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Everything is made of something! Materials science (sometimes referred to as 'Materials Engineering') provides students with a route into the manufacturing industry where they will be charged with developing new materials. These materials must posses innovative qualities to meet the needs of new products as they emerge, each with their own revolutionary functions and purposes. It’s an interdisciplinary area which spans chemistry, physics, maths and engineering and offers endless possibilities as materials scientists combine materials in new ways. Graduates move on to roles in management, research and development roles, while others even move into sectors like consultancy and IT.
Here's a guide to what to expect from the application process - also check individual university entry requirements, as these may differ.
January application
October application
Personal statement
Portfolio
Interview
Entry test
Work experience
Audition
Personal statement advice
Whatever subject you're studying, here are 10 things to be certain to include in your Ucas personal statement to get the attention of university admissions tutors...
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Find all the different courses on offer for this subject - from courses covering specialist areas of study to combined or related options.
The good news is that the materials industry is well-regarded as it contributes £200 billion each year to the UK economy. Materials science graduates can pursue a number of career paths including materials engineer, metallurgist and quality manager. Starting salaries for materials engineers range between £20-26,000 but can rise to £27-40,000 as you gain experience. Popular employers sit in the aerospace, armed forces, nuclear and pharmaceuticals industries. There are also opportunities to enter a number of emerging areas such as nanotechnology and biomedical materials. You might be interested to know that materials engineering employs more women than other engineering fields.
Business, research and administrative professionals
Natural and social science professionals
Senior officers in protective services
Average graduate salary
£26k
HIGH
% employed or in further study
91.8%
LOW
Longer term career paths
Jobs where this degree is useful
Metallurgist
Materials engineer
Product/process development scientist
Other real-life job examples
Biomedical engineer
Higher education lecturer
Manufacturing systems engineer
What employers like about this subject
A materials science course teaches subject knowledge as well as a number of skills which appeal to employers across a broad range of sectors and industries. Studying for a materials science/technology degree provides you with a strong set of transferable skills. These include numerical, analytical, problem-solving and independent-thinking skills. Materials-based graduate positions often require you to work in teams made up many different departments as well as consulting clients; this requires strong diplomacy and communication skills in order to put your ideas across properly.
