Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Materials Science & Engineering)

The University of New South Wales

Overview

Everything we use is made of materials, yet only a handful of these materials occur naturally. All the rest have been microscopically engineered originally by nature, but increasingly by materials engineers/scientists.

Materials science is the foundation for creating high-performance materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. In this degree, you’ll learn about developing high-performance materials that are lighter, greener and stronger – for use in every aspect of technology. You’ll also develop the theoretical and practical skills to improve materials for aerospace, automotive, biomedical and information technology-based industries.

This degree builds a foundation in mathematics, chemistry and physics, before moving into the fundamental properties and structures of materials. You’ll investigate aspects of engineering design and the application and selection of materials before concentrating on a research project to sharpen your experimental and analytical skills.

This multidisciplinary degree uses a combination of lectures, practical hands-on laboratory work and research and design projects. It also incorporates components of professional communication, management aspects of business and industrial training.

Program structure

Your studies begin with a strong foundation in mathematics, chemistry and physics. You’ll then delve deeper into the discipline with courses in fundamental properties, structures of materials, application and selection of materials and aspects of engineering design. Your study will become more specialised in the later stages of the degree through elective, practical and the honours research project.

Career opportunities

This degree will prepare you to work in a range of areas, including:

fundamental scientific research
manufacturing and materials processing
quality control
safety
the environmental impact of materials
the commercialisation of materials technologies.

Many successful professionals in the field also go on to do postgraduate study in a specialised area, such as the Master of Materials Technology - a degree unique to UNSW.

• Physical Metallurgy
• Functional Materials
• Process Metallurgy
Materials Engineering
Ceramic Engineering