Advanced Materials – (M.Sc.)

Suitable for science and engineering graduates with an interest in the development or exploitation of materials. The part-time option will allow practitioners to enhance their professional development within their current employment.

Takes you on to a wide range of careers involving materials, with responsibilities in research, development, design, engineering, consultancy and management in industries including aerospace, automotive, medical, sports, food and drink processing, chemical processing and power generation.

You will be taught by a wide range of enthusiastic and internationally reputed experts from the academic staff at Cranfield.

Course description

Industry needs materials experts. Developments in the design of aircraft, cars, electronic equipment and domestic appliances depend critically upon the availability of novel materials. Of equal importance is an understanding of both advanced processing techniques and the latest computer-based design procedures, essential for product commercialisation from the concept phase. Technological, economic and environmental pressures will ensure that the demand for materials experts will increase in the future.

This course provides a fundamental understanding of materials´ properties and their processing. It also aims to develop personal skills in problem solving, research methods, teamwork and management techniques. Students benefit from the use of a wide range of facilities, including exceptional materials preparation and characterisation equipment, 100m2 of clean rooms, extensive coatings facilities, composite, impact and motorsport laboratories.

The course comprises eight one-week assessed modules, a group project and an individual project. For the individual project, students can specialise in a number of areas, including advanced materials, aerospace materials, automotive materials, composites, materials processing, materials characterisation and analysis, materials recycling and sustainability, motorsport, nanotechnology and nanoscale engineering, polymer engineering, and surface science and engineering.

Students undertaking the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) will be expected to complete the eight taught modules and group project. Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) students will be expected to complete six modules, which must include Materials Selection, Properties and Processing of Metals, and Engineering Polymers and Polymers for Composites.

Group project

The group project experience is highly valued by both students and prospective employers. Teams of students work to solve an industrial problem. The project applies technical knowledge and provides training in teamwork and the opportunity to develop non-technical aspects of the taught programme. Part-time students can prepare a thesis on an agreed topic in place of the group project.

Individual project

Students select the individual project in consultation with the Course Director. The individual project provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge, and overcome genuine problems.

Modules:

The modules include lectures and tutorials and are assessed through written examinations and assignments. Covering both the technical aspects and training in technology management and transferable skills, they provide the tools required for the group and individual projects.

* An Introduction to Materials
* Composites Performance
* Engineering Polymers and Polymers for Composites
* Failure of Materials and Structures
* Finite Element Analysis and Materials Modelling
* Materials Selection
* Properties and Processing of Metals
* Surface Science and Engineering

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer status.