The Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy offers areas of specialisation that include Structural Materials, Device Materials, Materials Chemistry, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Materials and Structural Characterisation (Electron Microscopy).

40% of its research activity was rated 'world-leading' in RAE 2008, more than that of any other UK materials department. This department has a major research initiative on ‘Clean Energy and Sustainability’ within which its nuclear-related activities sit.