Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

BEng (Hons) Materials Science and Engineering

Academic Year: 2018/19

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.

This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.

This specification should be read in conjunction with:

  • Summary
  • Aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Structure
  • Progression & weighting

Programme summary

Awarding body/institution Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different)
Owning school/department Department of Materials
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body
Final award BEng/ BEng+DIS/ BEng+DIntS
Programme title Materials Science and Engineering
Programme code MPUB01
Length of programme The duration of the programme is six semesters, or eight semesters if students undertake industrial training leading to the award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies, or study at a University abroad leading to the award of the Diploma in International Studies. These occur between Part B and Part C.
UCAS code J500, J501
Admissions criteria

BEng - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/j500

BEng+DIS/ BEng+DIntS - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/j501

Date at which the programme specification was published Wed, 22 Aug 2018 16:03:05 BST

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. 

Module code

Title

Credits

Semester

MPA201

Introductory Materials Science

10

1

MPA202

Experimentation and Practical Skills

20

1 and 2

MPA203

CAD and Engineering Drawing

10

1

MPA204

Engineering Analysis and Modelling

10

2

MPA205

Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria

10

1

MPA207

Mechanics for Materials 1

10

2

MPA210

Introduction to Product Design 

10

1

MAA101 

Mathematics for Materials 1

10

1

MAA201

Mathematics for Materials 2

10

2

MPA321

Introduction to Materials Processing

10

2

MPA322

Materials Applications

10

2

 

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

Module code

Title

Credits

Semester

Compulsory/optional

MAB101

Mathematics for Materials 3

10

1

C

MPB208

Fracture Mechanics of Materials

10

2

C

MPB311

Materials Modelling

10

1

C

MPB210

Group Design Project

10

1

C

MAB206

Statistics

10

2

C

MPB209

Materials Characterisation

10

2

C

MPB321

Mechanics for Materials 2

10

2

C

MPB312

Materials Processing

30

1 and 2

C

MPB313

Materials in Service

10

1

C

TTA107

Vehicle Design and Development

10

1

O

LAN---

Language module of appropriate level

10

1 or 2

O

MPB231

Biomaterials 1

10

2

O

MPB322

Phase Transformations in Solids

10

2

O

TTB107

Vehicle Loading and Suspensions

10

2

O

 

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

Code

Semester

Title

Modular Weight

MPI001

1 and 2

Industrial Training Placement (DIS, non-credit bearing)

120

MPI002

1 and 2

Overseas University Placement (DIntS, non-credit bearing)

120

 

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

Module code

Title

Credits

Semester

Compulsory/optional

MPC312

Nano Materials

10

1

C

MPC311

Advanced Processing Methods

10

1

C

MPC110

Project

30

1 and 2

C

MPC111

Advanced Principles of Materials

10

1

C

MPC321

Functional Materials

10

2

C

MPC103

Industrial Case Studies

10

2

C

MPC114

Composite Materials

10

2

C

MPC108

Surface Engineering

10

1

C

MPB313

Materials in Service

10

1

O

BSC522

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

10

1

O

LAN*

Language module of appropriate level

10

1 or 2

O

MPC120

Vehicle and Component Design

30

1 and 2

O

BSC144

Project Management

10

2

O

MPC123

Automotive Crash Protection

10

1

O

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.

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