Materials Science and Engineering with Biomaterials

Materials science and engineering is the discipline that examines the connection between the structure and properties of materials, and uses that understanding to design new materials and improve existing ones for specific applications. It encompasses metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, semiconductors, and biological materials, and it draws on chemistry, physics, and engineering to ask why materials behave as they do and how that behaviour can be controlled and optimised. The specialisation in biomaterials focuses this understanding on materials that interact with biological systems, from implants and prosthetics to drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds, a field of enormous importance for medicine and healthcare.

At the University of Manchester, this four-year programme includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students who need additional preparation before tackling degree-level engineering and science. Following the foundation year, you will study the core content of materials science and engineering, covering the structure of materials at atomic and microstructural levels, the mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties that result from that structure, and the processes of manufacturing and processing that produce usable materials with designed properties. The biomaterials specialisation develops your understanding of how materials behave in biological environments, the requirements for biocompatibility, and the design considerations specific to materials used in medical devices and healthcare applications.

Laboratory work and project-based learning are central throughout.

Graduates from materials science and engineering with biomaterials programmes enter careers across engineering, the life sciences, and healthcare technology. The medical devices industry employs materials scientists and engineers in research, development, and quality roles. Academic and industrial research in biomaterials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine are destinations for those who pursue postgraduate study.

The broader engineering sector, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, and energy, employs materials scientists in roles concerned with materials selection, failure analysis, and innovation. Professional accreditation through the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining supports career development, and chartered engineer status is available to graduates who continue to develop their professional practice.