Polymers and Composites
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering

Course description
Polymers and polymer composites are increasingly important in our everyday life and can be found all around us. Recent advances include biodegradable plastics, 3D printing, plastic electronics, high-performance aerospace applications and many more.
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.
Accreditation
Fully accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IoM3). Graduates will have the underpinning knowledge for later professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Modules
- Fundamental Polymer Chemistry
- Polymer Characterisation and Analysis
- Polymer Laboratory
- The Physics of Polymers
- Polymer Materials Science and Engineering
- Design and Manufacture of Composites
- Polymer Processing
- Composite Materials and Micromechanics
- Research Project in an area of your choice
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.
Teaching
Working alongside students and staff from across the globe, you’ll tackle real-world projects, and attend lectures, seminars and laboratory classes.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed by formal examinations, coursework assignments and a dissertation.
Duration
1 year full-time
Student profile

I came from Mexico to study my masters degree at the University of Sheffield because it has one of the best materials science departments in the UK. As the University is a member of the Russell Group, I also knew that employers everywhere in the world would recognise the quality of my degree.
Jorge Luis Vazquez Olavarrieta
MSc (Eng) Polymers and Polymer Composites Science and Engineering
Entry requirements
A good honours degree in materials, a physical science (chemistry or physics) or a related engineering subject. Some background in polymers or composites is desired.
Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.
We also accept a range of other UK qualifications and other EU/international qualifications.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
Apply
You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
mse.pgtadmissions@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5941
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.