Materials Science and Engineering

Materials science and engineering is concerned with understanding and controlling the relationship between the structure of a material and its properties, and then using that understanding to design new materials with specific and often remarkable characteristics. The field spans metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, semiconductors, and biomaterials, and it sits at the heart of almost every modern technology, from the packaging that preserves food to the battery cells that power electric vehicles, from the implants that repair bones to the fibres that carry optical communications.

At Loughborough University, you will study materials science and engineering with the breadth and rigour that the discipline demands, developing a deep understanding of the physics and chemistry of materials alongside the engineering principles needed to apply that knowledge in practical contexts. You will explore the structure of materials at atomic and microstructural scales, the processing techniques used to manufacture them, and the testing and characterisation methods used to assess their performance. The development of new and improved materials is central to a huge range of technologies, and the programme equips you to contribute to that development.

It runs over three years full-time.

Graduates of materials science and engineering programmes work in the aerospace, automotive, electronics, biomedical, energy, and construction industries, as well as in research institutions and government laboratories. The quantitative and analytical skills the degree develops are also valued in consultancy and in management roles within manufacturing. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in materials science, engineering, or nanotechnology, and the discipline offers a clear pathway to chartered engineer status through the relevant professional bodies.