Master in Sustainable Materials MSc

The University of Birmingham, chartered in 1900, is a large, research-intensive redbrick university located in Edgbaston. It offers a broad spectrum of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has a reputation for multidisciplinary research, substantial campus investment and strong academic staffing. With more than 34,000 students, including a sizeable international community, Birmingham combines historic strengths with modern facilities and a global outlook.

Research and teaching span the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and social sciences, supported by major investments in campus infrastructure and academic appointments. The university promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through flagship fellowships and research initiatives, and many courses provide opportunities for placements, industry engagement and overseas study on its international campuses. Student support services include extensive academic development, career services and wellbeing provision tailored to an international cohort.

Life at Birmingham blends a vibrant campus with access to the city's cultural and professional resources, enabling students to pursue extracurricular activities, volunteering and professional networking. The institution’s global partnerships and growing research profile open doors for international collaborations and career pathways. Prospective international applicants should carefully check entry requirements, funding and application deadlines and contact the university’s international office for guidance on visas, scholarships and arrival planning.

During the autumn term you will attend lectures and seminars, develop literature reviews and present ideas in Dragon’s Den-style pitches. Lab work and workshops let you test material properties, while weekly supervision meetings guide your progress. The spring term builds on this foundation with deeper modules and a project-management course, culminating in a summer research project where you work alongside academic supervisors on experimental, modelling or theoretical investigations.

Sustainable Materials studies the science and economics of creating materials that minimise environmental impact. You will explore circular-economy principles, life-cycle assessment and the design of materials for energy storage, sensors and hydrogen technologies. This course places the discipline within the broader challenge of delivering a low-carbon future.

• 60-credit Individual Research Project supervised by leading researchers.
• Core modules such as Life Cycle Assessment, The Circular Economy and Project Management (20 credits each).
• Access to interdisciplinary teaching staff from the Schools of Chemistry and Metallurgy & Materials.