If you’re a graduate from a science, mathematics, technology or another engineering discipline, this programme provides the knowledge and skills to convert to a specialism in materials science and engineering or metallurgy to meet the present needs and future challenges of advanced materials and manufacturing in areas such as transportation, bioengineering, energy, electronics and information technology, sport and sustainable development.
Alternatively, if you’re already a professional engineer in the materials sector, you’ll have the chance to expand your expertise to enhance your career prospects.
Core modules cover key topics such as materials structures, processing-structure-property relationships, characterisation and failure analysis. You’ll also choose one from three groups of optional modules to focus your specialism to suit your own career plans and interests. Taught by experts in world-class facilities, you’ll gain the skills to thrive in a growing and fast-changing field.
Specialist facilities
You’ll benefit from the chance to study in cutting-edge facilities where our researchers are pushing the boundaries of materials science and engineering and metallurgy. We have state-of-the-art preparative facilities for making and characterising a wide range of materials, as well as equipment and instrumentation for carrying out more fundamental studies into their process-microstructure-property relationships.
The course is designed to provide graduates with the educational base required for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Accreditation is currently being sought from IoM3
Compulsory modules at the beginning of the programme lay the foundations of your studies in materials science or metallurgy. You’ll learn about processing-structure-property relationships, which lie at the heart of the discipline, as well as examining topics such as mechanical, physical and chemical behaviour, phase transformations and how the structure and local chemistry of materials may be characterised. You’ll cover materials and process selection and their role in design, and extend this into the principles and practice of failure analysis.
This prepares the way for three sets of specialist modules: you can decide to specialise in metallurgy, functional and nanomaterials or take a broader materials science approach covering metals, ceramics, polymers, composites and biomaterials. You’ll complete your taught modules either by studying a module in materials modelling (if you already hold an accredited Engineering degree) or participating in an industry-focused interdisciplinary design project.
You will complete your programme with a major individual research project of your own. With guidance from your supervisor, you will work on a topic related to the internationally-leading materials and metallurgical research carried out in the University, or you could propose a topic of your own related to your own professional work or that of an industrial sponsor.
Want to find out more about your modules?
Take a look at the Materials Science and Engineering module descriptions for more detail on what you will study.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching, and you’ll have regular contact with staff who are at the forefront of the discipline through lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group work and project meetings. Independent study is also important to the programme, as you develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge.
You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including case studies, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests, assignments, vivas and projects.
The research project is one of the most satisfying elements of this course. It allows you to apply what you’ve learned to a piece of research focusing on a real-world problem, and it can be used to explore and develop your specific interests.
Recent projects by MSc Materials Science and Engineering students have included:
There is currently an increasingly high demand for qualified materials scientists, materials engineers and metallurgists.
Career prospects are excellent and cover a wide range of industries concerned with the research and development of new and improved materials, materials synthesis and commercial production, and materials exploitation in cutting-edge applications in engineering and technology.
You’ll have access to the wide range of engineering and computing careers resources held by our Employability team in our dedicated Employability Suite. You’ll have the chance to attend industry presentations book appointments with qualified careers consultants and take part in employability workshops. Our annual Engineering and Computing Careers Fairs provide further opportunities to explore your career options with some of the UKs leading employers.
The University's Careers Centre also provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
The University of Bath Civil Engineering: Innovative Structural Materials MSc is a full-time, one-year taught postgraduate course.
Students study a range of modules before carrying out an individual research dissertation project in order to complete their Master of Science degree.
The course produces graduates with an in-depth and practical understanding of the use of innovative structural engineering materials in the provision of sustainable and holistic construction solutions for the built environment.
The use of construction materials is key to infrastructural development globally. New approaches are now needed for innovative renewable and low carbon structural engineering materials.
This MSc course will not only help prepare you for an exciting career in the industry, but it will also help prepare you to continue your studies onto a Doctor of Philosophy research programme.
Visit the website http://www.bath.ac.uk/engineering/graduate-school/taught-programmes/structural-engineering/
The course is aimed at engineering and science graduates who wish to work in the construction industry.
As a student you will be provided with the practical knowledge and tools to support you in the use of innovative structural engineering materials in the context of sustainable and holistic construction. You will also learn how to harness that knowledge in a business environment. You will gain analytical and team working skills to enable you to deal with the open-ended problems typical of structural engineering practice.
The MSc is based on research expertise of the BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials (http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/research/cicm/) and is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree. Please visit the Joint Board of Moderators (http://www.jbm.org.uk/) for further information about accreditation.
The course includes traditionally taught subject-specific units and business and group-orientated modular work. These offer you the chance to gain experience in design, project management and creativity, while working with students from other subjects.
Group project work:
In semester 2 you undertake a cross-disciplinary group activity for your professional development, simulating a typical industrial work situation.
Individual project work:
In the final semester, you undertake an individual research project directly related to key current research at the University, often commissioned by industry.
A full list of units can be found on the programme catalogue (http://www.bath.ac.uk/catalogues/2015-2016/ar/ar-proglist-pg.html#AC).
Semester 1 (October-January)
The first semester provides a foundation in the most significant issues relating to the sustainable use of innovative structural engineering materials in design and construction; and involves units in natural building materials, advanced timber engineering, advanced composites, sustainable concrete technology and architectural structures.
- Five taught compulsory units
- Includes coursework involving laboratory or small project sessions.
- Typically each unit consists of 22 hours of lectures and 11 hours of tutorials, and may additionally involve a number of hours of laboratory activity and field trips with approximately 65-70 hours of private study (report writing, laboratory results processing and revision for examinations).
Semester 2 (February-May)
Semester 2 consists of a further 30 credits comprising of five core 6 credit units. These units include:
- Materials engineering in construction
- Advanced timber engineering
- Engineering project management.
Students will undertake a group-based design activity and an individual project scoping and planning unit (Project Unit 1). The group-based activity involves application of project management techniques and provides the basis for an integrated approach to Engineering, but with the possibility of specialising in the chosen master's topic.
It is a feature of this programme that the project work proceeds as far as possible in a way typical of best industrial practice. The Semester 2 project activities have significant planning elements including the definition of milestones and deliverables according to a time-scale, defined by the student in consultation with his/her academic supervisor and (where appropriate) his/her industrial advisor.
Summer/Dissertation Period (June-September)
Individual project leading to MSc dissertation.
Depending on the chosen area of interest, the individual project may involve theoretical and/or experimental activities; for both such activities students can use the department computer suites and well-equipped and newly refurbished laboratories for experimental work. The individual projects are generally carried out under the supervision of a member of academic staff.
There may be an opportunity for some projects to be carried out with the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
- Advanced structures
- Advanced composites in construction
- Advanced timber engineering
- Materials engineering in construction
- Natural building materials
- Sustainable concrete technology
The Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering brings together the related disciplines of Architecture and Civil Engineering. It has an interdisciplinary approach to research, encompassing the fields of Architectural History and Theory, Architectural and Structural Conservation, Lightweight Structures, Hydraulics and Earthquake Engineering and Dynamics.
Our Department was ranked equal first in the Research Excellence Framework 2014 for its research submission in the Architecture, Built Environment and Planning unit of assessment.
Half of our research achieved the top 4* rating, the highest percentage awarded to any submission; and an impressive 90% of our research was rated as either 4* or 3* (world leading/ internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour).
The dominant philosophy in the joint Department is to develop postgraduate programmes and engage in research where integration between the disciplines is likely to be most valuable. Research is carried out in collaboration with other departments in the University, particularly Management, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Psychology.
Find out how to apply here - http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/apply/
The following postgraduate funding may be available to study the Civil Engineering: Innovative Structural Materials MSc at The University of Bath.
UK / EU: £9.500
International: £20,300
