Materials Science and Technology Diploma, MSc, PG certificate
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Master
In Loughborough
Description
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Type
Master
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Location
Loughborough
Overview
Our Materials Science and Technology MSc is designed to meet the requirements of industry, where qualified materials scientists and engineers are highly sought after.
This challenging interdisciplinary programme spans the major classes of engineering materials used in modern high technology manufacturing and industry.
The Materials Science and Technology MSc encompasses all aspects of materials; their selection, manufacture, testing, assembly and environmental impact both during production and at the end of life.
Our Materials Science and Technology programme is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), allowing you to progress towards professional chartered status (CEng) after a period of relevant graduate-level employment.
The specialist knowledge on this Materials Science and Technology programme can then be applied to a wide range of industrial contexts including aerospace, automotive, power generation and distribution, IT and manufacturing amongst many others.
The combination of high quality lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes with the learning of, for example, research methodologies and planning, plus presentation skills, provides those who successfully complete the MST course with the core knowledge that is in great demand both within academia and industry. This learning makes our MST students highly-employable.
On successful completion of the programme you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
the principles underlying the relationship between the synthesis of materials and their subsequent properties, with a greater or lesser knowledge of the individual materials classes or specific properties, depending on the specific modules taken
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
About this course
Your personal and professional development
The Department of Materials is committed to helping you develop the skills and attributes you need to progress successfully in your chosen career.
Future career prospects
Typical careers span many industrial sectors including aerospace, power generation, automotive, construction and transport. Possible roles include technical and project management, research and development, technical support to manufacturing as well as sales and marketing.
Many of our master’s degree students continue their studies with us, joining our thriving community of PhD students engaged in materials projects of real-world significance.
Graduate destinations
Recent graduate destinations include:
Beijing Huafu Engineering – China, Commercial Manager
Commercial Aircraft China, Project Administrator
Common Technology Research Institute, Materials Engineer
Exp Global, Project Engineer
Your personal development
On successful completion of this programme, you should be able to:
organise and manage time and resources effectively
apply a critical approach to problem solving in areas related to your field of studies
exercise independent learning skills for the gathering of information and acquire new knowledge for work/subject related activities, as well as for professional development
work effectively both independently and in a group.
Reviews
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I am enjoying my university experience and feel ready to leave to pursue a good career. My Loughborough experience helped me learn life experience and academics.
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Course rating
Recommended
Centre rating
Student
This centre's achievements
All courses are up to date
The average rating is higher than 3.7
More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months
This centre has featured on Emagister for 14 years
Subjects
- Coating
- Production
- Quality Training
- Product Quality
- Part Time
- Engineering
- Industry
- Technology
- Project
- Ceramics
- Materials
- Design
- Automotive
- Quality
- Testing
- Presentation
Course programme
What you'll study
Our Materials Science and Technology MSc comprises a combination of semester-long and one week modules for full-time students, whilst part-time students study a mix of one week and distance-learning modules. MSc students undertake a major project many of which are sponsored by our industrial partners. Part-time student projects are often specified in conjunction with their sponsoring company and undertaken at their place of work.
Modules
All modules are 15 credits. The MSc project is 60 credits.
MSc: 180 credits – six core and two optional modules, plus the MSc project.
PG Diploma: 120 credits – six core and two optional modules.
PG Certificate: 60 credits – four core modules.
Key:SL: Semester-long
OW: One week
DL: Distance-learning
Please note: alternative modules are only available under certain circumstances by agreement with the Programme Director. Also, not all modules are available across all awards
Full-time modules
Advanced Characterisation Techniques (SL)
Advanced Characterisation Techniques (SL)
In materials science, a large number of macroscopic mechanical and physical properties depend on the atomic structure and microstructure of the materials. Even subtle changes in atomic or microstructure may lead to a significant change in materials’ properties. In order to study and correlate the microstructure to the properties, advanced characterisation techniques are required. The aims of this module are to acquaint students with the principles and practicalities of the various forms of microscopy and surface analysis techniques used in materials science, through a combination of lectures and hands-on practical classes.
Surface Engineering (SL)
Surface Engineering (SL)
Surfaces are key in determining some of the most important characteristics of materials. For exampleproperties such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance and surface hardness are all controlled bythe structure and chemistry of surface layers. This module will examine several of the most widelyapplied surface treatments used in industry today. Typical processes covered include:
- Electroplating
- Anodising
- Electroless deposition
- Thermal spraying,
- Conversion coating
- Polymer coating
Each process will be viewed both theoretically and practically, with clear emphasis on how it can improve key material properties.
Ceramics: Processing and Properties (SL)
Ceramics: Processing and Properties (SL)
The aims of this module are to provide students with a detailed knowledge of the underlying principles determining the properties, processing and microstructure of structural and functional engineering ceramics and their composites. This module will also provide students with an awareness of the advantages and limitations of these materials and consequently the circumstances under which they might be used.
Design with Engineering Materials (SL)
Design with Engineering Materials (SL)
There are tens of millions of chemicals or materials available to the designer. This module will enable efficient and optimal downselection of the correct materials, and processes, for specific applications. To achieve this, the module provides a detailed introduction to the main engineering materials, the ways in which they are processed and their resultant physical, chemical and other properties. This will include a consideration of materials from the atomistic and microscopic scales upwards and how these influence local to macroscopic properties. An introduction is then given to computer-aided design and CES software. With this learning and by combining this knowledge the student will be able to design and make an optimal downselection of the materials for structures and manufactured items.
Sustainable Use of Materials (OW)
Sustainable Use of Materials (OW)
Sustainability continues to grow as a global concern over recent decades. Sustainable use of materials has become a vital issue in the current material intensive world economies, as demand for ever more scarce resources grows, and worldwide consumers seek more convenience in their lifestyles. This module is aimed to provide an appreciation of the resource requirements of materials and manufacturing industries, water and energy supply. The module also emphasizes sustainability and environmental protection through waste management, life cycle assessment of materials, control of environmental pollution and effective materials recycling.
Metals: Processing and Properties (SL)
Metals: Processing and Properties (SL)
The aims of this module are to acquaint students with key aspects of industrial processing of metals and the effect of processing on the micro structure and properties. On successful completion of this module, students should have knowledge and understanding of the industrial processing of metals in the solid and liquid state, and the properties of metals relevant to these processes and the relationships between composition, microstructure and properties in industrially relevant metal alloys.
MSc Project
MSc Project
The MSc project enables students to apply what they have learnt in the taught modules to address real research questions. A wide selection of projects are available, put forward by members of staff covering their areas of research expertise, together with projects proposed by industry. The projects aim to address real-life problems, important to industry or the environment, or may be at a more fundamental scientific level, investigating novel materials and techniques. Students are supported by their academic supervisor, an experienced technical team and often by research staff and PhD students working on similar projects. A wide range of advanced characterisation, testing and processing equipment is available for use in the projects. The project module includes a literature review, a presentation, 8 to 10 weeks of experimental work and a written report.
Optional modules
Plastics Processing Technology (OW)
Plastics Processing Technology (OW)
The module is an intensive one week course comprising a good balance of lectures and laboratory classes. It covers key principles and operating procedures of a wide range of processing methods appropriate to the manufacture of products from thermoplastics, thermosets and composites. (It also covers the flow properties of powders.) The module aims to provide knowledge and understanding to enable a student to;
- Evaluate possible manufacturing methods for specific product types
- Analyse a process, in terms of material thermal/flow properties and process parameters, towards selection of appropriate process conditions
- Apply theory to practice in a manufacturing environment
- Appreciate the value of computer simulation/modelling to process design and optimisation
- Evaluate the influence of process parameters on product quality and microstructure.
To complement the lectures the laboratory sessions focus on a range of methods to process thermoplastics; single/twin screw extrusion, blown film, injection moulding and thermoforming. These sessions present an opportunity to;
- Use industrial and laboratory scale processing equipment
- Understand the value of gathering reliable process data, whether in real time or through post production evaluation of products. (The analysis of such data can be used to improve product quality.)
Industrial Case Studies (OW)
Industrial Case Studies (OW)
This module will provide students with a broad experience in the application of efficient fossil energy technologies in the context of particular technical industrial case studies and the associated issues of manufacturing, economic and legislative constraints. The module provides a mechanism for the integration of the knowledge gained in other modules by its practical application in the solution of 'real-life' engineering problems.
Materials Modelling (SL)
Materials Modelling (SL)
In this module you will understand the different ways in which computational materials modelling enables us to understand the properties of materials, optimising them for specific applications in research and in industry. The techniques we study consider materials at all length scales, from the sub-atomic to the macroscale.
Specific techniques covered include:
- Data fitting using neural networks
- Quantum-mechanical modelling (density-functional theory)
- Atomic-scale modelling
- Monte Carlo methods
- Finite-element analysis
Part-time modules
Ceramics: Processing and Properties (DL)
Ceramics: Processing and Properties (DL)
The aims of this module are to provide students with a detailed knowledge of the underlying principles determining the properties, processing and microstructure of structural and functional engineering ceramics and their composites. This module will also provide students with an awareness of the advantages and limitations of these materials and consequently the circumstances under which they might be used.
Design with Engineering Materials (DL)
Design with Engineering Materials (DL)
There are tens of millions of chemicals or materials available to the designer. This module will enable efficient and optimal downselection of the correct materials, and processes, for specific applications. To achieve this, the module provides a detailed introduction to the main engineering materials, the ways in which they are processed and their resultant physical, chemical and other properties. This will include a consideration of materials from the atomistic and microscopic scales upwards and how these influence local to macroscopic properties. An introduction is then given to computer-aided design and CES software. With this learning and by combining this knowledge the student will be able to design and make an optimal downselection of the materials for structures and manufactured items.
Sustainable Use of Materials (OW)
Sustainable Use of Materials (OW)
Sustainability continues to grow as a global concern over recent decades. Sustainable use of materials has become a vital issue in the current material intensive world economies, as demand for ever more scarce resources grows, and worldwide consumers seek more convenience in their lifestyles. This module is aimed to provide an appreciation of the resource requirements of materials and manufacturing industries, water and energy supply. The module also emphasizes sustainability and environmental protection through waste management, life cycle assessment of materials, control of environmental pollution and effective materials recycling.
Metals: Processing and Properties (DL)
Metals: Processing and Properties (DL)
The aims of this module are to acquaint students with key aspects of industrial processing of metals and the effect of processing on the microstructure and properties.
Surface Engineering (DL)
Surface Engineering (DL)
Surfaces are key in determining some of the most important characteristics of materials. For exampleproperties such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance and surface hardness are all controlled bythe structure and chemistry of surface layers. This module will examine several of the most widelyapplied surface treatments used in industry today. Typical processes covered include:
- Electroplating
- Anodising
- Electroless deposition
- Thermal spraying,
- Conversion coating
- Polymer coating
Each process will be viewed both theoretically and practically, with clear emphasis on how it can improve key material properties.
Plastics Processing Technology (OW)
Plastics Processing Technology (OW)
The module is an intensive one week course comprising a good balance of lectures and laboratory classes. It covers key principles and operating procedures of a wide range of processing methods appropriate to the manufacture of products from thermoplastics, thermosets and composites. (It also covers the flow properties of powders.) The module aims to provide knowledge and understanding to enable a student to;
- Evaluate possible manufacturing methods for specific product types
- Analyse a process, in terms of material thermal/flow properties and process parameters, towards selection of appropriate process conditions
- Apply theory to practice in a manufacturing environment
- Appreciate the value of computer simulation/modelling to process design and optimisation
- Evaluate the influence of process parameters on product quality and microstructure.
To complement the lectures the laboratory sessions focus on a range of methods to process thermoplastics; single/twin screw extrusion, blown film, injection moulding and thermoforming. These sessions present an opportunity to;
- Use industrial and laboratory scale processing equipment
- Understand the value of gathering reliable process data, whether in real time or through post production evaluation of products. (The analysis of such data can be used to improve product quality.)
MSc Project
MSc Project
The aim of the project is to develop the skills required to perform research tasks involving the application of scientific and engineering principles in areas related to the composition, manufacture and performance of materials and related products.
Optional modules
Industrial Case Studies (OW)
Industrial Case Studies (OW)
The aims of this module are to provide students with a broad experience in the application of efficient fossil energy technologies in the context of particular technical industrial case studies and the associated issues of manufacturing, economic and legislative constraints. The module provides a mechanism for the integration of the knowledge gained in other modules by its practical application in the solution of 'real-life' engineering problems.
Adhesive Bonding (OW)
Adhesive Bonding (OW)
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Adhesive bonding is a critical enabling technology which incorporates elements of; chemistry, physics, mechanics and materials science. This module will provide an overview of the main theories that are used to explain the observed adhesion phenomena between materials and will introduce the main adhesive types, from the soft but flexible sealants to the stiff, strong but brittle structural epoxides. This module will discuss applications selected from key industrial sectors, including; aerospace, military and automotive, which highlight the importance of adhesive bonding in our everyday lives. The requirements for long-lasting or durable adhesion will also be discussed and the methods used to achieve this, and to predict joint lifetimes, will be introduced
Materials Science and Technology Diploma, MSc, PG certificate