MSc in Composites student

Latest information for applicants and offer-holders

This course will begin on schedule in the Autumn and we plan to reopen our campuses. We are looking forward to seeing you in person, if travel and visa arrangements allow. If you can’t travel to campus in time for the start of term, we want to reassure you that your academic Department has made plans which make it possible to offer you a high-quality remote educational experience during the Autumn term. 

Your teaching will be a combination of on-campus (in-person) and remote learning (online). We call this ‘multi-mode’ delivery. Depending on official government guidance throughout the entirety of next academic year, the ‘multi-mode’ balance may be subject to change. We hope to be able to offer you increased on-campus teaching and learning activities throughout the year. 

For more information about multi-mode delivery, your learning experience and the steps we’ll be taking to keep you safe on campus if you are able to join us, please see our COVID-19 information for applicants and offer holders page.


Course overview

New aircraft and other challenging engineering applications are becoming increasingly dependent upon the unique capabilities of high performance composite materials.

This programme addresses the broad field of advanced composites, specifically the manufacturing and characterisation of composites and engineering design.

Please note: We only award MSc qualifications. Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas are not available in the Department of Aeronautics.

Why should I apply for this MSc?

The programme is delivered by leaders in the composites field at Imperial as well as expert lecturers from other universities, research organisations, industry and the Ministry of Defence.

Additionally, the facilities in the Department are of a high standard with numerous technicians on-hand to support students when using the equipment and software in the laboratories and workshops.

Further information

For general enquiries about the programme please contact:

Senior Postgraduate (MSc) Administrator)
Email: aero.msc-admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5066
Fax: +44 (0)20 7594 1974

Dr Koon-Yang Lee, Programme Director
Email: koonyang.lee@imperial.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5150

MSc in Composites programme handbook 2020-21 Policy on employment during study

The programme is designed to meet the increasing need for high calibre graduates with the required scientific and technological understanding of composite materials.

As a result, graduates of this MSc are in high demand and possess the skills necessary for leading roles in design, research, development and manufacturing.

Graduates find employment in a variety of industries from the aerospace and motorsport sectors to the marine and offshore sectors, from the sports goods industry to civil engineering. For further information about graduate destinations please see the following:

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Entry requirements (2021-22 entry)

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for 2021-22 entry are now closed. Applications for 2022-23 entry will open in November 2021.

Applicants should have been awarded, or expect to be awarded, a first class (1st) or upper second class (2:1) or equivalent degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or Chemistry.

Questions about the application process? Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Fees and funding

Links with industry and employers

The programme has been designed to provide a breadth and depth of knowledge of composite materials that will be of relevance to a wide range of companies who use these materials. This is reflected by the Accreditation awarded to the programme, as detailed above. Many of the Research Projects and Literature Review topics proposed to students are from industry contacts.

The programme is one of the primary providers of postgraduate education in composite materials in the EU, and strives to pursue excellence through the delivery of a comprehensive and integrated programme attracting ambitious applicants of high intellectual calibre.

Structure

Modules shown are for the current academic year and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.

Please note that the curriculum of this programme is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.

Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.

Programme information

Aims and objectives

By the conclusion of the programme, students will have achieved the following objectives:

  1. Developed a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts and principles relating to the nature of composite materials and their constituents; the processes of production of composites; the engineering and other properties of composites; applications of current composite systems; and the analysis and design methods for composite components. This will necessarily involve reading of books and papers in addition to understanding material presented in the lectures.< /li>
  2. Demonstrated their ability to read the relevant scientific literature and to write an associated review.
  3. Demonstrated their ability to bring together all the aspects of the course by conducting a design study.
  4. Developed an understanding of the relevance and limitations of the destructive and non-destructive test methods used for composites.
  5. Demonstrated their ability to carry out a major research project.
  6. Demonstrated their ab ility to communicate clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing.
  7. Developed an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of co mposite materials and hence have the ability to communicate with and understand the problems of workers in specialities different from their own.

Content and structure

The programme is undertaken on a one year full-time basis. ‌

Assessment includes:

Through links with industry, it is possible for projects to be supervised in part by staff from industry or to be carried out in industry.

Module descriptors

For a full list of modules on this programme, please visit our module descriptors page.