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Copyright The University of Sheffield 2009 feSRAM0521

DepartmentOfChemistry.

Our MSc inPolymers forAdvancedTechnologies.

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What if English isn’t my firstlanguage?Our standard English requirements foroverseas applicants are: IELTS 6.5 (withno less than 6 in each part), or TOEFL575 with TWE 4.5 (paper based) orTOEFL 232, TWE 4.5 (computer based)or equivalent.

How to applyOnlineThis is the quickest and easiest way toapply. For details visit:www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/apply

By mailIf you didn’t receive a form with thisbrochure, you can download one fromthe website (above). Return yourcompleted form and all supportingdocuments to:

PG Admissions SectionStudent Services9 Northumberland RoadSheffield S10 2TTUK

ContactIf you have any questions or would liketo know more about our courses, pleasecontact:

Polymer MSc Admissions Secretary The Polymer Centre Department of Chemistry University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield S3 7HFUK

T: 0114 2229537E: polymersmsc@sheffield.ac.uk

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Research projects by department staff 1 ‘Plastic Blood’: a synthetic analogue of haemaglobin which

reversibly binds oxygen within a porphyrin containingpolymer.

2 Electroluminescence emitted by a series of differentconjugated-polymer light emitting diodes.

3 Core shell research with implications for the 2004 Stardustspace mission that visited comet P81/Wild 2.

4 Identity label made by taking skin cells from the leg of Professor Tony Ryan and growing them on a surface generated by a plasma polymerisation procedure.

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“I chose to do my MSc atSheffield for many reasons,including the city life, itsproximity to the PeakDistrict and the academicquality of the University.However, the main reasonwas the University’sinternational reputation inPolymer Science.”

Fumico Chibba Graduate 2005 (Japan)

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Polymer science: the futurePolymers are all around us. They areused in coatings, films, fibres andelectronic components and exoticmaterials of all kinds. They also havemany applications in the biological andmedicinal sciences in areas as diverse assoft contact lenses, plastic blood,wound dressings and artificial hip joints.

The use of polymers in industry isincreasing. Companies need graduateswith an appreciation of polymer scienceand the ways in which polymers can beused to develop new products andprocesses. If you have a chemistry,physics or engineering degree, thiscourse can give you the right training inthese areas.

Our MSc in Polymers for AdvancedTechnologies is designed to equip youwith the knowledge and skills tocontribute to new and excitingdevelopments in this field. You willdevelop in-depth technical knowledgeand expertise in your chosen polymerfield. The course will also provide youwith excellent analytical and researchskills, as well as enhancing your projectplanning and project management skills.

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A world-class place to studyOur MSc in Polymers for AdvancedTechnologies is taught by members ofthe University of Sheffield PolymerCentre. The Centre is an internationallyrenowned multidisciplinary unit with150 expert academics and researchscientists from different departmentsacross the University of Sheffield.

The Polymer Centre works on topics atthe forefront of polymer science andengineering and the application topolymers in many new and excitingareas – from batteries to visual displays,molecular machines to aircraft wingsand genetic engineering to drugdelivery and tissue replacement. Moreinformation can be found on thePolymer Centre website www.polymercentre.org

Research excellenceThe MSc is delivered by staff in theDepartments of Chemistry, Physics andEngineering Materials. In the mostrecent Research Assessment Exerciseeach of these departments scoredhighly. Over 90 per cent of theirresearch was considered to be ofinternational quality.

Links with industryThe Polymer Centre has significantinteractions with a large number ofindustrial companies. The MSc benefitsfrom this strong collaboration and in thepast a number of companies havesponsored MSc research projects. More information can be found on thePolymer Centre website www.polymercentre.org

Your futureOur graduates go on to fill key posts aspolymer chemists and materialsscientists in academia, industry andresearch. Many of our graduates go onto develop their interest in polymerscience and begin PhD programmes.

The Dainton Building where the Chemistry Department is based

MSc Course Directors and Admissions Team Professor Tony Ryan OBE Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Science

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Course contentOur MSc in Polymers for AdvancedTechnologies aims to train, or retrainscientists for a variety of careers inpolymer science and polymer relatedfields. The course covers a broad rangeof polymer topics including synthesis,modification, characterisation ofpolymers, polymer properties,behaviour and applications.

Throughout the course you will learnhow to search and manage a variety ofsources for scientific data and researchresults. In addition, you will also betaught how to present research resultsthrough a variety of media. One of thekey aims of the course is train you inthe specific laboratory skills requiredfor polymer science. This is achievedthrough traditional laboratory classesand during the project, when you willbecome a fully integrated member of aresearch group.

Teaching is carried out by academicstaff from Chemistry, EngineeringMaterials and Physics – many of whomare international leaders in polymerscience. Pastoral care is provided bythe course tutors and general help andadvice is always available from theadministrative staff in the PolymerCentre office (located in the ChemistryDepartment).

Course content and structureThe degree course consists of 180credits. This is made up of 120 taughtcredits and a 60 credit researchmodule. The taught material is brokendown into six 15 credit modules, eachconsisting of between 24 and 30lectures. All modules are supported buyworkshops and tutorials. As well asbeing assessed by formal exams, thesemodules also contain coursework,which goes towards the finalassessment of each module. Theremaining two 15 credit modules,Research and Presentation Methodsand Polymer Laboratory, are assessedentirely by coursework or continuousassessment.

The MSc course lasts for twelvemonths and is split into two roughlyequal teaching semesters.

Semester oneThe first semester contains coremodules which are designed tointroduce the basic concepts ofpolymer synthesis, polymer technologyand biological polymers. Laboratoryskills and essential research tools arealso taught during this semester. Coremodules include:

• Fundamental Polymer Chemistry• The Physics of Polymers• Biopolymers and Biomaterials• Polymer Characterisation andAnalysis

• Polymer Laboratory• Research and Presentation Methods(assessed over both semesters)

“The MSc Polymer course at Sheffield wasrecommended to me by my professor backhome in Greece, who said that Sheffield isone of the best places in the world to studypolymers. Sheffield is a very friendly city,where it’s easy to find anything you needand do everything you want. I originallyplanned to stay and study for just the MSc,but the environment and camaraderiebetween staff and students encouragedme to stay on and do a PhD.” Nikos Nikgeorgos Graduate 2007 (Greece)

Semester twoDuring the second semester you have achoice of modules. This allows you tospecialise in one or more researchareas of polymer science. You choosetwo advanced modules from thefollowing and an extended researchproject.

• Polymers of Controlled Structure• Biomedical Applications• Smart Polymers and Smart Materials• Macromolecules at Interfaces• Polymer Fibre Composites• Electronic Molecular Materials andDevices

During this semester you also have theopportunity to undertake an extendedresearch project. Once again you areable to select a project based on yourparticular skills and interests (i.e.synthetic, analytical or technologybased project). A brief selection ofrecent project titles (and supervisors)is given below. For more information onour research interests see the relevantstaff pages on the chemistry website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/chemistry/staff

• Synthesis of biocompatible polymerbrushes via surface ATRP (supervisor Professor S Armes)

• Synthesis and micellar self-assemblyof zwitterionic block copolymers(supervisor Professor S Armes)

• Polyamidoamines as inhibitors forprotein-protein binding(supervisor Dr L Twyman)

• Smart polymers (supervisor Dr L Swanson)

• Development of conjugated polymersfor application in solar cells(supervisor Dr A Iraqi)

• Phase transitions in polymers(supervisor Professor A Ryan)

• Photochemical fabrication ofmolecular scale chemical gradientsfor studies of macromoleculardiffusion (supervisor Professor G Leggett)

• Development of high throughputmethodologies for polymercharacterisation (supervisor Dr P Fairclough)

Assessment of modules Most modules are assessed by an end of semester exam. All modulescontain at least 25 per cent coursework. Other modules, such as PolymerLaboratory and Research andPresentation Methods are assessedentirely through coursework. Theresearch project is assessed byexamination of a final thesis.

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Our citySheffield is England’s fourth largest city.It is located roughly in the middle ofEngland, on the edge of the Peak DistrictNational Park, about two hours by trainfrom London. The atmosphere is laid-back, but friendly. The city is compactand easy to get to know.

Although Sheffield is a major city, anddeveloping all the time, it has kept itssense of community. This is a friendly,safe and affordable place to make yourhome. Here you can enjoy asophisticated, fast-paced city life and bein the middle of beautiful countryside in20 minutes.

Our UniversityFounded in 1905, the university hasgrown in reputation and size to becomeone of the UK’s best universities with aglobal reputation as an internationalleader in teaching and research. Today,the University of Sheffield is a premier-league, research-led institution with24,000 students including over 4,000international students from 130countries.

The University has produced five Nobel Prize winners, and many of ouralumni have gone on to hold positions ofgreat responsibility and influencearound the world. A University ofSheffield graduate degree is a realinvestment in your future. TheUniversity reaffirmed its position at theforefront of multi-disciplinary researchwith the opening of a new £20 millionresearch complex, the largest in the UK.This is home to the Kroto Institute forMaterials Science, and the Nanoscienceand Technology Centre.

One of the cheapestcities in the UK to liveand studyNatwest Student Living Index 2008

England’s greenest citywith 150 woodlands and50 public parks

Top: BotanicalGardensBelow left:ChatsworthHouseBelow right:TheInformationCommons

Sheffield

Leeds

Glasgow

Birmingham

Cardiff

ManchesterDublin

Belfast

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Edinburgh

London

By train1 hour from Manchester2 hours from London4 hours from Edinburgh

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Fees and fundingDetails regarding fees and potentialfunding change from year to year. Forthe most up to date information pleasevisit the universities TaughtPostgraduate web page,www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught and follow the relevant links. If you’reapplying from overseas you will findadditional information on theuniversities International web page at www.sheffield.ac.uk/international

From time to time the University andother related organisations advertisegrants and scholarships that may besuitable for eligible students. For moreinformation visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/pgresearch/studentships

What qualifications do I need?An honours degree in pure or appliedChemistry, Chemical Physics, ChemicalEngineering, Polymer Science, Materialsor a related subject. If you don’t have anhonours degree, but have equivalentqualifications or related experience, we encourage you to apply. We willconsider each application on the basisof academic merit and relevantexperience.

Although there is no formal deadline forapplications, we would suggest that youaim to have your application in by theend of June (if applying to start thefollowing September). If you areapplying from overseas you should alsoallow time for visa applications.

Above: Polarized light image of low-densitypolyethylene taken after shear-inducedcrystallization.