Construction work to begin on new Science and Engineering buildings in January

Science and Engineering Outreach

Find out about the outreach activities offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering and how to contact the team.

About us

We are one of the largest research-led science and technology educators in the UK, offering high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across five specialist departments.

Our trailblazing research in the fields of musculoskeletal science, microbiology and advanced materials has an international reputation. We’re making a transformative contribution to the health and wellbeing of the world around us. Our students benefit from learning in a research-active environment and are sought-after by employers for their analytical and problem-solving skills.

The faculty offers a range of bespoke, subject-specific activities for students. These can be full or half-day sessions, on campus or online. All activities link to the A-Level, BTEC and T-Level curricula. If you would like to discuss how we can support you, or find out more about how we can support your students, please email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

Click the subject areas below to discover more about the projects, competitions and subject activities the faculty offer for schools and colleges.

  • Computing and Mathematics

    Our department offers a range of bespoke, subject-specific activities for students. These can be full or half-day sessions, on campus or online. All activities link to the A-Level, BTEC and T-Level curricula and include, but are not limited to, the areas below.

    • Animation and VFX pipeline — how artists and scientists create new worlds.
    • Chaos
    • Cyber security — game hacking.
    • Fractals
    • Introduction to web hacking
    • Modelling a zombie outbreak
    • Not your typical 9 to 5 — an overview of the diverse roles and disciplines in the fields of computer animation and visual effects.
    • The music of mathematics
    • Thinking procedurally — an introduction to Houdini for 3D workflows.

    To book one of these sessions, or to find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

  • Engineering

    Our department offers a range of bespoke, subject-specific activities for students. These can be full or half-day sessions, on campus or online. All activities link to the A-Level, BTEC and T-Level curricula and include, but are not limited to, the areas below.

    • CAD for 3D printing
    • Combinational logic
    • Design slams tailored to colleges and in collaboration with Autodesk 
    • Digital logic
    • Internet through lightbulbs — from theory to practice
    • Microprocessor operation and architecture
    • Smart electronic IoTs sensors design for vertical industrial use cases
    • Technical drawings — part and assembly drawings.

    To book one of these sessions, or to find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

  • Life Sciences

    Our department offers a range of bespoke, subject-specific activities for students. These can be full or half-day sessions, on campus or online. All activities link to the A-Level, BTEC and T-Level curricula and include, but are not limited to, the areas below.

    • Cancer cell biology
    • DNA research (focused on microbes and the study of microbes)
    • Electrical activity in the heart
    • Medical microbiology (gram staining, microscopy and antibiotic resistance profiles)
    • What parasites are and why we should love them
    • What’s in the lasagne — molecular biology practical.

    To book one of these sessions, or to find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

  • Natural Sciences

    Our department offers a range of bespoke, subject-specific activities for students. These can be full or half-day sessions, on campus or online. All activities link to the A-Level, BTEC and T-Level curricula and include, but are not limited to, the areas below.

    • Chemistry and drug discovery and development
    • Green chemistry and polymers
    • New psychoactive substances and MANDRAKE
    • Using nanomaterials in energy related devices
    • Zeolites and their diverse applications for an improved quality of life.

    To book one of these sessions, or to find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

  • Sport and Exercise Sciences

    Based in our world-class Institute of Sport building, the department of Sport and Exercise Sciences hosts a range of specialisms, from physiology and biomechanics to nutrition and coaching. Our innovative partnerships with high profile sporting organisations include education collaborations with Premier League football clubs. The department hosts campus visits which include activities in the following areas:

    • Aerobic and Respiratory Fitness
    • Indoor Field-Testing
    • Human Movement and Response

    To find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

Projects and Competitions

We partner with a range of exciting associations that offer extra-curricular projects and competitions to enhance student engagement. These activities can be standalone, but are designed to fit into the existing curriculum. To find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk. 

  • Primary Engineer Leaders Award

    Open to students up to the age of 19, this competition poses the question, ‘if you were an engineer, what would you do?’

    Students think of a real-world problem and design a solution.  

     The thousands of entries are graded and judged before regional award ceremonies take place in the summer term. 

    This project meets Gatsby benchmarks 4 and 7 and participation can count towards Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation or renewal.

    To find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

  • F1® in Schools UK

    This project asks students to build and race a model F1 vehicle. It encourages collaborative working and focuses on enterprise and public speaking alongside creative design skills. It is open to students from UKS2 right up to KS5. For students in KS2, a folded cardboard chassis forms the basis of the vehicle whereas in KS3-KS5 students are introduced to the use of resistant materials and have the option to use CNC equipment. We are proud to be the hub for the Northwest and as such can offer technical and manufacturing support to schools and colleges in the area. We also have a full-sized track to host testing days on campus. This is ideal as an extracurricular, AGT or curriculum linked activity.

    To find out more, email subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

  • HySchools

    As one of the UK’s leading green universities, we are keen to work towards a cleaner, greener future. To support teachers with delivering up to date information on renewable energy, we have worked on the HySchools project to create free teaching resources about hydrogen power. If you’d like further information or support with delivering these materials, please contact subjectoutreach@mmu.ac.uk.

We have financial support options available to support eligible students studying with us. Click here to find out more about our scholarships.