Materials Science and Engineering MEng, BEng

At Leeds, materials science isn’t something you just read about in textbooks — it’s something you’ll explore, test, and bring to life. From day one, you’ll spend time in labs, working with real equipment and cutting-edge tools that researchers and industry professionals use every day. You’ll learn not only how materials behave, but also how to design and improve them for real-world applications.

Here’s what makes the hands-on side of your degree so exciting:

Specialist research hubs – your teaching is shaped by discoveries from the Bragg Centre for Materials Research and the Sir Henry Royce Institute, where scientists are developing the next generation of smart, sustainable materials.

Practical lab work – whether in chemistry, physics, or engineering labs, you’ll be running experiments, testing samples, and learning how to present your findings just like a professional scientist.

High-tech characterisation facilities – use tools like the Malvern Zetasizer and Mastersizer 2000E, as well as electron microscopes, porosity analysers, and rheometers, to uncover the hidden structure and properties of materials.

Advanced imaging with LEMAS – access the Leeds Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy Centre, where you can work with state-of-the-art instruments like TEM, SEM, and FIB-SEM to see materials at atomic and nanoscale levels.

Cross-disciplinary facilities – tap into wider University facilities, from nanotechnology cleanrooms to X-ray scattering instruments, giving you a broad toolkit to tackle real challenges.

Industrial and international experience – choose to spend a year in industry or study abroad at one of Leeds’ global partner universities. Not only does this broaden your horizons, but it also means your degree title carries an “industrial” or “international” variant — a real career advantage.

A degree in Materials Science & Engineering from Leeds doesn’t just give you knowledge—it gives you options. Our graduates go on to work in everything from renewable energy to healthcare and high-tech manufacturing. Typical roles include Materials Engineer, R&D Scientist, Product Development Specialist, and Sustainability Advisor. Wherever you want to take your skills, this degree makes you stand out.

And the support you get along the way is just as important:

• Dedicated career support for engineers – you’ll have a specialist Employability Team running careers fairs, networking events, CV workshops, and even 1-to-1 drop-ins to help you land placements and graduate roles.

• Impressive graduate outcomes – around 95% of Leeds graduates in this subject are working or studying within 15 months, with starting salaries averaging £30,500 and moving to around £37,000 after five years.

• Strong industry links – your learning is connected to big names like Rolls-Royce, Samsung, Johnson Matthey, IBM, Dow Corning, and AstraZeneca, so you’re always developing skills that employers are asking for.

• Accreditation pathways – the MEng/BEng provides the academic foundation you’ll need if you choose to pursue chartered or professional engineer status later in your career.

• A degree employers notice – Leeds is ranked in the Top 100 universities worldwide (QS 2026), and our engineering graduates are among the most targeted by UK employers.