MSc Composites: the Science, Technology and Engineering Application of Advanced Composites
How high performance composite materials are increasingly important in the production of aircraft.
Key information
Start date: September 2019
Campus South Kensington
ECTS: 90 credits
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Overview
This course addresses the broad field of advanced composites, specifically the manufacturing and characterisation of composites and engineering design.
New aircraft and other challenging engineering applications are becoming increasingly dependent upon the unique capabilities of high performance composite materials.
This course addresses the broad field of advanced composites, and is presented by experts in the field from the College, other universities, major aerospace companies and government research organisations.
It will appeal to graduates of engineering, materials science, physics or chemistry. You will develop an outstanding knowledge of composite technology, allowing you to take up specialist roles in industry and research.
The facilities in the Department are of a high standard with numerous technicians on-hand to support you when using the equipment and software in the laboratories and workshops.
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 professional accreditation awarded to the programme, as detailed below. 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 Europe, and strives to pursue excellence through the delivery of a comprehensive and integrated programme attracting ambitious applicants of high intellectual calibre.
Professional accreditation
This degree is professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
Our accreditation agreement with Institution of Mechanical Engineers is renewed every 4 years, and the current agreement runs between 2015 and 2019.
Our accreditation agreement with The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining is renewed every 11 years, and the current agreement runs between 2008 and 2019.
Careers
Graduates of this MSc are in high demand and possess the skills necessary for leading roles in design, research, development and manufacturing.
Our 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.
Structure
Modules shown are for the current academic year, and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Structure
Core modules
Lectures take place during the first two terms and are arranged in a series of modules, including:
- Analytical techniques, fractography
- Composite systems (polymer, metal, ceramic)
- Design, joining, finite element analysis
- Detection of defects, non-destructive evaluation
- Fatigue, impact, environment
- Fibre/matrix interfaces
- Introduction to composites; fibres
- Laminate analysis
- Manufacturing science
- Mechanical testing; fracture
- Stiffness and strength
- Stress analysis
- Lifecycle Assessment
Project
You will complete an extensive final project which can be undertaken in industry.
Full-time students will complete their project between May and September, either on campus or in industry.
Part-time students are expected to undertake the bulk of their project in industry.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Laboratory work
- Skills workshops
- Blackboard VLE
- Student Portal on Sharepoint
- Panopto recordings
- Major Individual Research Project
- Design Study
Assessment methods
- Written Examinations
- Laboratory log book
- Presentations (solo and group)
- Long and short written reports (solo and group)
- Literature Review
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Laboratory work
- Skills workshops
- Blackboard VLE
- Student Portal on Sharepoint
- Panopto recordings
- Major Individual Research Project
- Design Study
Assessment methods
- Written Examinations
- Laboratory log book
- Presentations (solo and group)
- Long and short written reports (solo and group)
- Literature Review
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Admissions
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, physics or chemistry.
International qualifications
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications. For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed here are the minimum for entry to the College.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
You can submit one application form per year of entry, and usually choose up to two courses.
Admissions
Making an application
To apply for this course, you need to use our online application system.
You can submit one application form per year of entry, and usually choose up to two courses.
ATAS certificate (overseas candidates)
An ATAS certificate is required for all Non-EEA/Swiss nationals who require a visa to study in the UK.
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, these are:
| CAH code | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| CAH10-01-04 | aeronautical and aerospace engineering |
Your Tier 4 visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one.
For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate please see the information on our International Student Support website.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
For more information on the funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Fees and Funding website.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees (Home and EU students)
| 2019 entry | |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £13,250 per year |
| Part-time | £6,625 per year |
* Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may increase each year.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2019 will apply to fees for the academic year 2019–2020.
Tuition fees (Overseas and Islands students)
| 2019 entry | |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £31,250 per year |
| Part-time | £15,625 per year |
* Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may increase each year.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2019 will apply to fees for the academic year 2019–2020.
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you are a Home or EU student who meets certain criteria, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £10,280 from the UK government. The loan is not means-tested, and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies. Try our scholarships search tool to see what you might be eligible for.
There are a number of external organisations also offer awards for Imperial students, find out more about non-Imperial scholarships.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
T: +44(0) 20 7594 5066
E: aero.msc-admissions@imperial.ac.uk
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