MSc Materials Science and Engineering

About the course

Our teaching gives you a good grounding in all types of man-made materials, and you can specialise in the area that interests you the most. You'll discover the latest developments and be ready for a materials science and engineering career in industry or academia.

Core modules

• Phase Transformations in Materials
• Physical Properties of Materials
• Advanced Characterisation
• Engineering Principles

Optional modules

• Functional and Structural Ceramics
• Glass Processing and Durability
• Metallurgical Processing
• Design and Manufacture of Composites
• Materials for Energy
• Nanomaterials

Teaching

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Laboratory classes

Assessment

• Formal exams
• Coursework assignments
• Dissertation

Your career

Our graduates are in demand all over the world. Some are now leaders in their field. You could become a researcher, teacher, professor or manager in industry, academia and research in the UK or abroad. Wherever your future lies, your degree will be highly respected. You’ll develop invaluable skills in critical analysis, logical reasoning and strategic project development.

Learn from experts

Our teaching is supported by our internationally recognised research. We are one of the largest materials departments in the UK – our worldwide reputation is built on a strong collaborative ethos, bringing together experimental, theoretical and modelling methodologies to solve problems. We’re a member of eight interdisciplinary research centres within the University and have good links with industry.

Your projects will be based on our original research. We have enthusiastic, involved and supportive staff who will teach you the latest discoveries and theories in their field. You’ll be challenged and stretched, and encouraged to exploit opportunities for science and innovation at the boundaries between traditional disciplines.

Equipment and facilities

Tools and production facilities for materials processing, fabrication and testing, including wet chemical processing for ceramics and polymers, rapid solidification and water atomisation for nanoscale metallic materials, and extensive facilities for deposition of functional and structural coatings. Our unique thermomechanical compression and arbitrary strain path equipment is used for simulation of hot deformation.

Excellent characterisation facilities include an array of microscopy and analysis equipment, x-ray facilities, and surface analysis techniques covering state-of-the-art XPS and SIMS. There are also laboratories for cell and tissue culture, and facilities for measuring electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties.

The Kroto Research Institute and the Nanoscience and Technology Centre enhance our capabilities in materials fabrication and characterisation, and we have a computer cluster for modelling from the atomistic through nano and mesoscopic to the macroscopic.

Apply now

You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It is a quick and easy process.

Postgraduate Online Application Form