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Apply your study of materials to nuclear engineering in this professionally accredited Master’s degree.
Apply your study of materials to nuclear engineering in this professionally accredited degree
Learn how materials can contribute to a sustainable society and key challenges in the industry
Enhance your practical skills with experimental work in lab tutorials and design your own experiments to test a hypothesis and investigate materials
Understand how technological advances transform our everyday lives on this four-year course, which also includes the opportunity to specialise in nuclear engineering.
Materials science and engineering (MSE) is increasingly helping to solve real societal problems in fields such as energy, sustainability, and nuclear safety.
This course will see you engage with both scientific and engineering aspects of the discipline to better understand the processing, structure, and performance of materials.
You'll also learn how the ability to invent and improve materials is opening up new opportunities in a variety of areas. You'll examine how this field is transforming fields such as nuclear energy, reactor technology, radiation safety, waste disposal, robotics and quantum computing.
Experimental work is a core part of this course, and through a series of laboratory tutorials you'll be introduced to key techniques in a practical setting. This includes the chance to design your own experiments to test a hypothesis and investigate materials using electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
The third year will see you specialise in nuclear engineering, where you'll deepen your appreciation of aspects of nuclear energy and nuclear chemical engineering.
Your studies reach Master's level in your final year, where your work will culminate in a substantial research project.
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
You’ll study all core modules.
Core modules
You’ll study all core modules.
You’ll also choose two optional modules.
Core modules
Optional modules
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 during your final year.
You will take all core modules and select two further optional modules.
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.
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.
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
When applications open, you will be able to start your application via UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices and track your application.
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 31 January 2024 at 18.00 (UK time)
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
We’re offering up to £5,000 each year through our Imperial Bursary scheme for eligible Home undergraduates.
If your household income remains under £60,000 a year, you’ll automatically qualify for every year of your course.
Find out more about our Imperial Bursary scheme.
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.
Develop the essential core knowledge and skills for a nuclear engineering-related career.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
Nuclear power, energy & research and development (R&D) are just some of your options.
You’ll also be highly sought after in emerging sectors such as energy and nuclear power. Other potential career paths include nuclear reactors, nuclear materials sector, and software development engineering, management consulting & manufacturing and technology.
Visit the Department of Materials website.
See what led our current students to study Materials Science and what they enjoy most about their course.
Meet our students
Learn more about studying at Imperial. Receive useful information about our life in our undergraduate community and download our latest Study Guide.
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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