Materials Science and Engineering

Every manufactured object, every structure, every device depends on the properties of the materials from which it is made. Materials science and engineering is the discipline that sits at the foundation of modern technology, concerned with understanding the relationships between the structure of materials at the atomic and microstructural level and the properties they exhibit in use. Whether the challenge is developing lighter alloys for aerospace, more efficient semiconductors for electronics, or biodegradable polymers for medicine, materials scientists and engineers are the people who make those advances possible.

This four-year full-time programme at Queen Mary University of London takes you through the fundamental science of materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and electronic materials, alongside the engineering principles that govern how they are processed, tested, and applied. You will develop an understanding of how the atomic structure of a material determines its mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties, and how that knowledge allows engineers to design materials for specific applications. Laboratory work and quantitative analysis are central to the programme, and you will develop the practical and computational skills that professional materials engineers use.

With a typical entry tariff of 120 points, the programme welcomes students with strong backgrounds in chemistry, physics, or materials-related subjects.

Materials science and engineering graduates are in demand across a remarkable breadth of industries. Aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, biomedical devices, and consumer goods all employ materials engineers in research, development, and production roles. The energy transition is creating strong demand for specialists in battery technology, fuel cells, photovoltaics, and structural materials for wind turbines and other low-carbon infrastructure.

Consultancy, quality assurance, and intellectual property also draw on materials expertise. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study at master's or PhD level, often specialising in a particular class of materials or application area. The combination of fundamental science and engineering practice in this degree equips you for a career at the forefront of technological development.