The course gives an overview of structure and physical properties of polymers in the condensed state, i.e. semicrystalline, amorphous (glassy, rubbery) and liquid crystalline. The aim is to demonstrate the relationship between chemical structure, molecular organization, microstructure and physical properties of polymers in these states, to draw parallels between synthetic polymers and biopolymers, and to indicate the different methods of microstructural investigation. The course will follow the three hierarchical levels of organization of semicrystalline polymers (molecular conformation and packing in crystals; lamellar and fibrillar polymer crystals; spherulites-cylindrites-fibres), and deal with the processes of structure formation, polymorphism and solid-solid phase transitions, melting and annealing, as well as thermodynamics and mechanical properties. Routes to high-modulus / high-strength polymeric materials and fibres are explored, from ultradrawing, solid-state extrusion and gel-spinning to processing of thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystal polymers. Basics of chain dynamics in liquid and glassy polymers, glass transition, viscoelasticity (creep, stress-relaxation, time-temperature superposition, mechanical spectroscopy) and rubber elasticity are also covered.