SFY0013 : Materials Science 0 - Undergraduate Study

Offered for Year: 2025/26

Module Leader(s): Dr Adrian Oila
Lecturer: Dr Alasdair Charles, Dr Serkan Turkmen

Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value:	10
ECTS Credits:	5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module aims to:
• Introduce the basic concepts used in materials science, materials classification, structure at different length-scales, how the structure influences materials properties and principles of materials selection;

Outline Of Syllabus

• Basic concepts: states of matter, atoms and molecules, energy and entropy, phase diagrams, basic crystallography, defects in solids;
• Materials classification: crystalline vs. amorphous, metals, ceramics, polymers, composites;
• Properties of engineering materials: stress and strain, elastic modulus, strength, hardness, fracture of materials, fatigue of materials, corrosion of metals, thermal properties;
• Principles of materials selection.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Category	Activity	Number	Length	Student Hours	Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Lecture	21	1:00	21:00	Scheduled, recapped lecture sessions
Structured Guided Learning	Lecture materials	11	1:00	11:00	Non-synchronous online materials
Guided Independent Study	Assessment preparation and completion	1	30:00	30:00	Assessment preparation and completion
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Practical	3	3:00	9:00	Microscopy, Tensile Testing and Materials Selection
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Small group teaching	6	1:00	6:00	Tutorials
Guided Independent Study	Independent study	1	23:00	23:00	Review lecture notes, course materials and recommended reading
Total	100:00

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Online materials will be used to introduce the main topics. Scheduled lectures will be used to deliver material not covered in the recorded lectures and also to revise the content of the online materials.
Tutorials are sessions in which the students apply the knowledge gained during lectures and private study and they can discuss their progress with the instructor.
Practical sessions (Microscopy, Tensile Testing and Materials Selection) enable students to attain hands-on experience in laboratory techniques, to observe microstructure, measure mechanical properties and to select materials using digital databases.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Description	Length	Semester	When Set	Percentage	Comment
Written Examination	120	2	A	70	N/A

Other Assessment

Description	Semester	When Set	Percentage	Comment
Practical/lab report	2	M	10	A worksheet completed during the lab session or a canvas quiz completed after the session.
Practical/lab report	2	M	10	A worksheet completed during the lab session or a canvas quiz completed after the session.
Practical/lab report	2	M	10	A worksheet completed during the lab session or a canvas quiz completed after the session.

Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description	Semester	When Set	Comment
Computer assessment	2	M	Weekly quizzes with feedback, throughout the module

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The formative assessment (canvas quizzes) will familiarize the students with questions typical to materials science and
allow them to estimate the expected depth of learning and associated workload.
The written exam provide an appropriate way to assess both theoretical understanding and problem-solving skills.
Practical skills are assessed by laboratory worksheets or canvas quizzes.

Reading Lists

SFY0013's Reading List

Timetable

Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
SFY0013's Timetable

Module