Masters degrees in Materials Science investigate the properties of natural and artificial materials. They develop expertise in the production and use of everyday components as well as advanced products and high-tech resources.
A diverse range of specialisms are available, with courses in Ceramics, Paper Technology or Metallurgy. Individual degrees may examine the inherent properties of these materials, or look more closely at their use and manufacture. Many programmes are wholly or partly interdisciplinary, drawing on other sciences such as Chemistry or on specific Engineering techniques.
Courses may be delivered through taught units, or based on more extensive research projects. A range of MSc, MPhil and MRes programmes are available, along with appropriate Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas.
MSc in Materials Science programme develops research skills, deep theoretical and experimental knowledge of material composition and improvement of their characteristics, knowledge of methodology and technique for technological measurements of materials, processing and analysis of experimental results, knowledge of application of high technologies (micro- and nanotechnologies) in materials science. The programme combines fundamental and engineering studies, and enables the graduates to create and apply functional materials and technologies of their production.
The Master+ model offers either to masterpiece in the chosen discipline by choosing the Field Expert track or to strengthen the interdisciplinary skills by choosing the Interdisciplinary Expert track emphasising managerial skills or a choice of a different competence to compliment the chosen discipline and achieve a competitive advantage in one’s career.
Internationally recognised research
KTU research in materials science is recognised internationally, and the research outcomes are applied in industry, e.g. to create scales for precision laser measurement systems.
Cooperation with international organizations
KTU cooperates with leading international organisations: Inter-Academia, Federation of European Materials Society, Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials, etc.
Master+
Master+ model offers either to masterpiece in the specialisation or to strengthen managerial/interdisciplinary skills by choosing individual set of competencies required for career.
Master+ is a unique model within a chosen MSc programme
The Master+ model offers either to masterpiece in the chosen discipline by choosing the Field Expert track or to strengthen the interdisciplinary skills in addition to the main discipline by choosing the Interdisciplinary Expert track providing a choice of a different competence to compliment the chosen discipline and achieve a competitive advantage in one’s career.
Students of these study programmes can choose between the path of Field Expert and Interdisciplinary Expert. Selection is made in the academic information system. Each path (competence) consists of three subjects (18 credits) allocated as follows: 1 year 1 semester (autumn) – first subject (6 credits), 1 year 2 semester (spring) – second subject (6 credits), 2 year 3 semester – third subject (6 credits). A student, who chooses a path of the Field Expert, deepens knowledge and strengthens skills in the main field of studies. The one, who chooses a path of the Interdisciplinary Expert, acquires knowledge and skills in a different area or field of studies. Competence provides a choice of alternative additional subjects.
Acquisition of the competence is certified by the issue of KTU certificate and entry in the appendix to the Master’s diploma. In addition, students can acquire an international certificate (details are provided next to each competence).
Competences are implemented by KTU lecturers – experts in their area – and high level business and public sector organizations; their employees deliver lectures, submit topics for the student’s theses, placement-oriented tasks for the projects, etc.
Student’s competences:
– Has deep various theoretical knowledge of material composition and improvement of their properties, knowledge of methodology and technique for technological measurements of materials, knowledge of processing and analysis of experimental results, thorough methodological knowledge on composing, creation and research of mew materials.
– Is competent to define, assess and forecast the trends and prospects of development of materials science and impact of technologies on the environment, apply high technologies (micro and nano technologies).
– Is competent to apply modern methods and instruments of surface engineering, micro and nano technologies, functional (optical, electrical, magnetic) materials used, form micro and nano structure, and use or develop devices.
– Has skills of management, negotiations and leadership, takes responsibility for the quality of his/her activities and that of his/her subordinate employees, quality assessment and performance improvement based on professional ethics, technological engineering operating standards and citizenship.
– Has very good knowledge of project management and business aspects, understands links between technological solutions and their economic effects.
Student’s skills:
– Able to make technological solutions and solve atypical, undefined and incomplete problems, is able to define, analyse and solve problems of development of materials science, scientific research, technological processes and environmental protection.
– Able to assess, model and forecast material structure, composition and properties applying analytical and numerical methods, including mathematical analysis, computational modelling or experiments for assessment, modelling and forecast of structure, composition and properties of functional materials, to select or develop functional materials with optimal properties for various engineering properties.
– Able to select of develop materials with optimal properties, able to apply innovative methods to solve various engineering problems.
– Able to apply acquired knowledge and latest achievements of materials science to select and develop various materials with optimal or required properties, to solve engineering problems using modern technological equipment and formation principles.
– Able to plan, perform analytical, modelling or applied research and introduce their results in the processes of material processing, to analyse applicability of new or newly occurring high technologies, methods of instrumental analysis in solving of various engineering problems.
Degree: Master of Science (two years) with a major in Applied Physics or Master of Science (two years) with a major in Physics
Teaching language: English
The Material Physics and Nanotechnology master's programme provides students with specialist knowledge in the area of new materials. Huge advances in modern technology and products in recent decades have to a large extent relied on developments in this field.
The importance of advanced materials in today’s technology is best exemplified by the highly purified semiconductor crystals that are the basis of the electronic age. Future implementations and applications of materials in electronics and photonics involve such subjects as nano-scale physics, molecular electronics and non-linear optics.
With support from internationally competitive research activities in materials physics at Linköping University, the programme has been established with distinct features that offer students high‑level interdisciplinary education and training in fundamental solid state physics and materials science within the following areas:
The programme emphasises the comprehension of scientific principles and the development of personal and professional skills in solving practical engineering problems. Studies begin with mandatory courses, including nanotechnology, quantum mechanics, surface physics and the physics of condensed matter, in order to provide students with a solid knowledge foundation for modern materials science and nanotechnology. Moreover, through courses in experimental physics and analytical methods in materials science, students gain extensive training in operating the advanced instruments and equipment currently used in the research and development of new materials.
A variety of elective courses is offered from the second term onwards, many of them involving the use of cutting-edge technology. These courses give students a broad perspective of today’s materials science research and links to applications in semiconductor technology, optoelectronics, bioengineering (biocompatibility), chemical sensors and biosensors, and mechanical applications for high hardness and elasticity. Students will also be instructed through in-depth CDIO (Conceive – Design – Implement – Operate) project courses, to develop abilities in creative thinking and problem solving.
Students complete a thesis project in the area of materials science and nanotechnology, either with an in-house research group or the industry.
You will be aware that the properties of materials are crucial for driving technology forward and be excited that they can act as instruments in global societal change.
Our new Masters (MSc) Materials Science and Engineering will develop a strong technical understanding of materials science and engineering, preparing you for a career in either materials-related industry or the academic research.
Taught by our world-renowned academics across the Faculty, you will see this as a pathway to jobs in advanced technology materials.
You may come from a variety of backgrounds. Indeed, the purpose of the MSc is to allow students with generic degrees in the physical sciences and engineering to become experts in materials-related themes.
Those without conventional degrees, but with extensive materials-related experience, may also be successfully considered for the course. Taking part in the MSc as part of continuing professional development for those employed in materials-related industry is encouraged.
The primary mission of the course is to develop a strong technical understanding of materials science and engineering, preparing you for a career in either materials-related industry or in academic research. Technical lecture information will be consolidated, using data analysis and problem-solving classes, to build critical investigative capability, badly needed in the workplace. Project management skills will also be honed through taught material, research projects and industrial placements, where appropriate.
The programme is supported by well-equipped laboratories, digital network and computing facilities, library access and lecture rooms. The interdisciplinary nature of the subject means that you will experience materials-related activity in a number of different environments across the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, in which both fundamental and applied research is done.
“Understanding and controlling the properties of materials is crucial for driving technology forward. This has always been the case: throughout human history, societal developments have relied on the materials used from stone to bronze, to iron and finally to silicon ages. This course will take graduates who have been educated in the physical sciences or engineering and build their knowledge of the fundamental and applied aspects of materials science to the point where they are prepared for employment in materials-related manufacturing or research and development.”
Prof Marty Gregg, Course Director for MSc in Materials Science and Engineering
The MSc is primarily intended as a conversion course, for those with primary degrees in the conventional physical sciences (Chemistry and Physics for example) or engineering. Equally, however, it may be used as part of a continuing professional development programme for those already employed in materials-related industry. The course content gives technical coverage across a wide variety of materials topics.
With a growing world population, there is increasing need for scientific experts and entrepreneurs who can develop novel materials with advanced properties - addressing critical issues from energy to healthcare - and take scientific discoveries to the commercial world. This degree combines frontline research-based teaching from across UCL to train the next generation of materials scientists.
The programme aims to equip students with advanced, comprehensive knowledge of materials science and related state-of-the-art technologies, an understanding of the structure, properties and applications of materials, scientific research skills, and the insight and capability to be an entrepreneur in the field. In addition, students will engage in a literature project and a six-month cutting-edge research project.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of five core modules (75 credits), two optional modules (30 credits), a literature project (15 credits) and a research project/dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Students choose one or two optional modules to a total value of 30 credits from the following:
Dissertation/report
All students undertake a literature project and a research project an independent research project which culminates in a 20-minute oral presentation and a dissertation of 10,000 to 12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
Teaching is delivered by lectures, interactive tutorials, case discussions, and modelling projects. Assessment is by a combination of ongoing coursework, presentations, a group project and/or a written examination, a dissertation and a viva voce.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Advanced Materials Science MSc
On graduation students will be equipped for a future career as a materials scientist or engineer in academia or industry, or as an entrepreneur.
Employability
In addition to the specific skills and knowledge students acquire by taking this programme, they also develop managerial and entrepreneurship skills, and transferable skills in areas including literature search, design of experiments, materials research, critical data analysis, teamwork and effective communication skills using real-life case scenarios and student-led group projects.
Advanced Materials Science MSc relates scientific theories to research and applications of advanced materials, encourages innovation and creative thinking, and contextualises scientific innovation within the global market and entrepreneurship.
The programme aims to deliver innovative teaching; from the group design projects where students are challenged to design the next advanced material to the module, Mastering Entrepreneurship, where students learn how to apply research in the commercial world.
Students on this interdisciplinary programme benefit from UCL’s emphasis on research-based learning and teaching and research input from departments across UCL in mathematical and physical sciences, and in engineering.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
New materials underpin development and progress across a wide variety of sectors. New technologies, from planes to batteries, from hip implants to electronic devices, are made possible, and often limited by, the materials we currently know and use.
Materials Scientists and Engineers work hard to understand how and why materials behave the way they do, and exploit this knowledge to develop new materials with amazing properties.
This one-year master course comprises 12 taught modules (two-thirds of the year) taken in Semesters I and II and an individual research project (one-third of the year) carried out in Semester III and summer in a broad range of topics related to Materials Science and Engineering in any of the Research Groups within the School of Metallurgy and Materials.
Studying Materials Science and Engineering, you will develop a fundamental understanding of how the properties of a material, such as strength, electronic properties and biocompatibility, are affected by the material’s structure, such as its crystal structure or microstructure.
This knowledge can then be used to formulate strategies to develop new materials, such as alloys able to operate at higher temperatures for jet engine blades or high-toughness ceramics for armour applications. This programme will equip you with the skills required to join a wide variety of industries in the capacity of materials specialist, or continue your education at a PhD level.
This one-year master course comprises 12 taught modules (two-thirds of the year) taken in Semesters I and II and an individual research project (one-third of the year) carried out in Semester III & summer. In addition to technical modules, the course also provides training for transferable skills such as Communiation Skills and Effective Project Management.
Research projects can be carried out in a broad range of topics related to Materials Science and Engineering in any of the Research Groups within the School of Metallurgy and Materials or in industry. The project involves full-time research for one third of the academic year.
Related links
All students take twelve modules for a total 120 credits, plus a research project.
The programme is currently delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, project-based and laboratory-based teaching and learning methods.
Our graduates go on to become engineers and scientists at a wide variety of industrial partners, or opt to continue their studies at PhD level.
Typical employers:
University Careers Network
Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.
Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.
If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.
This MSc is suited to talented engineers and scientists with a passion for understanding and creating innovative materials. It will equip you with core knowledge of Materials Science and Engineering that can be applied to any materials-based career, giving you flexibility in the job market.
This flexible MSc is a stand-alone qualification designed to prepare students to solve problems in materials science and engineering under the exacting conditions we encounter today.
The programme is broad, covering many aspects of both the science of materials and engineering applications, and includes course work and original research components.
Our students will have access to world leading knowledge and infrastructure by working on real projects as part of established research groups, and you will be motivated to develop your ability to research, design, assess, implement and review solutions to real-life engineering problems across a wide range of materials.
This course aims to equip you with knowledge and understanding of the key structural properties of different classes of materials. You will gain skills in characterisation of materials, in particular their structural, thermal, morphological and chemical properties.
You will use the principles and underlying theory of a range of characterisation methods – including X-ray Diffraction, Focussed Ion Beam, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, Atomic Force Microscopy, Electron Microscopy and Scanning Probe Microscopies – as well as a range of modelling tools, applicable to a broad spectrum of materials types at different length scales.
For full information on this course, including how to apply, see: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/materials/advanced-materials/
If you have any enquiries you can contact our team at: [email protected]
It is estimated 70 per cent of innovations are due to an advance in materials. This course provides a solid grounding in all types of materials, and aims to prepare you for a career in industry or research by teaching you the concepts and theories that make materials science and engineering possible.
Our research-led teaching introduces you to all the latest developments; you’ll have the option to keep your course general or tailor your degree with optional modules to specialise in the area that interests you the most. Specialist modules include ceramic science and advanced solid state chemistry.
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.
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