Materials Science

School of Engineering and Materials ScienceMaterials Science

• J510 MEng MaterialsScience and Engineering

• JM10 MEng MaterialsScience and Engineeringwith Industrial Experience

• J511 BEng MaterialsScience and Engineering

• JM11 BEng MaterialsScience and Engineeringwith Industrial Experience

• J551 BSc Materials Scienceand Engineering

Undergraduate Degree Programmes:

1 Queen Mary University of London

The School of Engineering and Materials ScienceThe School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS) has a long standing reputation for excellent teaching andresearch involving international collaboration with industrial,clinical and university partners. Queen Mary has beenteaching engineering for over 100 years and was the first UK university to establish a Materials Science degree. SEMShas a population of over 1,000 students and an annualintake of approximately 350 students on to a range ofengineering and materials science degrees.

SEMS is proud of its teaching and all of our degrees areranked as either the best in London or within the top five(2014 National Student Survey) and Queen Mary itself hasrecently been recognised as one of the top 100 universitiesin the world (2014 QS World Ranking). Furthermore, SEMSis proud and excited to announce that we are investing£25million to develop additional laboratory spaces which will include dedicated teaching areas exclusively for the use of our undergraduate students.

Materials Science

Queen Mary University of London 2

Materials Science at Queen Mary Take the most exciting and revolutionary aspects ofchemistry, physics, design, innovation and engineering,throw in a little biology and you have materials science -what is commonly called the newest of the sciences. Or is it?

The early pioneers and alchemists might recognise materials science more easily than the subject disciplines that we use today to describe the multi-disciplinary nature of materials science. These early pioneers and alchemistswere dedicated to the control and understanding of matter in order to get improved performance or enhancedproperties from the materials they found in the world around them. Thinking about the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and perhaps even the Silicone Age, what is the commondenominator amongst the advances that each age broughtwith it? Individuals from each era modified materials to suchan extend that a wide range of new applications, previouslyunheard of, was now in fact possible.

It is possible to be part of the revolution that is materialsscience by taking the knowledge and skills learned in thetraditional disciplines and moving towards the dynamicapplication of that knowledge. More recently the significantadvances in design and technology have been madepossible through materials science and the innovations ithas brought. Have you ever wondered how the touch screenof a smartphone works? Or why it doesn't get as dirty asother items you may in fact use less frequently? If these arequestions that have ever crossed your mind, then then youare already leading towards a career as a materials scientist.

Degree structure


Materials Science at Queen Mary is offered as either a three year BEng/BSc or a four year MEng and both with an industrial experience year.

During the first two years of the degree, you will gain a solid foundation in the principles of materials by studyingcore materials modules alongside two modules which arespecialist to Materials Science. In Year 3 and Year 4, you will specialise in a greater number of modules specific toMaterials Science. Year 4 allows you to pick the majority ofthe modules you will study which means you can tailor yourstudies to match your career aspirations. A description ofeach module, and what it entails, can be found on ourwebsite under 'Structure'.

In order to fully support our first year students, who are newto university study, we have developed a new module called'Transferable Skills for Engineers and Materials'. This moduleis designed to help students adapt to the challenges andrequirements of reading for a degree.

Student Centred LearningStudent Centred Learning (SCL) plays an important part in the Materials Science degrees. SCL is a concept used to enhance multidisciplinary skills using planned problemscenarios. It is an active way of learning that teaches youproblem-solving skills while at the same time allowing you toacquire knowledge. This method of learning is very popularwith our current students, who find it an accessible way tounderstand new concepts. Students work in small groups on case studies, normally involving practical work. DuringSCL students will learn how to use lab equipment, solveproblems in an organised manner, use brainstorming andanalyse and discuss experimental data using written reports,posters and oral presentations.


Year 3 Individual Materials Research ProjectEnvironmental Properties of MaterialsRenewable Energy MaterialsFailure of SolidsCeramicsManufacturing ProcessesMaterials Selection in Design

Year 4 Optional Industrial Experience

Year 5 Research and Design Materials Science Team ProjectOptions:Advanced Polymer SynthesisFoundations of Intellectual Property Law andManagementIntroduction to Law for Science and EngineeringAdvanced Structure-Property Relationships inMaterialsAdvanced Materials Characterisation TechniquesNanotechnology and NanomedicineChemical and Biological Sensors

Year 1 Materials Science 1: Properties of MatterMaterials Selection and Mechanical ModellingMathematics for Materials ScientistsMaterials Science 2: Processing and ApplicationsTransferable Skills for Engineers and MaterialsStudent Centred Learning 1

Options:Exploring Aerospace EngineeringEnergy Conversion SystemsEngineering Design Methods

Year 2 Surfaces and Interfaces in MaterialsComposites for Aerospace ApplicationsPolymersChemistry for MaterialsMetalsStructural Characterisation Student Centred Learning 2

The modules shown in bold are the specialist Materials Science modules


How you will learn

A variety of teaching methods are employed in SEMS,including lectures, small tutorials, laboratory practicals,Problem-Based Learning activities and project work.Specialist modules are delivered to small groups of Materials Science students.

Assessment is continuous throughout your degree, withwritten reports, projects, presentations, group work andexams in the summer semester. You can revise for yourexams using QMplus which is the University's online learningenvironment. QMplus allows you to access videos of yourlectures and any associated handouts.

Research ProjectsIn the third year, you will undertake a research project, whichgets you involved with the cutting edge research taking placein SEMS. It is an opportunity for you to apply the skills andtechniques learnt from previous years’ studies and to focuson your own particular area of interest. You will work on yourown, but will get support, guidance and advice from yourproject supervisor, other members of staff, researchers and technicians.

Examples of recent individual research projects include:

• Developing models for predicting the impact of renewable biodiesel on food production

• Working with companies developing body armour for police forces

• Solar Energy Materials for Water Splitting

We aim to produce projects that are of sufficient quality to be presented at international conferences or published in peer-review journals.


Design ProjectIn the fourth year, you will undertake a major design project.This offers you a challenging and realistic assignment,helping you prepare for the real world in professionalmaterials science roles. You will manage your own project in association with academic supervisors and industrialists.

The following are examples of previous group designprojects:

• Materials for energy security

• Investigating smart membranes for thermomaterials

• Impact tester for composite laminates

This project is not only a stimulating and immenselyenjoyable part of the degree, but is also highly valued by employers.

FacilitiesSEMS has excellent laboratory and computational facilitieswhich include, amongst others, a Materials Analysis lab,several Cell and Tissue Labs and the Nanoforce Centre for making nano- and bio-materials.

SEMS are excited to be spending £25 million on developinga new undergraduate Experimental and Testing Area which is to be completed in September 2015. The new facilities will encompass four specialist areas and will be fitted withbespoke equipment designed with the needs of our studentsin mind. We are also spending an additional £500,000 onnew apparatus.

Employability


Industrial ExperienceAll our BEng and MEng degrees are available with anIndustrial Experience component in which you will take arelevant industrial placement for one year. Students on thesedegrees will normally spend the year in industry after theirsecond year of a BEng or third year of an MEng. TheIndustrial Experience year is not assessed as part of thestudents degree but is instead operated on a pass/fail basis. Students receive 120 credits for the year.

There are many benefits to participating in a year ofindustrial experience, not only in the practical experienceyou will gain but also the professional contacts you willmake. The year working in industry will significantly help you to develop communication, problem solving and teamworking skills. It will also give you invaluable experience to use when applying for professional positions aftergraduation. The year in industry also counts toward therequirements of applying to be a chartered engineer. Manyemployers will automatically offer a place on their graduateschemes to students who participated on year placementswith them.

SEMS has excellent links with industry which are essentialfor all our "with industrial experience" degrees. Students arenot guaranteed an industrial placement and will have to beproactive in finding a suitable placement. However, we havea dedicated member of staff who will provide support inlocating a placement with our extensive industrial links.There is an active Industrial Liaison forum, which has adirect impact on our degrees by encouraging employers to sponsor and support the students and to provide realdesign case studies to engage the students throughout thecurriculum. Recent case studies that have been taught andassessed were delivered by Bridgestone, DePuy, Apatech,Artis, Corus, BAE, DSTL and Rolls Royce.


CareersThe materials industry is one of the world’s biggest industrialsectors, valued at over £200bn, and it grows every year,providing plenty of job opportunities in research anddevelopment and patient care. The Materials Science degreeat Queen Mary provides students with a fantastic opportunityto enter rewarding careers in this expanding field. Our recentgraduates have been employed in a wide range of roles,ranging from Research and Design roles for organisationssuch as Astrium and P&G, to working as project leaders and also to pursuing PhDs in specialist areas.

The 2014 Destinations Survey confirmed that 85 per cent ofour graduates were in employment and/or study six monthsafter graduation. Graduates from SEMS have a strongearning power, with with an average salary of £24,000 sixmonths after graduation (2014 National Student Survey).

There are over 70 members of academic staff teaching within SEMS. Below arethe specialist Materials Science staff:

Dr Eldad AvitalFluid Mechanics and acoustics:Computational Aero-Acoustics,Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics, fluids-structure interaction, bio-fluids

Dr Helena AzevedoPeptide synthesis and characterization,self-assembling materials,biocatalysis, biopolymers, biomaterials

Dr Ettore BarbieriDynamic failure, fracture,computational solid mechanics, meshfree methods, partial differentialequations solvers

Dr Russell BinionsChemical Vapour Deposition,Functional Metal Oxide Films, MetalOxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors,Chromogenic Materials

Dr Adrian BriggsEnhanced Heat Transfer, Two-PhaseFlow, Condensation

Professor James BusfieldRubber Research Group, finite elementanalysis, polymer materials

Dr Andy BushbyNanoindentation, Micro-mechanics,Biological materials Director of TheNanoVision Centre for microscopy

Dr Federico CarpiBiomedical and bioinspiredmechatronic devices; polymer artificialmuscles; electrical and magneticsystems for non-invasive diagnostics.

Dr Steve DunnMaterials Chemistry, surfacephotochemistry, REDOX couples.

Dr Julien GautrotSynthesis and characterisation of biomaterials. Micro- and nano-patterning. Bio-interfaces. Stem cell biology.

Dr Himadri GuptaBiomaterials , Biomedical Materialsand Engineering, NanostructuredMaterials, nanoscale deformationmechanisms

Dr Sergey KarabasovFluid dynamics, computationalaeroacoustics and aerodynamics,largeeddy simulations

Professor Ton PeijsPolymer technology, compositematerials, nanocomposites, high-performance fibres, biobased materials.

Dr Hazel ScreenConnective tissue mechanics,microscale mechanics, nanoscalemechanics.

Mr Raza ShahEngineering design and productdevelopment through the application of engineering and applied science and technology.

Professor Gleb SukhorukovPhysical Chemistry, Biophysics, Materials Science. - Area of research:Multifunctional NanoengineeredDelivery Systems

Dr Yi SuiNumerical methods, multiscalemodelling, multiphase flow, contactline dynamics, oil/gas transport,biofluids, blood flow, capsule/celldynamics

Mr Adam SutcliffeDesign, manufacturing processes, CAD,future of design, industrial, productand service design solutions.

Professor Magdalena TitiriciPorous Materials, Energy Storage, CO2Capture, Biofuels, Biomass and WasteUpgrade

Dr Haixue YanCeramics Processing andCharacterizations, Spark PlasmaSintering, Nano, Ferroelectrics andPiezoelectrics

Staff teaching on yourdegree



Why Study MaterialsScience at Queen Mary?• Highly Rated degreeMaterials Science at Queen Mary is listed as the best in London for student satisfaction (2014 National Student Survey) and was in fact the first degree established in the country.

• Accredited DegreeAccreditation by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Miningenables graduates to progress to Chartered Engineer status.

• Specialist Materials modulesThe degree offers a broad spectrum of stimulating materials sciencemodules throughout the degree programme which start in the firstsemester of Year 1.

• Experimental and Computational FacilitiesStudents utilise a range of excellent laboratory facilities forexperimental and computational practicals and project work.

• Research ProjectsIndividual 3rd year research projects provide a fantastic opportunityfor students to participate in the internationally leading materialsscience research taking place at Queen Mary.

• StaffStudents are taught by enthusiastic, approachable and friendly staff,with internationally recognised expertise in many specialist areas ofmaterials science.

• Career ProspectsOur graduates are highly valued by employers providing excitingmaterials science job opportunities and excellent employablitiy in a range of careers.

• Student SatisfactionAll our students are individually nurtured and encouraged to fulfilltheir true potential. This is reflected in our excellent ranking in therecent National Student Survey.

• Queen Mary University of LondonQueen Mary has a long standing reputation for academic excellencewith a friendly, diverse and multicultural campus situated in theheart of London and is one of the top 100 universities in the world(2014 QS World Ranking).

• Member of the Russell GroupQueen Mary is one of only 24 universities who make up theprestigious Russell Group. This Group represents the leadinguniversities in the UK. Employers specifically target Russell Groupuniversities because of the calibre of these institutions' graduates.

The information given in this brochureis correct at the time of going to press. QMUL reserves the right to modify orcancel any statement in it and acceptsno responsibility for the consequencesof any such changes.

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Any section of thispublication is available uponrequest in accessible formats(large print, audio, etc.). For

further information andassistance, please contact:

Diversity Specialist, [email protected],

020 7882 5585

For further information contact:School of Engineering and Materials Science Queen Mary University of LondonMile End RoadLondon E1 4NSTel: +44 (0)20 7882 8736email: [email protected]

This brochure is intended as a summaryguide for your reference. Please visit outwebsite for full details on our degreeswww.sems.qmul.ac.uk

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Materials Science