Much has been made of the use of composite materials in the aerospace industry with the Airbus A350XWB and the Boeing Dreamliner being headline news. However the advantages of using composite materials can be extended to the majority of engineering areas and disciplines.
The rapid emergence of composites has revealed a difficulty in supplying the industry with Engineers that have the requisite knowledge of the materials. This MSc in Composite Material Engineering has been developed with that in mind. Students will learn the full lifecycle of components designed and manufactured with composites.
From first principles, potential students will learn the constituent parts of a composite material and understand the reasons for selecting each material. From there manufacturing methodologies will be understood. Design using composites will be taught after the different types of failure mechanisms are shown. Finally repair, recycling and disposal of composites will be discussed in detail.
Students will be taught by lecturers from industrial and research background through a combination of lectures, tutorials, Laboratory sessions and computer classes. Industry standard software will be taught to enable the students to graduate with the skills required for industry.
FULL-TIME STUDY (SEPTEMBER INTAKE)
The taught element, Part One, of the programmes will be delivered in two 12 week trimesters and each trimester has a loading of 60 credits.
You will cover six taught modules which include lectures, tutorials and practical work on a weekly basis. The expected timetable per module will be a total of 200 hours, which includes 40 hours of scheduled learning and teaching hours and 160 independent study hours.
Part Two will then take a further 15 weeks having a notional study time of 600 hours. During this time the student will be responsible for managing his/her time in consultation with an academic supervisor.
FULL-TIME MODE (JANUARY INTAKE)
For the January intake, students will study the three specialist modules first during the second trimester from January to May. The three core modules will be studied in the first trimester of the next academic year from September to January.
On successful completion of the taught element of the programme the students will progress to Part Two, MSc dissertation to be submitted in April/May.
PART-TIME MODE
The taught element, part one, of the programmes will be delivered over two academic teaching years. 80 credits or equivalent worth of modules will be delivered in the first year and 40 credits or equivalent in the second year. The part time students would join the full time delivery with lectures and tutorials/practical work during one day on a weekly basis.
The dissertation element will start in trimester 2 taking a further 30 weeks having a total notional study time of 600 hours. During this time the student will be responsible for managing his/her time in consultation with an academic supervisor.
AREAS OF STUDY INCLUDE:
Polymers and polymer composites are increasingly important in our everyday life and can be found everywhere around us.
At the same time, more and more high-performance speciality polymers and polymer nanocomposites have been developed for advanced engineering, plastic electronics and biomedical applications.
Bringing together expertise from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemistry, and further supported by the Polymer Centre, the UK’s largest single-university academic network in the field of polymers, this course will provide you with a thorough understanding of advanced topics on polymer and composite science and engineering.
A friendly, forward-thinking community, our students and staff are on hand to welcome you to the department and ensure you settle into student life.
Your project supervisor will support you throughout your course. Plus you’ll have access to our extensive network of alumni, offering industry insight and valuable career advice to support your own career pathway.
Prospective employers recognise the value of our courses, and know that our students can apply their knowledge to industry. Our graduates work for organisations including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the National Nuclear Laboratory and Saint-Gobain. Roles include materials development engineer, reactor engineer and research manager. They also work in academia in the UK and abroad.
90 per cent of our graduates are employed or in further study 6 months after graduating, with an average starting salary of £27,000, the highest being £50,000.
We have invested in extensive, world-class equipment and facilities to provide a stimulating learning environment. Our laboratories are equipped to a high standard, with specialist facilities for each area of research.
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 £3million advanced nuclear materials research facility provides a high-quality environment for research on radioactive waste and disposal. Our unique thermomechanical compression and arbitrary strain path equipment is used for simulation of hot deformation.
You’ll have access to newly refurbished 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.
An interdisciplinary research-led department; our network of world leading academics at the cutting edge of their research inform our courses providing a stimulating, dynamic environment in which to study.
Working alongside students and staff from across the globe, you’ll tackle real-world projects, and attend lectures, seminars and laboratory classes delivered by academic and industry experts.
You’ll be assessed by formal examinations, coursework assignments and a dissertation.
There may be some changes to these modules before you start your course. For the very latest module information, check with the department.
The Masters course in Biomaterials is multi-disciplinary. It provides students with a rich understanding of about current clinically used biomaterials and state of the art advances in research to improve these. The clinical application of these biomaterials will be demonstrated along with indepth description of materials structure and processing (e.g. polymer, composite and ceramic). The project component will allow hands-on training for the student in further developing novel biomaterials.
Who is this programme for?
Students from an engineering or medically related background who wish to pursue a career in biomaterials.
Semester 1 (Sept - Dec):
Research Methods course unit (15 credits); Lectures and workshops detailing transferable skills such as project management, time management, essay writing, oral presentation.
Master Class Course Unit (15 credits); Lectures specific to biomaterials design, characterization, manufacture and characterization. Lectures on use of stem cells with biomaterials and tissue engineering applications also included.
Structure & Mechanical Properties of Polymers (15 credits); Module covers masters level detail of polymer technology.
Clinical Applications of Biomaterials (15 credits); lectures series detailing current clinical applications of biomaterials. The module also covers a case study exercise.
Semester 2 (Jan - March):
Composite Materials (15 credits); students will learn about composite material design and implementation for biomaterials.
Nanobiomaterials (15 credits); lecture series on nanobiomaterials manufacture, characterization and use as biomaterials
Summer ( March- Sept):
Research project (90 credits); 5 month research project studying specific biomaterials design or characterisation. Student will have specifically allocated supervisor to provide training in biomaterials. Assessment: Oral presentation and write up: Research aims, hypothesis, Gantt chart, milestones, Write up project in form of journal publication for `Biomaterials' journal.
The MSc in Biomaterials will provide students the opportunity to increase knowledge and skills in the areas of specific materials design and testing for clinical application. Students will have the opportunity to take 90 taught credits with training in state of the art biomaterials design (ceramics, polymers, composites, hydrogels etc with information relating to biological assessment of these materials (e.g. stem cell response, ISO / FDA regulations). Students also have the opportunity to gain 90 credits through a specific research project where they will gain analytical skills and data processing skills relevant to biomaterials design / use.
The full MSc programme is made up of seven taught course units and a four month research project. The taught units are:
Semester 1 (Sept - Dec):
Semester 2 (Jan - March):
Summer (March - Sept):
The programme aims to further your knowlege base in biomaterial structure, manufacture and use, and to develop your critical analysis of biomaterial development and methods of application.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
The medical device industry is estimated to be increasing at a rate of ~15% per year (Grammenou, 2006). As such it is important to provide scientists that are equipped with the knowledge and skills for the workplace to advance this important clinical need.
The majority of graduates of this programme go on to fill key posts as biomaterials scientists, managers and consultants in academia, industry and research and development. Some advance to PhD programmes within The University of Manchester or external institutes.
Accredited by the Institute of Minerals, Materials and Mining (IOM 3 ) as meeting the Further Learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
The complete Masters (MSc) course in Technical Textiles enables you to develop a high level of understanding of modern technical textiles, preparing you for a career in the textile or related industries as a manager or researcher, or for an academic career.
Graduates of this programme are expected to understand the whole process of converting fibrous materials into the end product and to be able to identify and analyse the appropriate material and production route for a specific end product. You will also have developed the expertise and skill to conduct quality evaluation of textile products.
The complete MSc programme is made up of taught course units and a research dissertation. The taught course units are delivered through a combination of lectures and practical laboratory work.
The Masters programme in Technical Textiles enables you to develop a high level of understanding of the advanced Technical Textiles sector, preparing you for a career in the textile or related industries as a manager or researcher, or for an academic career.
After successfully completing the programme, you will have gained a thorough grounding and understanding of the whole process of converting fibrous polymeric materials to the end product. This successful delivery to the Technical Textiles sector involves materials performance, Computer Aided Design (CAD), 2D/3D product design and specification, sustainability, effective supply chains and an understanding of diverse product sectors such as textile composites, protective wear, filtration, sportswear, medical textiles and the integration of electronics into textile structures.
You will be assessed by a combination of exams and coursework. The coursework supports the development of your transferable skills such as literature review and report writing. You will complete your MSc programme with a dissertation project. Your dissertation is an opportunity to apply your learning on a five-month technical textiles project. It also enables you to further develop your knowledge and skill in your chosen field. Your choice of topic, in consultation with your personal tutor, will range in purpose from investigatory and problem-solving work, through studies of state-of-the-art technology and current practice, to experimental and analytical research.
The taught units are:
Textile Materials and Performance Evaluation
This programme unit provides a wide range of topics in textile materials science, performance enhancement and testing that are fundamental for effective functioning in a technical capacity within any textiles or materials related organisation.
Yarn and Nonwovens Technology
This programme unit introduces the technologies of producing yarns and nonwovens from staple fibres and continuous filaments and provides knowledge in the quality and quality control aspects of yarn production.
Applied Manufacturing Processes
This programme unit provides a working knowledge of the weaving, knitting and joining processes, types of machinery used, types of fabric structures and associated properties of the product fabrics.
Fundamental Technology and Concepts for Industrial Manufacture
This programme unit provides a working knowledge of concepts of `production for profit', `economy of scale', the importance of the Supply Chain in Textile manufacturing, the importance of pre-competitive research, Design of Experiments(DoE), prototyping and technology transfer and the basics concepts of textile engineering & machine mechanics.
Technical Textiles - Industrial Applications
This programme unit introduces industrial applications for technical textiles and covers the production and application of textile composites, architectural textiles, geotextiles, automotive textiles, and industrial filtration.
Technical Textiles - Personal Environment
This programme unit introduces the production and use of technical textiles in human related areas including medical, smart, protective, sportswear, space applications.
Accredited by the Institute of Minerals, Materials and Mining (IOM 3 ) as meeting the Further Learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Materials Engineering at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
Engineering at Swansea University has key research strengths in materials for aerospace applications and steel technology. As a student on the Master's course in Materials Engineering, you will be provided with the depth of knowledge and breadth of abilities to meet the demands of the international materials industry.
Through the MSc Materials Engineering course you will be provided with training and experience in a broad range of topic areas, including metallurgy and materials selection, modern methods used for engineering design and analysis, the relationship between structure, processing and properties for a wide range of materials, materials and advanced composite materials, structural factors that control the mechanical properties of materials, and modern business management issues and techniques.
The MSc Materials Engineering course is an excellent route for those who have a first degree in any scientific or technical subject and would like to become qualified in this field of materials engineering.
MSc in Materials Engineering programme is modular in structure. Students must obtain a total of 180 credits to qualify for the degree. This is made up of 120 credits in the taught element (Part One) and a project (Part Two) that is worth 60 credits and culminates in a written dissertation. Students must successfully complete Part One before being allowed to progress to Part Two.
The part-time scheme is a version of the full-time equivalent MSc scheme, and as such it means lectures are spread right across each week and you may have lectures across every day. Due to this timetabling format, the College advises that the scheme is likely to suit individuals who are looking to combine this with other commitments (typically family/caring) and who are looking for a less than full-time study option.
Those candidates seeking to combine the part-time option with full-time work are unlikely to find the timetable suitable, unless their job is extremely flexible and local to the Bay Campus.
Modules on the MSc Materials Engineering course can vary each year but you could expect to study:
Composite Materials
Polymer Processing
Environmental Analysis and Legislation
Communication Skills for Research Engineers
Simulation Based Product Design
Aerospace Materials Engineering
Structural Integrity of Aerospace Metals
Ceramics
Environmental Analysis and Legislation
Physical Metallurgy of Steels
The MSc Materials Engineering course at Swansea University is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).
This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng(Hons) or an Accredited IEng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree.
Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
Our new home at the innovative Bay Campus provides some of the best university facilities in the UK, in an outstanding location.
Within Engineering at Swansea University there are state-of-the-art facilities specific to Materials Engineering.
- Comprehensive computer systems for specialist and general purposes.
- World-leading equipment for characterisation of the mechanical properties of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite materials.
- Extensive range of laboratories housing scanning electron microscopes with full microanalysis and electron backscatter diffraction capabilities.
Materials engineering underpins almost all engineering applications and employment prospects are excellent.
Employment can be found in a very wide range of sectors, ranging from large-scale materials production through to R&D in highly specialised advanced materials in industries that include aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, sports, and energy generation, as well as consultancy and advanced research.
Materials engineering knowledge is vital in many fields and our graduates go on to successful careers in research and development, product design, production management, marketing, finance, teaching and the media, and entrepreneurship.
The internationally leading materials research conducted at Swansea is funded by prestigious organisations including:
Rolls-Royce
Airbus
Tata Steel
Rolls-Royce
The Institute of Structural Materials at Swansea is a core member of the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in Materials.
This venture supports a wide ranging research portfolio with a rolling value of £6.5 million per annum addressing longer term materials issues.
Airbus
Over £1m funding has been received from Airbus and the Welsh Government in the last three years to support structural composites research and development in the aerospace industry and to support composites activity across Wales.
Tata Steel
Funding of over £6 million to continue our very successful postgraduate programmes with Tata Steel.
Other companies sponsoring research projects include Akzo Nobel, Axion Recycling, BAE Systems, Bayer, Cognet, Ford, HBM nCode, Jaguar Land Rover, Novelis, QinetiQ, RWE Innogy, Timet, TWI (Wales), as well as many smaller companies across the UK.
These industrial research links provide excellent opportunities for great research and employment opportunities.
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 ranks Engineering at Swansea as 10th in the UK for the combined score in research quality across the Engineering disciplines.
The REF assesses the quality of research in the UK Higher Education sector, assuring us of the standards we strive for.
The REF shows that 94% of research produced by our academic staff is of World-Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*) quality. This has increased from 73% in the 2008 RAE.
Research pioneered at the College of Engineering harnesses the expertise of academic staff within the department. This ground-breaking multidisciplinary research informs our world-class teaching with several of our staff leaders in their fields.
The Master's degree in "Verbundwerkstoffe/Composites" is intended for engineers and graduates of mathematics and natural sciences with professional experience, who would like to gain a qualification in the area of composites via the professional development route. The particular focus of the study programme is on both carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP, colloquially known as "carbon") and glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP).
A Master's qualification will open up the best possible career prospects, with the CFRP branch of the economy alone being forecast to grow by 10 percent a year. The high demand for specialists in composites is therefore bound to continue to increase in future.
The University offers the professional development engineering programme, leading to a Master of Science (M.Sc.), in "Verbundwerkstoffe/Composites" at PFH Hansecampus Stade. It is accredited by the Accreditation Agency ASIIN and state-recognised. The study programme extends over three semesters, is worth a total of 60 ECTS and contains seven modules that have been coordinated in terms of content.
In the first and second semester of the study programme taught in German, you will attend one two-week and one one-week block of courses as well as five weekend courses. In the study variant taught in English, you will complete a total of four block units, each of 17 days' duration, and a weekend course. In addition, blended-learning aspects accompany the study programme. The third semester in both study variants is reserved for the Master's thesis and oral defence . This split ensures that you can coordinate study programme and simultaneous professional activity optimally.
The first two semesters are given over to theoretical consolidation of the engineering science content, focusing particularly on the conceptual and structural design of fibre composites, partially/fully automated manufacturing processes and process optimisation. You will also obtain extensive knowledge about designing multi-functional composites and implementing intelligent fibre composite structures. Business Administration content, such as Internal Accounting & Controlling (in the context of a business simulation game), Innovation and Strategic Management, are also integrated into the first semester. Finally, in the third semester, you will work on your Master's thesis, with the oral defence of which you will complete the study programme leading to a Master of Science.
Design of Multi-Functional Composite Structures
Sustained Process Optimisation
(Partially) Automated Manufacturing Processes
The Master of Science in Verbundwerkstoffe/Composites will give you a cross-industry qualification enabling you to undertake management tasks in activities related to fibre composites. It will, for example, open up excellent career prospects in aircraft construction, automotive engineering, machine construction, ship und yacht building, railway vehicle and wind turbine construction.
Offered as part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.
Full-time and part-time students study a number of one-week short-course modules comprising lectures, laboratory sessions and tutorials.
The modules cover metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, nanomaterials, bonding, surfaces, corrosion, fracture, fatigue, analytical techniques and general research methods. Each module is followed by an open book assessment of approximately 120 hours.
There is also a materials-based research project, which is made up of the Research Project Planning and the Project modules.
The MSc in Advanced Materials is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) when a Project is undertaken.
This programme is studied full-time over one academic year and part-time over five academic years. It consists of eight taught modules and a compulsory Project.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:
Knowledge and understanding
Intellectual / cognitive skills
Professional practical skills
Key / transferable skills
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
This specialist option of the MSc Aerospace Vehicle Design provides you with an understanding of aircraft structures, airworthiness requirements, design standards, stress analysis, fatigue and fracture (damage tolerance) and fundamentals of aerodynamics and loading. Also covered is the selection of suitable materials, both metallic and composite.
Manufacturers of modern aircraft are demanding more lightweight and more durable structures. Structural integrity is a major consideration of today’s aircraft fleet. For an aircraft to economically achieve its design specification and satisfy airworthiness regulations, a number of structural challenges must be overcome. This course trains engineers to meet these challenges, and prepares them for careers in civil and military aviation. It is suitable if you have a background in aeronautical or mechanical engineering, or relevant industrial experience.
We have been at the forefront of postgraduate education in aerospace engineering since 1946. Aerospace Vehicle Design at Cranfield University was one of the original foundation courses of the College of Aeronautics. Graduates of this course are eligible to join the Cranfield College of Aeronautics Alumni Association (CCAAA), an active community which hold a number of networking and social events throughout the year.
Cranfield University is well located for students from all over the world, and offers a range of library and support facilities to support your studies. This enables students from all over the world to complete this qualification whilst balancing work/life commitments.
The course has an Industrial Advisory Committee with senior members from major UK aerospace companies, government bodies, and the military services. The committee meets twice a year to review and advise on course content, acquisition skills and other attributes are desirable from graduates of the course. Panel members include:
We also arrange visits to sites such as BAE Systems, Marshall Aerospace, GKN and RAF bases which specialise in the maintenance of military aircraft. This allows you to get up close to the aircraft components and help with your understanding.
The MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) & Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
This option is comprised of 4 compulsory modules and a minimum of 120 hours of optional modules, selected from a list of 18 options. You will also complete an individual research project. Delivered via a combination of structured lectures, industry guest lectures, computer based workshops and private study.
A unique feature of the course is that we have four external examiners; two from industry who assess the group design project and two from academia who assess the individual research project.
Individual project
The individual research project aims to provide the training necessary for you to apply knowledge from the taught element to research, and takes place from January to September. It is sometimes associated with a real-world problem that one of our industry partners are looking to resolve.
Examples of recent Individual Research Projects include:
Assessment
Taught modules 20%, Individual research project 80%
This Aerospace Vehicle Design option in Structural Design is valued and respected by employers worldwide. The applied nature of this course ensures that our graduates are ready to be of immediate use to their future employer and has provided sufficient breadth of understanding of multi-discipline design to position them for accelerated career progression.
Graduates from this option have gone onto pursue engineering careers in disciplines such as structural design, stress analysis or systems design. Many of our graduates occupy very senior positions in their organisations, making valuable contributions to the international aerospace industry. Student destinations have included BAE Systems, Airbus, Dassault and Rolls-Royce.
The overall objective of this course is to add value to your first degree and previous relevant experience by developing a focused, integrated and critically aware understanding of underlying theory and current policy and practice in the field of control systems engineering.
The course is control systems focused, with the emphasis on control systems theory together with a range of control applications including industrial control (SCADA), intelligent control, flight control and robotic control. The control systems approach provides continuity in learning throughout the one year of study.
This course has been awarded accredited status by both the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for 2010 to 2014 intake cohorts as meeting the exemplifying academic benchmark for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for students who also hold an accredited BEng Honours degree. Candidates who do not hold an appropriately accredited BEng Honours degree will gain partial exemption for CEng status; these candidates will need to have their first qualification individually assessed if they wish to progress onto CEng registration.
Professional registration and Institution membership will enhance your career in the following ways:
On completion of the course you should have a critical awareness and understanding of current problems in control engineering, techniques applicable to research in the field of control systems and how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the field of control systems. You should also be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgments in the absence of complete data, and communicate your conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialists.
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, computer workshops and laboratory activities.
Mechanical Lab – This lab is used to understand material behaviour under different loading conditions and contains a tensile test machine and static loading experiments – typical laboratory sessions would include tensile testing of materials and investigation into the bending and buckling behaviour of beams.
Aerodynamics Lab – Contains low speed and supersonic wind tunnels – typical laboratory experiments would include determining the aerodynamic properties of an aerofoil section and influence of wing sweep on the lift and drag characteristics of a tapered wing section.
Composite Material Lab – This lab contains wet lay-up and pre-preg facilities for fabrication of composite material test sections. The facility is particularly utilised for final year project work.
Control & Dynamics Lab – Contains flight simulators (see details below) and programmable control experiments – typical laboratory sessions would include studying the effects of damping and short period oscillation analysis, forced vibration due to rotating imbalance, and understanding the design and performance of proportional and integral controllers.
Flight Simulators
Merlin MP520-T Engineering Simulator
Elite Flight Training System
A wide range of control and automation opportunities in manufacturing and engineering companies, opportunities in the aerospace sector.
There are opportunities to go on to further research study within our CASE control and Intelligent Systems Research Centre.
Research themes in the Centre include:
