comprehensive characterisation and development of materials. These facilities range from synthetic/textile fibre chemistry to materials processing and materials testing.

To complement our teaching resources, there is a comprehensive range of electrochemical, electronoptical imaging and surface and bulk analytical facilities and techniques.

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Our Polymer Science and Engineering research programmes have a long and esteemed history and today span a diverse range of themes and topics that have relevance to industrial needs worldwide.

Focus for polymer research

Our polymer research is closely integrated and encompasses the research of several members of academic staff, both individually and in collaboration. The research is built around fundamental studies of structure-property relationships for polymer materials of current and future importance.

Active areas of polymer research include:
-Biopolymers
-Coatings and Films
-Composites
-Deformation Micromechanics
-Fibres
-Multiphase Polymers
-Polymer Colloids
-Polymerisation
-Polymer Processing
-Responsive Polymers

Industry impact

Many of our polymer research projects are carried out in collaboration with industry and have important implications for the polymer materials sector.

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Microsystems Engineering is one of the most dynamic and interdisciplinary engineering fields. The Master of Science program in Microsystems Engineering (MSE) provides the educational basis for your success in this field. The MSE program is designed for highly qualified graduate students holding a Bachelor degree in engineering or science.

In the first year 12 mandatory courses provide the fundamental theoretical framework for a future career in Microsystems. These courses are designed to provide students with a broad knowledge base in the most important aspects of the field:

• MSE technologies and processes
• Microelectronics
• Micro-mechanics
• MSE design laboratory I
• Optical Microsystems
• Sensors
• Probability and statistics
• Assembly and packaging technology
• Dynamics of MEMS
• Micro-actuators
• Biomedical Microsystems
• Micro-fluidics
• MSE design laboratory II
• Signal processing

As part of the mandatory courses, the Microsystems design laboratory is a two-semester course in which small teams of students undertake a comprehensive, hands-on design project in Microsystems engineering. Requiring students to address all aspects of the generation of a microsystem, from conceptualization, through project planning to fabrication and testing, this course provides an essential glimpse into the workings of engineering projects.

In the second year, MSE students can specialise in two of the following seven concentration areas (elective courses), allowing each student to realize individual interests and to obtain an in-depth look at two sub-disciplines of this very broad, interdisciplinary field:

• Circuits and systems
• Design and simulation
• Life sciences: Biomedical engineering
• Life sciences: Lab-on-a-chip
• Materials
• Process engineering
• Sensors and actuators

Below are some examples of subjects offered in the concentration areas. These subjects do not only include theoretical lectures, but also hands-on courses such as labs, projects and seminars.

Circuits and Systems
• Analog CMOS Circuit Design
• Mixed-Signal CMOS Circuit Design
• VLSI – System Design
• RF- und Microwave Devices and Circuits
• Micro-acoustics
• Radio sensor systems
• Optoelectronic devices
• Reliability Engineering
• Lasers
• Micro-optics
• Advanced topics in Macro-, Micro- and Nano-optics


Design and Simulation
• Topology optimization
• Compact Modelling of large Scale Systems
• Lattice Gas Methods
• Particle Simulation Methods
• VLSI – System Design
• Hardware Development using the finite element method
• Computer-Aided Design

Life Sciences: Biomedical Engineering
• Signal processing and analysis of brain signals
• Neurophysiology I: Measurement and Analysis of Neuronal Activity
• Neurophysiology II: Electrophysiology in Living Brain
• DNA Analytics
• Basics of Electrostimulation
• Implant Manufacturing Techologies
• Biomedical Instrumentation I
• Biomedical Instrumentation II

Life Sciences: Lab-on-a-chip
• DNA Analytics
• Biochip Technologies
• Bio fuel cell
• Micro-fluidics 2: Platforms for Lab-on-a-Chip Applications

Materials
• Microstructured polymer components
• Test structures and methods for integrated circuits and microsystems
• Quantum mechanics for Micro- and Macrosystems Engineering
• Microsystems Analytics
• From Microsystems to the nano world
• Techniques for surface modification
• Nanomaterials
• Nanotechnology
• Semiconductor Technology and Devices

MEMS Processing
• Advanced silicon technologies
• Piezoelectric and dielectric transducers
• Nanotechnology

Sensors and Actuators
• Nonlinear optic materials
• CMOS Microsystems
• Quantum mechanics for Micro- and Macrosystems Engineering
• BioMEMS
• Bionic Sensors
• Micro-actuators
• Energy harvesting
• Electronic signal processing for sensors and actuators


Essential for the successful completion of the Master’s degree is submission of a Master’s thesis, which is based on a project performed during the third and fourth semesters of the program. Each student works as a member of one of the 18 research groups of the department, with full access to laboratory and cleanroom infrastructure.

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The School of Electronic Engineering at Bangor is ranked as 2nd in the UK for research by the UK Government in its most recent Research Assessment Exercise and as such the School houses academics, researchers and students of international standing. The School offers an MRes programme in Electronic Engineering, with a variety of specialist areas of study available. Each programme is aligned to the research conducted within the School:

MRes Electronic Engineering Optoelectronics
MRes Electronic Engineering Optical Communications
MRes Electronic Engineering Organic Electronics
MRes Electronic Engineering Polymer Electronics
MRes Electronic Engineering Micromachining
MRes Electronic Engineering Nanotechnology
MRes Electronic Engineering VLSI Design
MRes Electronic Engineering Bio-Electronics

The MRes programme provides a dedicated route for high-calibre students who (may have a specific research aim in mind) are ready to carry out independent research leading to PhD level study or who are seeking a stand alone research based qualification suitable for a career in research with transferable skills for graduate employment.
It is the normal expectation that the independent research thesis (120 credits) should be of at a publishable standard in a high quality peer reviewed journal.
The MRes programme is a full-time one year course consisting of 60 taught credits at the beginning of the programme which lead on to the 120 credit thesis.
Each MRes shares the taught element of the course, after successful completion of the taught element students are then able to specialise in a specific subject for their thesis.
The taught provision has four distinct 15 credit modules that concentrate on specific generic skill.

Modelling and Design
Focuses on the simulation and design of electronic devices using an advanced software package – COMSOL. This powerful commercial software package is extremely adaptable and can be used to simulate and design a very wide range of physical systems.

Introduction to Nanotechnology and Microsystems
Focuses on the device fabrication techniques at the nano and micro scale, as well as introducing some of the diagnostic tools available to test the quality and characteristics of devices.

Project Planning
Focuses on the skills required to scope, plan, execute and report the
outcomes of a business and research project.

Mini Project
Focuses on applying the skills and techniques to a mini project, whose theme will form the basis of the substantive research project.
MRes Research Project: After the successful completions of the taught component of the programme, the major individual thesis will be undertaken within the world-leading research groups of the School.
Student Study Support
All students are assigned a designated supervisor, an academic member of staff who will provide formal supervision and support on a daily basis.
The School’s Director of Graduate Studies will ensure that the appropriate level of support and guidance is available for all postgraduate students, and each Course Director is available to help and advise their students as and when required.

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The course is a suitable preparation for employment in the medical device sector and as preparation for PhD studies or research positions. The course draws upon the internationally recognised research with the school in areas such as Tissue Engineering, Bioceramics, Medical Electrodes and Drug Delivery. The course team also has a wealth of industrial experience and several medical device spin out companies have been established by the school.

Key benefits

- Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/course/msc-biomedical-engineering-ft-jn

- Part-time students who are in full-time employment will be able to gain credit for work-based activity in the work-based learning modules that are a feature of the programme.

- Students can apply for exemptions for specific modules based on prior learning.

Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/course/msc-biomedical-engineering-pt-jn

Course detail

- Description -

The course has been designed to provide postgraduate education and training in the concepts and methods within Biomedical Engineering and their intelligent application to problems within industry and academic research.

- Purpose -

It will enable candidates to develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of scientific principles, theories and practice.

- Teaching and learning assessment -

The course is delivered through lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes and is supported with extensive online content. The small class sizes provide an excellent learning environment and the material is assessed thorough formal examinations, coursework, class tests and presentations.

Core module:

• Bioinstrumentation
• Biomaterials 1
• Tissue engineering
• Research Methods & Facilities Core modules
• Composite engineering • Polymer technology
• Process product optimisation
• Research Methods & Facilities

Students can then tailor the course to their needs and interests by selecting from a wide range of optional modules.

Career options

Upon successful completion of the programme students will be more employable, particularly within the industry. Another important opportunity for MSc students is the academic career and/or research career through a PhD programme such as those offered in the Engineering Research Institute (ERI) which hosts the MSc programme.

How to apply: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply#pg

Why Choose Ulster University ?

1. Over 92% of our graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation.
2. We are a top UK university for providing courses with a period of work placement.
3. Our teaching and the learning experience we deliver are rated at the highest level by the Quality Assurance Agency.
4. We recruit international students from more than 100 different countries.
5. More than 4,000 students from over 50 countries have successfully completed eLearning courses at Ulster University.

Flexible payment

To help spread the cost of your studies, tuition fees can be paid back in monthly instalments while you learn. If you study for a one-year, full-time master’s, you can pay your fees up-front, in one lump sum, or in either five* or ten* equal monthly payments. If you study for a master’s on a part-time basis (e.g. over three years), you can pay each year’s fees up-front or in five or ten equal monthly payments each year. This flexibility allows you to spread the payment of your fees over each academic year. Find out more by visiting https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/postgraduate

Scholarships

A comprehensive range of financial scholarships, awards and prizes are available to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Scholarships recognise the many ways in which our students are outstanding in their subject. Individuals may be able to apply directly or may automatically be nominated for awards. Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/scholarships

English Language Tuition

CELT offers courses and consultations in English language and study skills to Ulster University students of all subjects, levels and nationalities. Students and researchers for whom English is an additional language can access free CELT support throughout the academic year: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/international/english-language-support

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Electronic engineering defines the very fabric of today’s modern technologically advanced society. A myriad of consumer electronic products - televisions, CD and DVD players - are in daily use by practically everyone on the planet. Mobile phones and computers enable global communications on a scale unimaginable even a few decades ago. Yet electronic engineering continues to develop new capabilities which will shape the lives of future generations.

This programme aims to provide a broad based Electronic Engineering MSc which will enable students to contribute to the future development of electronic products and services. The course reflects the School’s highly regarded research activity at the leading edge of electronic engineering. The MSc will provide relevant, up-to-date skills that enhance the engineering competency of its graduates and allows a broader knowledge of electronic engineering to be acquired by studying important emerging technologies, such as, optoelectronics, bioelectronics, polymer electronics and micromachining. The course is intended for graduates in a related discipline, who wish to enhance and specialise their skills in several emerging technologies.

Course Structure
This course runs from 29 September 2014 to 30 September 2015.

The course structure consists of a core set of taught and laboratory based modules that introduce advanced nanoscale and microscale device fabrication processes and techniques. In addition, device simulation and design is addressed with an emphasis placed on the use of advanced CAD based device and system based modelling. Transferable skills such as project planning and management, as well as, presentational skills are also further developed in the course.

Taught Modules:

Introduction to Nanotechnology & Microsystems*: focuses on the device fabrication techniques at the nano and micro scale, as well as introducing some of the diagnostic tools available to test the quality and characteristics of devices.

Modelling and Design: Focuses on the simulation and design of electronic devices using an advanced software package – COMSOL. This powerful commercial software package is extremely adaptable and can be used to simulate and design a very wide range of physical systems.



Advanced Sensor Systems: Provides students with an understanding of more complex sensor systems and a view of current developments in specific areas of sensor development. Applications of these systems and their main producers and users are also discussed.

Masters Mini Project: focuses on applying the skills and techniques already studied to a mini project, the theme of which will form the basis of the research project later in the year.

RF and Optical MEMs*: Introduces the use and benefits of miniaturisation in RF and optical technologies. The module will investigate improvements in component characteristics, and manufacturing processes. Applications of RF and optical nano and microsystems will be discussed using examples.

Microengineering*: Provides an introduction to the rapidly expanding subject of microengineering. Starting with a discussion of the benefits and market demand for microengineered systems, the module investigates clean room-based lithographic and related methods of microfabrication. Micro manufacturing issues for a range of materials such as silicon, polymers and metals will be discussed along with routes to larger scale manufacture. A range of example devices and applications will be used to illustrate manufacturing parameters.

Further Microengineering*: This module builds on the knowledge of microengineering and microfabrication gained in the Microengineering module. The module examines a broad range of advanced manufacturing process including techniques suitable for larger scale production, particularly of polymer devices. This module also examines specialist fabrication methods using laser systems and their flexibility in fabricating macroscopic and sub micron structures.

Mobile Communication Systems*: This module will provide an in-depth understanding of current and emerging mobile communication systems, with a particular emphasis on the common aspects of all such systems.

Broadband Communication Systems: This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of current and emerging broadband communications techniques employed in local, access and backbone networks. Particular emphasis will be focussed on the following aspects: 1) fundamental concepts, 2) operating principles and practice of widely implemented communications systems; 3) hot research and development topics, and 4) opportunities and challenges for future deployment of broadband communications systems.

Data Networks and Communications*: This module will provide an in-depth understanding of how real communication networks are structured and the protocols that make them work. It will give the students an ability to explain in detail the process followed to provide end to end connections and end-user services at required QoS.

Masters Project Preparation: To place computing and engineering within a business context so that students relate the technical aspects of their work to its commercial and social dimensions and are able to prepare project plans which take into account the constraints and limitations imposed by non-technical factors.

*optional modules

Research Project
After the successful completion of the taught component of the MSc programme, the major individual project will be undertaken within the world-leading optoelectronics or optical communications research groups of the School. Students will then produce an MSc Dissertation.

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Materials Engineering includes the development, specification and engineering applications of new and existing materials. Your research will focus on understanding the physical and chemical descriptions that underlie materials performance, and develop property and performance models of materials.

As a postgraduate researcher in Materials Engineering you will be based in the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials. Our research areas include kinetics and formation mechanisms of new materials, and predictive modelling based upon mechanistic understanding. Work covers the production, property measurement and performance assessment of:
-Ceramics
-Polymers
-Metals
-Composites

We focus on developing new materials for advanced engineering applications, including microelectronics, optics and power transmission.

Current research projects include:
-Developing novel surface engineering processes and materials (such as fullerene-like coating materials)
-Energy-based methods for performance modelling
-Nanomaterials and nanocharacterisation techniques
-Novel materials for intensified processes

A major research strength is the measurement and modelling of the mechanical response of materials at high-spatial resolution, particularly in microelectronic and optical devices. A combination of unique equipment and interdisciplinary expertise supports this.

Another research focus is the materials requirements for the sustainable development and use of key resources, in particular water and energy. We have significant research into the generation of energy from novel sources, low carbon and renewable technologies and the clean-up of effluent and wastewater.

Our major areas of research are:
-Fuel cells and energy systems
-Gasification
-Cold plasma gasification
-Bio-fuel cells
-Bio-diesel production
-Gas and water treatment
-Nano-structured polymer composites for pollution control
-Sustainable and environmental electrochemical systems
-Photochemical processes and electrochemical synthesis

The School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials runs a postgraduate training programme that is compulsory for all new students and involves selected taught modules. You also receive research training from the Science, Agriculture and Engineering Graduate School that covers professional/key skills, personal development and research techniques. You have the opportunity to supplement your income by undertaking laboratory demonstrating and tutorial classes.

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Chemical & Biological Engineering is a discipline that integrates chemistry and biology at the molecular level and uses this broad foundation along with engineering fundamentals to study the synthesis of new processes and products. Our graduate program in Chemical and Biological Engineering is an interdisciplinary program that combines chemical engineering fundamentals and systems biology to meet the research challenges of the future.

Current faculty projects and research interests:

• Drug Discovery
• Tissue Engineering
• Plant Biotechnology
• Protein-Protein Interactions
• Protein Folding
• Process Dynamics, Control and Optimization
• Systems Engineering
• Catalysis
• Supercritical Fluids
• Synthesis of Nanostructured Materials
• Fuel Cells and Sustainable Development
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Polymer Science and Engineering

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