WELCOME!
The Department of Materials is a leading hub for innovation, education, and research, located in a city with a historic legacy of industrial excellence. Known as Cottonopolis during the Industrial Revolution, Manchester pioneered advancements in textiles, engineering, and materials, shaping global industry.
Building on this heritage, our Department was formed in 2004 through the merger of UMIST and The Victoria University of Manchester, bringing together the Corrosion and Protection Centre, the Manchester Materials Science Centre, and the Department of Textiles and Paper.
Today, the department is housed in the cutting-edge Nancy Rothwell Building, part of the new Home of Engineering and Materials, a purpose-built facility fostering creativity and transformative learning. Some of our academic teams are also based at the Henry Royce Institute and the National Graphene Institute, where we also have excellent research facilities.
All our MSc courses are accredited by the Engineering Council and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), ensuring that our graduates are equipped with both academic excellence and professional recognition.
4th
Ranked 4th in the UK (QS World Rankings 2025)
21st
Ranked 21st globally (QS World Rankings 2025)
96%
96% of our research activity in Engineering is ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
(REF 2021)
OUR RESEARCH AREAS AND THEMES
Our Department drives impactful multidisciplinary research, supported by cutting-edge facilities and specialist equipment for characterisation, materials growth, and device manufacture.
Strong collaborations with industry, from SMEs to multinationals, ensure our work addresses real-world challenges and delivers societal benefits.
Our research spans diverse, socially relevant themes, meeting the evolving needs of industry and society.
Key areas include:
- Biomaterials – advancing healthcare solutions.
- Coatings and Ceramics – developing durable surface technologies.
- Imaging and Characterisation – revealing material structures and properties.
- Metallurgy and Corrosion – enhancing material performance.
- Nano and Functional Materials – pioneering advanced applications.
- Polymers and Composites – creating lightweight, high-performance materials.
- Textiles and Apparel – innovating sustainable, high-tech textile materials.
This broad expertise ensures our research delivers meaningful contributions to industrial innovation and societal progress.
The University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL UK
Royal Charter Number: RC000797