From sustainable manufacturing to renewable energy and advanced healthcare, polymers play a key role across many areas of life and industry. On this MSc, you’ll understand how materials behave, perform and translate into real-world applications. Through hands-on laboratory experience, research-led teaching and industry engagement, you'll build the specialist skills sought after across industry and academia. By the end of the year, you'll be equipped with the synthetic skills and technical expertise to make an impact in manufacturing, sustainability and advanced technologies or to deepen your understanding through further study.
The MSc provided an excellent foundation for my doctoral research and future career in polymer science.
We are planning to make some changes to our for 2027 entry. Changes are currently undergoing approval through the University's rigorous academic processes. As any changes are confirmed, they will be included on this webpage. It is therefore very important that you check this webpage for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer.
Modules
Develop expertise across the science, properties and commercial applications of modern polymers.
Build core expertise: explore polymer synthesis, characterisation and behaviour from the macro to nano-scale
Advanced laboratory skills: use industry-relevant techniques and equipment to synthesize and characterize a range of polymers
Research experience: undertake a cutting-edge project with a leading research group
Note that information found by following the links to the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry.
Teaching and learning
With a strong focus on practical experience and innovative methods, you’ll develop highly transferable and desirable laboratory and research skills – enabling you to work confidently across disciplines and sectors.
State-of-the-art learning: use the latest instrumentation and analytical methods
Hands-on training: develop advanced techniques in demand by modern labs
Industry connections: benefit from academic and industry expertise
Personal research: apply your skills in a major independent project
The first 25 weeks are lecture-based, providing you with a diverse skill set in polymer science to complete a successful 20-week research project.
Class sizes range from 5 to 40 students, dependent on modules: some of which are shared across programmes.
You should expect to attend around 10-25 hours of lectures and workshops per week and spend approximately six hours on supervised practical (mainly laboratory) work. For each one-hour lecture, you should expect to put in additional time for private study.
Examined component (%): Taught modules are generally 80% examined.
Assessed by coursework component (%): Taught modules are generally 20% assessed by coursework; research projects are assessed by a variety of assessment methods.
Entry requirements
2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Materials Science or a related subject.
IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0
Please adjust your country as required:
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.
You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and assessment and some student amenities.
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed. Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2026/27 year of study).
Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However, students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
most targeted university by the UK's top 100 graduate employers
(The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd.)
Turn scientific curiosity into discoveries that make a difference.
Why study with us?
We’ll show you how to turn curiosity into discovery. Our courses combine world-leading teaching and research with hands-on learning to equip you with everything needed to investigate the topics that inspire you most.
Across a range of key areas of science, you’ll explore how chemistry tackles some of today’s biggest challenges. Build the practical and analytical skills to open up careers across science, industry and innovation - preparing you to think beyond the laboratory and shape what comes next.
You’ll learn in modern laboratories designed to reflect industry-standard environments. Practical work sits at the heart of every Chemistry course, so you’ll gain plenty of hands-on experience with the techniques, tools and technologies used by professional scientists.
Careers
Our degrees equip you with the skills and experiences needed to excel in your career. With access to exceptional career services, industry connections, and global opportunities, we’ll inspire and help you to aim high and achieve your goals. Our guidance ensures you graduate as a well-rounded professional ready for lifelong success.
Previous graduates from the Department of Chemistry have gone on to work for employers such as*:
Agilent
Apex Molecular
Aquapak Polymers
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Department of Health and Social Care
Evotech
HS2
Illumina
Johnson Matthey
MAC Solutions
Pfizer
They have pursued occupations such as the following*:
Chemical scientists
Actuaries, economists and statisticians
Biochemists and biomedical scientists
Engineering professionals
Secondary and higher education teaching professionals
Human resource managers and directors
Laboratory technicians
Management consultants and business analysts
Natural and social science professionals
Programmers and software development professionals
*Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey, 2021/22, carried out approximately 15 months after completion of studies.
Conducted annually, Graduate Outcomes Link opens in a new window collects information on the activities and perspectives of graduates. Contains HESA data: Copyright Jisc 2024. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.
Your career path is unique to you. Our university careers team offer personalised support to help you develop your skills, plan your career path, and get experience at any point during your time at Warwick, and after graduation.
Our department has a dedicated, professionally-qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
Finding experience to boost your CV for Chemistry students
SME Careers Events - e.g. British Coatings Federation Careers Evening
Career Options with Chemistry Presentation and Networking Evening
1:1 careers sessions offered
Additionally, our Polymers in the Real World module brings in employers to deliver talks on their industries, and to discuss employment and training opportunities with students.
This MSc is an intensive full-time course that runs over approximately 50 weeks of the year. Students undertake a combination of taught modules, laboratory work, a group project and an extended independent research project, and should expect their studies to be their primary commitment throughout the duration of the Master’s.
As a result, this course does not offer a formal work placement, and the Department of Chemistry does not recommend that students undertake substantial internships, placements or other regular employment alongside full-time Master’s studies.
Students may choose to pursue short-term, flexible opportunities to gain additional experience, provided these can be accommodated alongside their studies and comply with any applicable visa conditions. However, students are responsible for ensuring that any work or extracurricular commitments do not adversely affect their academic progress or attendance and advice should be sought from the Course Director prior to any placement being agreed.
Explore getting work experience
Whilst there is lots of support available at the University to help, students themselves are responsible for finding and securing any suitable internships or work experience. Students will also be responsible for ensuring opportunities meet visa requirements, do not exceed the university’s advised 20 hours per week for full-time students and for balancing extra-curricular activity with their studies.
Tags: Question and Answer, Research, Faculty of Science, Chemistry, Postgraduate, PG Course Page
Life at Warwick
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
68th
Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
Applications for courses starting in September and October 2027 are now open.
The on-time deadline for taught postgraduate courses starting in September/October 2027 is 2 August 2027.
We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received in September or there are a number of conditions to meet.
If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Explore your future university further at an upcoming event, online or in-person. Can't join? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
