.jpeg)
Materials Science and Engineering
Develop your appreciation of materials science and engineering and build your research expertise through to Master's level.
Develop your research expertise in materials science and engineering with this professionally accredited degree
Build your practical skills through laboratory tutorials and design your own experiments
Work alongside world-leading researchers on an extended individual project
Course key facts
-
Qualification
-
MEng
-
-
Duration
4 years
-
Start date
October 2023
-
UCAS course code
JFM2
-
Study mode
Full-time
-
Fees
£9,250 Home
£37,900 Overseas
-
Delivered by
-
Location
-
South Kensington
-
-
Applications: places
6 : 1 (2021)
Minimum entry standard 2023
-
AAA (A-level)
-
38 points (International Baccalaureate)
Course overview
Further your understanding of materials science and engineering (MSE) on this four-year Master's degree.
You'll assess how technological advances relating to materials are helping transform our lives, from the clothes we wear through to emerging, life-chasing technologies.
You'll investigate how the motivation to invent or improve materials can solve problems in areas including healthcare and transport.
You'll also consider the latest innovations in fields such as biomedical engineering, robotics and quantum computing.
This course will help you engage with both the scientific and engineering aspects of the discipline as you learn about the processing and performance of materials.
Experimental work in a laboratory setting is designed to help you build practical experience of key materials research techniques.
This includes the opportunity to design your own experiments and carry out investigations using electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
You'll then start to specialise across a series of optional modules during your third and fourth years.
Your final year will see your studies reach Master's level, with your work culminating in an individual research project.
This work can be carried out externally or with a laboratory overseas as you build your research expertise alongside world-leading academics and researchers.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
You’ll study all core modules.
Core modules
- Mathematics and Computing
- Performance of Structural Materials
- Engineering Practice
- Fundamentals of Processing
- Structure 1
- Properties 1
You’ll study all core modules.
Core modules
- Mathematics and Computing 2
- Engineering Practice 2
- Materials Characterisation
- Properties 2
- Structure 2
- Performance of Functional Materials
You’ll study all core modules.
You’ll also choose four optional modules.
Core modules
- Materials Processing
- Processing Laboratory
- Theory and Simulation of Materials
- Managerial Economics
- Research Techniques
- I-Explore
Optional modules
- Engineering Alloys
- Ceramics and Glasses
- Nanomaterials
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Optoelectronic Materials
- Mathematics and Quantum Mechanics
- Biomaterials
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
You’ll complete a research project and choose four optional modules.
Core modules
- Individual Project
Optional modules
- Density Functional Theory
- Advanced Engineering Alloys
- Electroceramics
- Advanced Nanomaterials
- Advanced Structural Ceramics
- Advanced Biomaterials
- Advanced Tissue Engineering
- Nuclear Materials
Professional accreditation
This degree is professionally accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) on behalf of the Engineering Council.
With a professionally accredited degree, you’ll be able to demonstrate to employers that you have achieved an industry-recognised standard of competency. Professional accreditation also provides international recognition of your qualifications, which you can use to launch a career abroad.
With this integrated Master’s degree, you’ll fully meet the educational requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Becoming a Chartered Engineer can further enhance your career prospects and earning potential. It demonstrates your competencies and commitment to lifelong learning – providing you with recognition in your field and greater influence and opportunities.
Our accreditation agreement with IOM3 is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed for students starting their studies in the 2023–24 academic year.
Associateship
In addition to your degree, you’ll receive the Associateship of the Royal School of Mines (ARSM) upon completion of this course. This associateship is awarded by one of our historic constituent Colleges.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
-
Laboratory work
-
Lectures
-
Tutorials
-
Group work
Balance of assessment
Key
- Coursework
- Examination
Year 1
- 40% Coursework
- 60% Examination
Year 2
- 35% Coursework
- 65% Examination
Year 3
- 38% Coursework
- 62% Examination
Year 4
- 67% Coursework
- 33% Examination
Assessment methods
-
Laboratory performance
-
Laboratory reports
-
Online programming tests
-
Written coursework
-
Group project reports
-
Written examinations
-
Poster presentations
-
Research thesis
-
Oral presentations
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
You can track your application via the UCAS hub.
Applications for 2023 entry are closed
Application deadlines — 25 January 2023 at 18.00 (UK time)
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
If your UCAS application indicates that you are likely to satisfy our requirements, you will be invited to an applicant day.
Applicant days are held on Wednesdays between November and March and run from 10.30 to 15.30. You will be expected to attend the whole day.
During an applicant day, you will hear from our Director of Undergraduate Studies and then our Admission Tutor.
Activities include:
- A 30 minute one-to-one interview with one of our lecturers. We aim for the interview to be more of a conversation. The main purpose of the interview is for us to see whether you are suitable for the course, as much as for you to decide if Imperial is the place for you.
- A 45 minute group task. The task will be an engineering-based problem-solving challenge to see your team working skills, as we deem this to be an important part of life at Imperial.
- A 60 minute Q&A with current student ambassadors where you will be able to ask them questions about the course and studying in London.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH10-03-02
- Descriptor: Materials technology
- Supervisor name: Professor Sandrine Heutz
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
The common structure of the first two years of our Materials degrees means that transfer between courses is usually possible at set points during your degree.
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2023 entry
£9,250 per year
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
Overseas fee
2023 entry
£37,900 per year
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
Your future career
Pursue career opportunities related to materials science and engineering.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
Aerospace, healthcare & research and development (R&D) are just some of your options.
You’ll also be highly sought after in emerging sectors such as nanotechnology, biomedical materials, energy materials and quantum technologies.
Other potential career paths include automotive engineering, software development engineering, management consulting & manufacturing and technology.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 6728
- Email: materials@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Department of Materials website
/fit-in/1440x9999999/prod01/channel_2/media/study---restricted-images/Materials.jpg)
Meet our students
See what led our current students to study Materials Science and what they enjoy most about their course.
Meet our students
/fit-in/1440x9999999/prod01/channel_2/media/study---restricted-images/course-pages/undergraduate/materials/Materials-Science-and-Engineering-BEng-(1).jpeg)
Request info
Learn more about studying at Imperial. Receive useful information about our life in our undergraduate community and download our latest Study Guide.
Request info
/fit-in/1440x9999999/prod01/channel_2/media/study---restricted-images/Newsletter.jpg)
/fit-in/1440x9999999/prod01/channel_2/media/study---restricted-images/UG---Events.jpg)
Course data
Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications