Materials Chemistry MSc

Program Overview

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Overview

We provide a unique Master’s education in Materials Chemistry, offering the opportunity to carry out a 12-month research project from a selection that covers all aspects of Materials Chemistry.

Optional modules enable you to gain specialist knowledge of core areas such as:

supramolecular and nanochemistry

polymer chemistry

inorganic materials chemistry

Both synthesis and characterisation are integral to the teaching around these areas.

Materials Chemistry is a key multidisciplinary area, and a growth area for both academic and industrial research. Employment prospects in this area are excellent - the programme will prepare you for a career in industrial or academic research and development, or in production or manufacturing roles.

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Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

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Program Outline

What you will study

You will be guided on how to:

strategically plan experimental work

carry out all appropriate COSHH assessments involved in practical work

source and access relevant published work

In support of this, you will be required to meet with your supervisor regularly to discuss interim reports and to propose the next steps in the planning of a project. Instruction will be given by library staff in critical reading of the scientific literature. A presentation of the work achieved will be given in the form of a poster presentation.

You will devote a significant period of time to an individual and original piece of research. You are required to work independently on the project, and to seek advice or practical help when appropriate, with regular communication with your project supervisor(s). The supervisor will provide guidance on data collection, data analysis, discussion, summarising of findings and writing up of the final dissertation and associated research paper.

All module information is for 2022 entry, and is subject to change.

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First year

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Core

Research Skills, Professional Development and Commercial Awareness

Research Project – Preparatory Investigations

Research Project – Advanced Investigations

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Option

Fundamentals of Nano and Supramolecular Materials

Colloids and Interfaces

Spectroscopy

Introduction to Polymer Science

Materials in Electronics

Materials Characterisation

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Learning and assessment

A variety of teaching methods appropriate to the learning outcomes of the individual modules are employed throughout the programme. The learning activities include lectures, workshops and directed study.

Core modules are dedicated to developing generic key skills, specialism practice and project management experience. The specialist modules relating to materials chemistry include lectures, workshops and use of specialist software packages under the instruction of a team of interdisciplinary specialists in the area.

The modules are assessed through course work (problem solving exercises, project plan, training plan), oral presentations and formal exams.

These progressively focus on student-centred approaches to learning and will reflect increasing reliance on independent responsibility for learning. In this way you will develop the attributes needed for life-long learning and continued professional development.

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Official programme specification

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Career support

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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Career prospects

Materials Chemists work in a diverse range of areas including: medical devices; electronic devices; sustainable energy generation; nanomaterials; surface coatings; controlled delivery of drugs and agrochemicals and many other areas.

Transferable skills are also a key component and graduating students will be equipped for careers in both academia and industry.