Careers
Postgraduate study at Sheffield enables materials students to develop a specialist knowledge in a chosen field.
Prospective employers recognise the value of our courses, and that students are fully equipped in being able to apply their knowledge to industry. Graduates are in high demand with a wide choice of interesting careers to choose from.
Download our Careers and Employability brochure.
Where are the jobs?
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.
Graduates work in the engineering and manufacturing industry, in such roles as:
- Inspection and corrosion engineer
- Materials development engineer
- Materials technologist
- Manufacturing engineer
- Production engineer
- Quality engineer
- Reactor operations
- Safety case development
- Compliance officer
There is also the opportunity to work within research and development, in such roles as:
- Lithium battery research & development
- New photovoltaic device research & development
- Postdoctoral researcher in fuel cells
- PhD student in superconductivity
- Graduate destinations
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Our graduates have been employed by employers large and small, all around the world. The following is a sample of the employers that have taken on our graduates:
- Airbus
- BAE Systems
- Superalloys Beijing
- Johnson Matthey
- Rolls-Royce
- Sheffield Forgemasters
- GKN Aerospace
- Alcoa Forgings
- Saint-Gobain
- Bombardier
- The Dow Chemical Company
- Astrium
- British Steel
- Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery
- Suzhong Zhongmenzi Technology
- Ramat Polytechnic
- McLaren
- Schlumberger
- The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL)
Further education
Many graduates choose to follow the PhD or MPhil route, especially if they want a career in academia or research. Students often develop relationships with research centres during their taught masters course, and can move directly into a PhD research project.
Check for PhD/MPhil opportunities
How we can help
It's important to develop links and keep in touch with developments in your chosen specialism. Attend seminars and conferences, and make use of your dissertation or extended research project as they provide a valuable opportunity to make links with industry and explore professional issues.
The University Careers service offers advice and support in getting started with career plans.
Meet some of our alumni
We know some of the best advice comes from those that have been through the student experience, our alumni! To help support students prepare for employment, we hold an alumni speed networking event where you can meet with alumni to ask career questions and gain insight into the professional world. It's an excellent opportunity for you to gain confidence in networking and get motivated to take action regarding your career.