Materials Science and Engineering MSc

For graduates from a science, mathematics, technology or another engineering discipline, this course provides you with the knowledge and skills to specialise in materials science and engineering or metallurgy.

Taught by leading researchers in world-class facilities, you’ll study topics such as materials structures, processing-structure-property relationships, characterisation and failure analysis. You’ll also choose optional modules to focus your specialism to suit your own career plans and interests.

This Masters degree has been designed to meet the present needs and future challenges of advanced materials and manufacturing. You’ll gain the skills to thrive in a growing and fast-changing field, to help prepare you for a rewarding career.

Course highlights

• Gain a view of the fundamental structure and properties of materials, and how processing can be used to enhance functionality.

• Choose to specialise in one of our five pathways: Materials Science, Functional Materials, Polymers and Soft Solids, Metallurgy, and Nanomaterials.

• Learn about the needs and challenges relevant to areas such as transportation, bioengineering, energy, electronics and information technology, sport and sustainable development.

• Conduct an extensive, independent research project using our specialist facilities and laboratories – equipping you with the professional skills you’ll need for your career.

• Our courses are shaped by our world-leading research. You’ll interact with academic staff who are members of the Sir Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials and the Bragg Centre for Materials Research, giving you the opportunity to develop professional relationships with researchers at the forefront of the industry.

Specialist facilities

You’ll benefit from the chance to study in cutting-edge facilities where our researchers are pushing the boundaries of materials science, 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.

Our labs are equipped with the latest technology, including scanning electron microscopes, X-ray diffractometers, chemical processing unit operations and more.

Find out more about our facilities.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

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In the first semester, you will study four compulsory modules that teach you the foundations of materials science. 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 also cover materials and process selection and their role in design, and extend this into the principles and practice of failure analysis.

In the second semester you will participate in an industry-focused interdisciplinary design project. This prepares the way for you to specialise in one of five pathways, each comprising two modules. You can study one of the following:

• Materials Science – A broad approach covering ceramics, metals, polymers, composites and materials modelling.

• Functional Materials – Materials used in high-tech devices, including electroceramics, solid state ionics and nanomaterials, with materials modelling.

• Metallurgy – Metals and alloys, and the chemistry involved in extracting and refining them, with materials modelling.

• Nanomaterials – Jointly taught with the School of Physics and Astronomy, this pathway focuses on the properties, applications and production techniques of nanomaterials.

• Polymers and Soft Solids – Jointly taught with the School of Physics and Astronomy, this pathway focuses on biological physics as well as the properties and synthesis of polymers, colloids and glasses.

Project work

Every student undertakes a research project that runs throughout the year. This project 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.

Throughout the research project, you’ll produce an independent study, reflecting the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired. This will enable you to gain experience of planning, executing and reporting a research work of the type you will undertake in an industrial or academic environment. You’ll also have access to some of the outstanding facilities in School of Chemical and Process Engineering.

You’ll choose your topic – normally related to one of our world-class research areas – and work closely with your supervisor to apply what you’ve learned to a real-life problem. Examples of past project topics include:

• Temperature variable X-ray diffraction of high temperature piezoelectric material

• Fabrication of glass waveguide devices by femtosecond laser inscription

• Microstructure development in drop-tube processed cast iron

• Validation of cooling rate models of drop-tube processing

• Characterisation of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) produced by solvent exfoliation of graphite

• Studies of the effect of milling variables in the production of nanoparticles

• Microstructural investigation of spray atomized powders

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.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Materials Science and Engineering MSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching, and you’ll have regular contact with staff who are at the forefront of the discipline. You’ll learn through lectures, laboratory work, seminars, tutorials, small group work and project meetings. Independent study is also an important part of the course, as you’ll develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge.

Throughout your degree, you will also be supported by a personal tutor who you can meet regularly to discuss any academic or career questions you might have.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.

You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including case studies, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests, assignments, vivas and projects.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons) in engineering, a physical science or mathematics discipline.

Applicants must have strong marks across a breadth of relevant modules, including mathematics and physical sciences.

Relevant professional qualifications and experience may also be considered.

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Engineering (6 weeks) and Language for Science: Engineering (10 weeks). 

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

29 July 2022 – International applicants

9 September 2022 – UK applicants

Applications for 2022 entry will open on Friday 1 October 2021. From that date this page will contain a link to take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

The UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operates a scheme called the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). If you are an international (non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen) applicant and require a student visa to study in the UK then you will need an ATAS certificate to study this course at the University of Leeds.

To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme details and the relevant Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and descriptor. For this course, the CAH code is: CAH10-03-07 and the descriptor is Materials Science.

More information and details on how to apply for your ATAS certificate can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2022

Fees

• UK: £11,500 (total)
• International: £25,750 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit 
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

A degree from Leeds and the experience you'll gain here will give you the edge to find the career you want. Your course will give you the experience and knowledge that employers are looking for to help you secure a job.

The University of Leeds is in the top five most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2021 report.

There is 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.

Read profiles of our alumni to find out more about where some of our graduates are working.

Further study

Many of our graduates have secured positions on PhD programmes in the UK and internationally. We offer a wide range of PhD programmes, offering many opportunities for students graduating from this MSc course.

Careers support

At Leeds we help you to prepare for your future from day one. Our Leeds for Life initiative is designed to help you develop and demonstrate the skills and experience you need for when you graduate. We will help you to access opportunities across the University and record your key achievements so you are able to articulate them clearly and confidently.

You’ll have access to the wide range of careers resources and support from your Careers Service. You’ll have the chance to attend industry presentations, book appointments with qualified careers consultants and take part in employability workshops and webinars.

Our annual STEM Careers Fairs provide further opportunities to explore your career options with some of the UKs leading employers.

You will also have full access to the University’s Careers Centre, which is one of the largest in the country.

There are also plenty of exciting ways you can volunteer during your time at Leeds. Find out more at the Leeds University Union website.