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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
Modules for this course are to be confirmed.
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 Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn.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.
Open days
An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses. You'll find out what makes us special.
Duration
1 year full-time
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.
Department
Materials science and engineering is an extraordinarily interdisciplinary subject that underpins so many aspects of our society and has a huge impact in pretty much all engineering sectors from aerospace, to automotive, to the biomedical sciences, the energy sector and beyond.
Sheffield has long been a centre of materials innovation. With a history of research excellence that can be traced back more than 135 years, this department was one of the foundation stones of the University.
Being at the centre of such a diverse subject area, our researchers at Sheffield are solving some of the most pressing challenges faced by society.
Our work covers solutions across all sustainability challenges from biodegradable polymers, to clean energy, to recyclability and decarbonisation within the foundation industries, to novel low-energy methods for the manufacture of materials for energy. For example we are champions of atomic energy leading the way towards effective solutions for nuclear waste immobilisation as well as designing the materials to enable atomic fusion thus providing solutions to green energy.
We strive to give you a valuable and unforgettable university experience. By accessing state-of-the-art multidisciplinary engineering laboratories, direct contact with industrial partners, and excellent learning resources, you will be given the opportunity and support to develop the skills you need to succeed at university and flourish in your career once you graduate.
Student profiles

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
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in materials, a physical science (chemistry or physics) or a related engineering subject.
It will be an advantage if applicants have a background in polymers and/or composites.
Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
Scholarships of up to £3000 are available on the basis of academic excellence and Access and Participation criteria. UK students only.
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.