The development of many technologies that made our lives easier has been associated with the accessibility of advanced materials. Understanding material type and its properties are prerequisites for a technology to evolve gradually. This course is suitable for students who are curious about learning new things and enjoy conducting research. This article will help students to decide if the material science and engineering course is the right one for them.
What is Material Science & Engineering?
Video Credit: Materials Science – a Chalmers Area of Advance
Material science and engineering (MSE) combine the principles of engineering, chemistry, physics and maths to study how the structure of matter in solid materials determines the structure and composition of the materials. Common materials used in this study include metals, polymers, ceramics, alloys and composites.
A degree in material science and engineering allows students to gain theoretical and practical knowledge that will put them at the cutting-edge of innovation in developing strong, environmentally friendly and lighter materials. Students will study the scientific properties and engineering process of materials. They also will learn the interaction of these properties to improve the sustainability of existing materials or invent new ones.
Applications of Material Science & Engineering
Many engineers depend on material science engineers for advanced materials to design and manufacture their products. For example, aerospace engineering requires materials such as titanium alloys, high-strength steel and composites which will be able to withstand various temperatures and improve flight performance.
In electronic material, research in quantum computing requires material science and engineering. Material science engineers use the lithography process to design microprocessors or microchips that are inside our computer.
As for bio-materials, material scientists and engineers conduct research on improving the quality of hip replacements and other materials that are safe to be used as prosthetic limbs. 3D printed tissues such as organ replacements are also part of the application of material science and engineering.
Skills Required to Study Material Science & Engineering
Material science engineers work in teams to develop new material or improve existing ones. The following will be the skills required in this sector:
Effective communication skill – The work usually involves presenting outputs, designs, specifications and new procedures to different audiences.
Critical Thinking – Using logical reasoning to overcome potential challenges during large-scale materials manufacture.
Advanced Computer Skills – Proficiency in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) will help material science engineers in creating and modifying manufacturing drawings.
Active Learning – For example, material science engineers will need to understand the commercial aspects for new materials to be profitable or successful.
What does a Material Science Engineer do?
Material science engineers develop, process, and test materials that will make any product better, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and biomedical devices. They study the properties and structures of metals, ceramics, alloys, composites and nanomaterials to create new materials that meet the requirements of individual engineering branch.
Where do Material Science Engineers Work?
Material science and engineering graduates have the opportunity to work in various industries that require advanced materials in developing their products including aerospace, automotive, nuclear industry, pharmaceuticals and oil and gas, etc.
Careers in Material Science & Engineering
Design Engineer – Design engineers research and develop new ideas for new products and the systems used to make them. They use computer-aided design and computer-assisted engineering (CAE) software to build prototypes of new products or processes and also improve existing ones.
Metallurgist – Metallurgists deal with extracting and processing metals. They evaluate the movement of metals and categorise them according to their functionality. There are three types of areas they can work in such as chemical, physical and process metallurgists.
Process Engineer – Process engineers develop new or improve existing processes to enhance the manufacturing process. They will evaluate and compose new processes to manufacture high-quality products and ensure the products can be replicated accurately.
Plastics Engineer – Plastics engineer designs and develops products with plastic material. They work with other teams to develop everything from the initial design to the processes and automation required to produce and finish the production parts.
General Entry Requirement to Study Material Science & Engineering in Australia
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STPM |
A minimum grade of C+ (including Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) |
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A-Levels |
A minimum grade of BBC |
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UEC |
An Average score grade of B6 |
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ATAR |
A minimum score of 80 points |
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International Baccalaureate (IB) |
A minimum score of 30 |
*The requirements may vary among universities, for inquiries on other English Language requirements, contact Excel Education.
English Requirement to Study Material Science & Engineering in Australia
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IELTS |
Overall 6.5 and 6.0 in each sub-bands |
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TOEFL |
Overall 87, listening:19, reading:19, writing:21 and speaking:19. |
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PTE |
Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub-bands. |
*The requirements may vary among universities, for inquiries on other English Language requirements, contact Excel Education.
Top Universities to study Material Science & Engineering in Australia
#1 University of New-South Wales (UNSW)
Image Credit: University of New-South Wales
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Program |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Material Science |
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Intake (2021) |
February, May & September |
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Duration |
4 years (Full-time) |
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Indicative Annual Fee (2021) |
AUD $47,760 |
#2 Monash University
Image Credit: usnews
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Program |
Bachelor of Materials Engineering (Honours) |
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Intake (2021) |
February & July |
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Duration |
4 years (Full-time) |
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Indicative Annual Fee (2021) |
AUD $46,000 |
#3 University of Queensland (UQ)
Image Credit: University of Queensland
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Program |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) majors in Material Engineering |
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Intake (2021) |
February & July |
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Duration |
4 years (Full-time) |
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Indicative Annual Fee (2021) |
AUD $45,120 |
#4 University of Wollongong
Image Credit: University of Wollongong
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Program |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Materials Engineering |
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Intake (2021) |
February & July |
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Duration |
4 years (Full-time) |
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Indicative Annual Fee (2021) |
AUD $ 37,536 |
#5 Curtin University
Image Credit: Curtin University
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Program |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Metallurgical Engineering |
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Intake (2021) |
February & July |
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Duration |
4 years (Full-time) |
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Indicative Annual Fee (2021) |
AUD $35,700 |
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Sasvin Ravi
I am a freelance content writer, writing on a weekly basis while discovering my true passion..