Masters Degrees in Polymers, United Kingdom

This programme aims to meet the needs of the fine chemicals, cosmetics, biomaterial, polymers, surface coatings, graphic arts and colorant industries by producing graduates with advanced knowledge and research skills in colour science and in the theory, application and analysis of polymers, fine chemicals and colorants.

You’ll be introduced to a breadth of practical research and high-level academic skills in planning, experimentation and processes, in synthesis and characterisation aspects. Optional modules will also give you the chance to gain specialist knowledge in an area that suits your own interests and potential career plans.

You’ll also develop a range of generic skills such as problem solving, information technology and communication. Our graduates enjoy excellent employment opportunities both in industry and academia.

Course content

Throughout the programme you’ll study compulsory and optional modules covering concepts, information and techniques relevant to polymers, colorants and fine chemicals. You’ll also be introduced to topics from the research frontier such as synthesis, formulation and application of advanced polymers, colorants, cosmetics, inks and coatings, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

The focal point of the course is the extended research project. Your supervisor will help you to select the project that is right for you, in an area that interests and motivates you. The project will provide you with key research experience to take your career forward. With the core modules behind you, you will be ideally positioned to choose an exciting problem to investigate. Some research projects are linked with industry and will help to enhance your employability.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

• Extended Laboratory Project for Chemistry-based MSc courses 90 credits
• Advanced Colour Science 15 credits
• Synthesis and Application of Polymers 15 credits
• Colour Application Technology 30 credits
• Instrumental Analysis and Characterisation of Polymers, Colorants and Fine Chemicals 15 credits

Optional modules

• Organic Synthesis for Fine Chemical and Pharmaceutical Synthesis 15 credits
• Case Studies in Fine Chemical and Pharmaceutical Synthesis 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Polymers, Colorants and Fine Chemicals MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

Teaching methods involve a combination of lectures, tutorials, case studies, workshops and contact with relevant industries. The final stage of study is an individual extended research project which is typically carried out within a research group and may also include external industrial involvement.

Assessment

Assessment is based on course work, research project performance and written exams which take place at the end of the semester in which the module is taught.

Career opportunities

There are a range of employment opportunities in areas such as fine chemicals manufacture (eg colorants, cosmetics, food additives, healthcare products etc.), polymers and polymeric additives (eg high performance plastics, biopolymers, medical implants, drugs), colour applications (eg textile dyeing and printing, inks and coatings), with companies such as Unilever, P&G, GSK, Clariant, Archroma, Huntsman, L’Oreal, Abbott Laboratory, Akzo Nobel, Sun Chemical, and BASF.

There are also opportunities to continue on to PhD study with many projects supported by industrial partners.

Careers support

Colour Science, in conjunction with The Printing Charity, also offer career training days to students interested in furthering their career in graphic arts industries.

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

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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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This course trains graduates with a chemistry background specifically for a career as a polymer or biopolymer scientist. The content reflects global interest in sustainably-derived polymers which are increasing in demand in a variety of applications including food and beverages, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care, paints and inks.

Our specialist course will equip you with the knowledge to understand the behaviour of both naturally occurring and synthetic water soluble polymers at the molecular level, and how this influences their bulk behaviour. Lectures are reinforced and expanded by study of real-life polymer systems in the laboratory.

You'll learn about the vital roles played by polymers in a rage of products, gain knowledge of biopolymer modification, polymer synthesis and a range of specialist characterisation techniques. During your research project you'll work with specialists from manufacturing industries and perform a programme of experiments designed to help you develop your skills.

Key Course Features

-You will learn about the vital roles played by polymers in a diverse range of high value products – e.g in mayonnaise, sun tan lotion, wound gels, liquid pharmaceuticals, paper, ink, water based paints and flotation aids in mining to name just a few.
-You’ll gain first-hand knowledge of biopolymer modification, polymer synthesis, and a wide range of specialist characterisation techniques.
-In your research project you will interface with specialists from manufacturing industries and undertake a programme of experiments designed to develop the skills you want to learn.
-Through case studies and your research project you will learn how to apply acquired knowledge in real world industrial scenarios, leading the way to success in subsequent employment.

What Will You Study?

The course comprises 6 x 20 credit modules of taught content and a 60 credit research project. The taught element is delivered by a varied programme including lectures, seminars, practical classes and may be studied on a full time or part time basis to suit you. There is a strong emphasis on development of hands-on practical skills using a wide variety of advanced instrumentation.

TAUGHT MODULES
-Advanced Materials Science
-Chemistry & Technology of Water Soluble Polymers
-Formulation Science
-Polymer Characterisation Case Study
-Structure and Function of Industrial Biopolymers

The lectures and workshops are designed to train you in understanding polymer molecules themselves, and the way they interact with each other, and with solvents, surfactants, particles and surfaces.

You will:
-Study the basic principles of polymer characterisation through a range of analytical techniques including FT-IR, UV-vis, NMR, ESR and fluorescence spectroscopy.
-Master the measurement of molar mass distribution using gel permeation chromatography with multi angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS), and gel electrophoresis.
-Use particle sizing techniques such as digital imaging and laser diffraction to measure aggregates, flocs and emulsion droplets.
-Discover Green Chemistry - exploring a whole range of biopolymers extracted from natural resources….including antimicrobial polymers from shellfish waste, gelling agents from seaweed, and oligosaccharides from locally grown grasses.
-Learn about man-made polymers and importantly, chemically modified biopolymers.
-Measure the viscosity and rheology of liquid formulations and see how this can be interpreted to yield structural information on thickened systems and gels.
-A module in research methods provides training in all aspects of undertaking research, from project management, through data analysis and statistics to communicating your results and writing your dissertation to ensure you are well equipped to undertake your project.

RESEARCH PROJECT
The course culminates in an industry-focussed Research Project. For full-time students this may be partly or wholly undertaken within a local manufacturing company. For part-time students the project provider may be your current employer. The Research Project gives you the opportunity to undertake a piece of novel research, and will often be based around solving a polymer application /characterisation problem for the project provider. It allows you to put into practice the knowledge and skills gained in the taught elements of the course.

Because of the individual nature of the research projects, no two projects are the same. Below are some of the titles of previous research projects undertaken by previous Masters students in our department:
-Aspects of Adhesive Bonding of Low Energy Polymers
-The effects of Surfactants on the Rheological Properties of Hydrophobically Modified Cellulose
-Extensional Rheometry and Dynamic Light Scattering of Telechelic Associating Polymer Solutions
-Simple chemical syntheses of polymer/silver nanocomposites
-Phase separation of Gum Arabic and Hyaluronan in Aqueous Solution
-Shear and extensional Rheology of Electron Beam (EB) Curable Paint

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Assessment and Teaching

Assessment of the taught modules is intended to allow the learner to demonstrate skills that cover the entire breadth of the programme aims – knowledge and understanding, key practical skills, intellectual skills in planning experiments/interpreting data and communication of information in writing and verbally.

The research project is examined by a final dissertation.

Career Prospects

The EU is the leading chemical production area in the world and the chemical industry is the UK's largest manufacturing export sector.

MSc Polymer and Biopolymer Science combines delivery of key theoretical knowledge with hands-on application in extraction, modification and testing of polymers / biopolymers.

You’ll learn how to develop experiments at bench scale through to processes at pilot and manufacturing scale. A Masters degree in Polymer & Biopolymer Science from Glyndwr University gives you the skills employers are looking for.

You'll be ready to step confidently into a world of manufacturing with a wealth of information and skills to offer. The course provides excellent career opportunities across a wide range of industrial sectors. Graduates can expect to obtain a research and development position in areas related to biomedical devices, pharmaceutical formulation, food and beverages, petroleum recovery, agrochemicals, functional polymers/speciality chemicals, inks, paints and coatings or cosmetics and personal care products.

The course also provides a direct route to doctoral study, for those wishing to undertake further research training or pursue an academic career.

The Careers & Zone at Wrexham Glyndŵr University is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

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About the course

This course is designed with industry in mind. We have also partnered with Engineering Materials and Physics to encompass the breadth of modern polymer science and technology. You’ll become the kind of high-calibre polymer science graduate needed to develop new products and processes in a variety of industries.

Through a combination of theory and practice, we’ll teach you about polymer synthesis, physics, characterisation and the latest developments in polymer research. When you design and conduct your own extended research project, you can look in more detail at the areas you’re most interested in and learn how to communicate your science to the chemical community.

Your future

Our graduates are highly valued in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector. They work all over the world for companies including AkzoNobel, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Corus, Dow Chemicals, GSK, Smith and Nephew and Syngenta. Many move on to PhD study, then careers in research or teaching.

Chemistry is vital to the way we live. It helps power industry and drive economic growth. Polymer science contributes to advances in everything from biology to engineering and medicine. As a researcher in industry or academia you could be involved in work that improves lives and changes the way we see the world.

Learn from world-class research

Top-quality research directly informs our teaching. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) rates 98 per cent of our work world-class or internationally excellent. You’ll learn about the very latest developments from experts in theory and spectroscopy, synthesis, analytical science, chemical biology and materials.

Labs, equipment and training

We’ll train you to use our modern analytical instrumentation. We have NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, x-ray crystallography, polymer characterisation methods and advanced microscopy. We also have a team of technicians to assist with spectroscopic services. There are labs for molecular biology, protein chemistry, polymer/colloid synthesis and materials characterisation.

Core modules

Fundamental Polymer Chemistry; The Physics of Polymers; Biopolymers and Biomaterials; Polymer Characterisation and Analysis; Research and Presentation Skills and Polymer Laboratory Skills; Extended Research Project.

Examples of optional modules

Smart Polymers and Polymeric Materials; Polymers with Controlled Structures; Design and Manufacture of Composites; Polymer Fibre Composite Materials; Macromolecules at Interfaces and Structured Organic Films; Electronics and Photonics.

Teaching and assessment

We use a mixture of lectures, practicals, workshops and individual research projects. The optional modules in the second semester enable you to specialise in two specific areas of polymer science. You can also tailor your research project to your particular interests.

For all taught modules, written exams contribute 75 per cent towards your final grade. The other 25 per cent comes from continuous assessment, which might include essays on specialised topics or assessed workshops. You also produce a 15,000-word dissertation based on your research project.

Your research project

This can be based in an academic group at the University, or in industry. If it’s industry- based, the topic is usually suggested by the company you’re working with. You may be expected to liaise closely with the company to organise your project.

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This course draws upon the internationally recognised research within the school in areas such as 3D woven preforms (for use in the aerospace and other transportation sectors), nanocomposites and technical textiles. The team which delivers the course also has a wealth of industrial experience built from collaborations with key companies including Rolls Royce, Bombardier and Airbus.

Key benefits

- Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

- 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.

- Part-time students can undertake work based learning modules.

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

Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/course/msc-advanced-composites-and-polymers-ft-jn

Course detail

- Description -

This programme provides education and training in advanced composites and polymers and their intelligent application in industry.

- Course format and assessment -

Full-time students take four modules per semester for semesters 1 and 2 and then undertake the dissertation during the summer. Part-time students generally take two modules per semester but this can be altered as required. Part-time students attend one day per week during term time and some of the modules run in the evening.

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.

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.

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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Offered as part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.

Full-time and part-time students study a number of one-week short-course modules comprising lectures, laboratory sessions and tutorials.

The modules cover metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, nanomaterials, bonding, surfaces, corrosion, fracture, fatigue, analytical techniques and general research methods. Each module is followed by an open book assessment of approximately 120 hours.

There is also a materials-based research project, which is made up of the Research Project Planning and the Project modules.

The MSc in Advanced Materials is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) when a Project is undertaken.

Programme structure

This programme is studied full-time over one academic year and part-time over five academic years. It consists of eight taught modules and a compulsory Project.

Example module listing

The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.

• Introduction to Materials Science
• Research Methods
• Research Project Planning
• Project
• Introduction to Composite Materials Science
• Characterisation of Advanced Materials
• Introduction to Physical Metallurgy
• Polymers: Science, Engineering and Applications
• Structural Ceramics and Hard Coatings
• Surface Analysis: XPS, Auger and SIMS
• Materials Under Stress
• The Science and Technology of Adhesive Bonding
• Composite Materials Technology
• Corrosion Engineering
• Nanomaterials
• Advanced Materials Independent Study (part-time only)
• Advanced Materials Project (part-time only)
• Project (part-time only)

Educational aims of the programme

• To provide students with a broad knowledge of the manufacture, characterisation and properties of advanced materials
• To address issues of sustainability such as degradation and recycling
• To equip graduate scientists and engineers with specific expertise in the selection and use of materials for industry
• To enable students to prepare, plan, execute and report an original piece of research
• To develop a deeper understanding of a materials topic which is of particular interest (full-time students) or relevance to their work in industry (part-time students) by a project based or independent study based thesis

Programme learning outcomes

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

• The different major classes of advanced materials
• Routes for manufacturing and processing of advanced materials
• Characterisation techniques for analysing bonding and microstructure
• Mechanical, chemical and physical properties of advanced materials
• Processing -microstructure - property relationships of advanced materials
• Material selection and use
• Appropriate mathematical methods

Intellectual / cognitive skills

• Reason systematically about the behaviour of materials
• Select materials for an application
• Predict material properties
• Understand mathematical relationships relating to material properties
• Plan experiments, interpret experimental data and discuss experimental results in the context of present understanding in the field

Professional practical skills

• Research information to develop ideas and understanding
• Develop an understanding of, and competence, in using laboratory equipment and instrumentation
• Apply mathematical methods, as appropriate

Key / transferable skills

• Use the scientific process to reason through to a sound conclusion
• Write clear reports
• Communicate ideas clearly and in an appropriate format
• Design and carry out experimental work

Global opportunities

We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.

In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.

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The Research Masters (MRes) programme in Materials Research is designed following guidelines provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), to provide graduates with the foundations for a research career in industry, the service sector, the public sector or academia. It serves both as a qualification in its own right for an immediate entry into a research career or as an enhanced route to a PhD through further research.

The taught modules within this programme are designed to provide high quality training in the methods and practice of research, as well as providing complementary transferable skills through the optional modules which focus on business and management related topics.

A substantial component of the MRes Materials Research programme is the research project. This is undertaken alongside taught modules throughout the academic year, and will be based within one of the materials-based research groups of the School of Engineering and Materials Science. The MRes Materials Research may be focused in the fields of ceramics, polymers,composites, elastomers, functional materials or manufacturing technologies.


MSc

This long established programme provides rigorous training in both theoretical and applied research for those who wish to pursue their career as a professional materials scientist. Technological advances, as well as methodological issues, have contributed to the transformation of materials and their functions. A number of challenges lie ahead, as manufacturing supply chains become global, involving companies in strategic alliances and partnerships. Materials research is of great use here, as competition can only be achieved through the development of innovative approaches to the design, development and manufacture of novel materials and their characterisation.

The MSc in Materials Research will provide an insight into areas of manufacturing, planning and control systems, knowledge based systems and measurements and manufacturing systems. The course is interdisciplinary in nature and involves a combination of theoretical and practical approaches.

A substantial component of the programme is the research project. The research project is undertaken alongside taught modules throughout the academic year, and will be based within one of the materials-based research groups of the School of Engineering and Materials Science. The research project may be focused in the fields of Ceramics, Polymers, Composites, Elastomers, Functional Materials or Manufacturing Technologies.

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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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Do you have a keen interest in global issues like sustainability, renewable energy, and personalised healthcare? Supported by leading experts from academia and industry, this invaluable course explores the real-world application of polymers in state-of-the-art research laboratories.

You’ll be trained in the fundamentals of synthesis, characterisation and colloids plus the bulk properties of polymers. You’ll use the latest equipment for spectrometry and chromatography to conduct independent analysis within the world-leading Magnetic Resonance Centre, and you’ll gain a number of transferable skills throughout your degree too.

By the end of the course you’ll be excellently positioned to work in a number of related industries or take up further research in a PhD.

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About the course

A multi-disciplinary course, students will be introduced to the field of biomaterials, and important factors in the selection, design, and development of biomaterials for clinical applications. You’ll develop an understanding of biomaterials science, engineering, regenerative medicine and associated specialisms.

This course will be of particular interest to students interested in facilitating their development into the medical field aiming to contribute in the health care sector.

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

Materials for Biological Applications; Scientific Writing and Health Informatics; Polymers Materials Chemistry; Biomaterials II (Advances in Biomaterials); Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine; Structural and Physical Properties of Dental and Biomaterials.

Examples of optional modules

Group Projects in Bioengineering; Dental Materials Science; Tissue Structure and Function; Design of Medical Devices and Implants; Introduction to Digital Dentistry and Dental Manufacturing.

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The MSc Polymer Science and Technology is a brand new course that commences in Autumn 2012. This course will capitalise on research strengths that already exist within the School of Engineering and Materials Science, particularly within the area of polymers and composites. The course will focus on polymers and polymer composites and will conclude with an independent research project related to these areas.

Modules will prepare students for independent research while also increasing their knowledge of the structure and behaviours of different polymer materials. You will also learn how to decide what materials are the most suitable for the design different products, depending on the environmental impact that results. There will be an emphasis on the various different types of materials processes that are currently used as well as the techniques that are still being developed.

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The masters course in Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, offered in partnership with the School of Chemistry, is multi-disciplinary: it provides Chemists, Materials Scientists and Engineers with a rich understanding of both traditional commodity plastics and speciality polymers with increasing applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, and in electronics and nanotechnology. The full range of issues, from fundamental polymer science, through polymer processing, to manufacturing are all covered.

Career opportunities

The majority of graduates of this programme go on to fill key posts as materials scientists, engineers, managers and consultants in academia, industry and research and development. Some advance to PhD programmes within the School.

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Materials are at the forefront of new technologies in medicine and dentistry, both in preventative and restorative treatment. This programme features joint teaching within the School of Engineering and Materials Science and the Institute of Dentistry, bringing together expertise in the two schools to offer students a fresh perspective on opportunities that are available in the fields of dental materials.

* This programme will equip you with a deep understanding of the field of dental materials and the knowledge necessary to participate in research, or product development.
* An advanced programme designed to develop a broad knowledge of the principles underlying the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of Dental Materials.
* Special emphasis is placed on materials-structure correlations in the context of both clinical and non clinical applications.
* Provides an introduction to materials science, focusing on the major classes of materials used in dentistry including polymers, metals, ceramics and composites.
* Provides up-to-date information on dental materials currently used in Clinical Dentistry and in developments for the future It covers the underlying principles of their functional properties, bioactivity and biocompatibility, and also covers specific dental materials applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and regulatory affairs.

Why study with us?

Dental Materials is taught jointly by staff from the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), and School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS).

Our school of medicine and dentistry is comprised of two world renowned teaching hospitals, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, which have made, and continue to make, an outstanding contribution to modern medicine. We are ranked sixth in the UK for medicine (Complete University Guide 2012), and Dentistry was placed at number two in the UK in last Research Assessment Exercise (2008). Our Materials Department was the first of its kind established in the UK, and was placed at number 1 in the UK in the 2011 National Student Survey.

This degree is aimed at dental surgeons, dental technicians, materials scientists and engineers wishing to work in the dental support industries, and the materials health sector generally. On completion of the course you should have a good knowledge of topics related to dental materials, and in addition, be competent in justifying selection criteria and manipulation instructions for all classes of materials relevant to the practice of dentistry.

There has been a general move away from destructive techniques and interventions towards less damaging cures and preventative techniques. This programme will update your knowledge of exciting new technologies and their applications.

* The programme is taught by experts in the field of dentistry and materials; they work closely together on the latest developments in dental materials.
* Innovations in medical practice, drug development and diagnostic tools are often tested in the mouth due to simpler regulatory pathways in dentistry.
* The programme allows practitioners the opportunity to update their knowledge in the latest developments in dental materials.

Facilities

You will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment, including:

* Cell & Tissue Engineering Laboratories; five dedicated cell culture laboratories, a molecular biology facility and general purpose laboratorie
* Confocal microscopy unit incorporating two confocal microscopes, enabling advanced 3D imaging of living cells
* Mechanical Testing Facilities
* NanoVision Centre; our state-of-the-art microscopy unit bringing together the latest microscope techniques for structural, chemical and mechanical analysis at the nanometer scale
* Spectroscopy Lab
* Thermal Analysis Lab.

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Nanoscale Science and Technology research students in nanoLAB cross the traditional disciplinary boundaries of medicine, engineering and the physical sciences. This gives you the chance to thrive on interdisciplinary challenges, collaborate with industrial partners and even create your own spin-off company to commercialise the results of your research.

MPhil supervision is available in:
-Micro and nanoscale design, fabrication, manufacturing and manipulation
-Top-down and bottom-up fabrication
-Nanoscale materials and electronics
-Applications of nano and microelectronics in medical science, including cell biology, neuroscience, human genetics and ageing
-Polymers
-Self-assembly
-Chemistry of nanoscale systems
-Biomolecular engineering - microfluids, bioprobes and biosensor systems, MEMS/NEMS-based sensors and devices

Many research projects cross the disciplinary boundaries of medicine, engineering and the physical sciences. Depending on the source of funding, your project may involve collaboration with an industry partner or you may work in a team with a number of students to develop an idea to the point where, following your degree, you can create a spin-off company to commercialise the results of your research.

There are opportunities for you to develop your business awareness and skills, with training in topics such as intellectual property protection. nanoLAB also hosts regular research seminars, conferences and workshops.

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