Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide an honours degree programme in the fields of Materials Engineering and Materials Science which satisfies the needs of industry for graduates with a very strong academic background and business and transferable skills.
• To provide a sound education in topics relevant to Materials Science and Engineering.
• To develop the students’ responsibility and competence in Materials Science and Engineering related testing and design and offer opportunities for industrial training.
• Provide individual and multi-disciplinary group project work related to materials-based problems.
• To encourage students to manage and develop their own learning, communicate effectively and make use of technical literature.
• To develop the students’ commitment to life-long learning and enthusiasm for Materials Science and Engineering through the provision of an exciting, current and challenging programme informed by the department’s research activities and industrial input.
• To demonstrate the importance of professional engineering and highlight and encourage the route to professional registration.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• QAA Benchmark Statements for Materials

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: 

• Relevant principles of materials science and mathematical methods as applicable to materials science and engineering;
• The processing and applications of a wide range of material types;
• The role of information technology and library resources in providing support for materials scientists and engineers;
• Science and engineering principles relevant to materials selection and analysis;
• The materials aspects of design;
• The professional and engineering responsibilities of materials scientists and engineers;
• Procedures for the characterisation and testing of materials.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply appropriate material and manufacturing route selection methodologies as part of component analysis and design processes;
• Utilise materials science and engineering principles to develop new materials/processing routes for improved performance of engineering systems;
• Propose innovative solutions to materials science and engineering problems;
• Select and apply appropriate IT tools to a variety of materials problems;
• Analyse materials aspects of components;
• Select materials from an environmentally appreciative viewpoint;
• Interpret numerical data and apply mathematical methods to the analysis of materials science and engineering problems.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Use appropriate testing and analysis methods for the study of materials;
• Manipulate systems for the processing of a range of material types;
• Use appropriate computer software for design and modelling exercises;
• Collect, evaluate and present practical data in a suitable format;
• Interpret experimental results in terms of theoretical mechanisms and concepts.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Work effectively, both as part of a team and independently;
• Organise and manage time and resources effectively; for short-term and longer-term commitments;
• Communicate effectively through written, graphical, inter-personal, and presentation media;
• Apply constructive and structured approaches to problem solving;
• Demonstrate a reasonable level of numeracy, appropriate to the cognitive skills required;
• Acquire, assess and use sources of information appropriately;
• Demonstrate project management skills.

4. Programme structure

Part A - All modules are compulsory. 

Part B - 110 credits of compulsory modules, 10 credits of optional modules

Part I –   Diploma in Industrial Studies and Diploma in International Studies Modules

Eight Semester programme

In accordance with Regulation XI, students can undertake a placement, leading to the additional award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies or Diploma in Professional Studies, or if taken at a University overseas the Diploma in International Studies.  Participation in a placement, or study abroad, is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory academic performance in Parts A and B.

Part C - 100 credits of compulsory modules, 20 credits of optional modules

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B and from Part B to C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also must gain credit (≥40%) in the modules MAA101 Mathematics for Materials 1 and MAA201 Mathematics for Materials 2 to progress from Part A to Part B.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 30:Part C 70 to determine the final percentage mark.