Program Overview

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Advanced Materials Science and Engineering MSc

The Advanced Materials Science and Engineering MSc programme provides students with the expertise in advanced materials and engineering needed to design and innovate sustainable materials for today’s world. Materials is a discipline which underpins global industry, opening worldwide opportunities for a well-paid and rewarding career.

Qualification(s) available: MSc

• Fees: Dependent on start date.
• Scholarships available
• Entry requirements: 2:2
• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: 2-5 years
• Location: Loughborough
• Start date: October 2025 or October 2026
• Department: Materials

Programme Overview

This programme will provide you with a toolbox of skills and knowledge to help you to progress into a successful career in Materials Science and Engineering and related fields. For more information about part-time study patterns, please contact the School/Department.

What you'll study

The following information is intended as an example only and is typically based on module information for the 2025/26 year of entry. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes. Updated Programme and Module Specifications are made available ahead of each academic year.

Semester 1

Compulsory modules

• Research Methods (15 credits)
• Materials Modelling (15 credits)
• Advanced Materials Characterisation (15 credits)
• MSc Project (60 credits)

Optional modules (select one)

• Nanomaterials and Composites (15 credits)
• Advanced Joining Methods (15 credits)

Semester 2

Compulsory modules

• Clean Energy, Materials and Sustainability (15 credits)
• Group Design Project (15 credits)
• Advanced Processing of Materials (15 credits)
• MSc Project (60 credits)

Optional modules (select one)

• Colloid Science and Engineering (15 credits)
• Advances in Biomaterials (15 credits)

Summer

Compulsory modules

• MSc Project (60 credits)

How you'll be assessed

You will be assessed by a combination of written examination(s), set coursework exercises and laboratory reports. The project is assessed by a dissertation, literature review and oral presentation.

How you'll study

The combination of high-quality lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes combined with learning research methodologies and planning, plus presentation skills, provides those who successfully complete the programme with a skill-set that is in great demand both within academia and industry, making our MSc graduates highly-employable.

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Independent study
• Group work
• Laboratory work
• Practical sessions
• Access to online material

Where you'll study

We house leading facilities for teaching and research into materials, including our industry-leading Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre. Loughborough has invested heavily in teaching facilities with a £17 million STEMLab of modern student-focused labs specifically reserved for teaching.

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours and lower second-class honours. To learn the equivalent for your country, please choose it from the drop-down below.

Entry requirements for United Kingdom

A 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in a science or engineering subject.

Country / region equivalent

• Afghanistan: Masters, 95%
• Albania: Diplomë e Nivelit të Pare, 9
• Algeria: Licence, 16
• Argentina: Licenciatura, 8.5
• Armenia: Bakalavri Kochum, 90%
• Australia: Honours degree, First Class, 80%
• Austria: Degree / Diplomstudium, A (or 1.5)
• Azerbaijan: Bakalavr Diplomu, 4.5
• Bahamas: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bahrain: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Bangladesh: 4 Year Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 1st (70%)
• Barbados: University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Belarus: Specialist Diploma, 9
• Belgium: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Belize: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Benin: Maitrise, 18
• Bermuda: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bolivia: Licenciado, 8.5
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja, 10
• Botswana: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Brazil: Brazil, 8.5
• Brunei: Brunei, First
• Bulgaria: 5 yr Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie, 6
• Burundi: Masters or Diplôme d'Études Approfondies, 18
• Cambodia: Masters, 80%
• Cameroon: Bachelor degree or Diplome d'Etudes Superiures, 1st / 3.6
• Canada: GPA 4.0/Percentage, 3.7/85%
• Chile: Grado de Licenciado, 6
• China: Students are required to have a bachelor degree (4 years) for entry to a postgraduate programme.
• Colombia: Licenciado, 4.5
• Costa Rica: Licenciado, 9
• Croatia: Baccalaureus, 4.5
• Cuba: 4-year Titulo de Licenciado, 5
• Cyprus: Cyprus, 8.5
• Czech Republic: Bakalár, 1
• Denmark: 5 year Candidatus, 12
• Dominican Republic: 4 year Licenciado, 3.8
• Ecuador: Título de Licenciado, 8.5
• Egypt: Egypt, 3.5
• El Salvador: 5 year Licenciado, 8.5
• Estonia: Bakalaureusekraad, 5
• Ethiopia: Masters, A or 80%
• Finland: Kandidaattii, 3
• France: Licence, 14
• Georgia: 4-year degree, 5
• Germany: German Bachelor, 1.5
• Ghana: Ghana, First
• Greece: Universities, 8.5
• Grenada: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Guatemala: Licenciado, 90%
• Guyana: Master's, GPA 4
• Honduras: Título de Licenciado, 91
• Hong Kong: 1st or 3.5/4
• Hungary: Alapfokozt, 4.5
• Iceland: Baccalaurreatus degree, 8.5
• India: Institutions listed on the National Institutional Ranking Framework, 65%
• Indonesia: Sarjana I, 3.3
• Iran: Iran, 17
• Iraq: Iraq, 80%
• Ireland: Republic of Ireland, First
• Israel: 3 yr Bachelor Degree, 90%
• Italy: Diploma di Laurea, 109/110
• Ivory Coast: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 16
• Jamaica: For degrees studied at The University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Japan: Gakushi, 85%
• Jordan: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Kazakhstan: GPA 5.0/percentage scale, 4.5
• Kenya: Kenya, First
• Kosovo: Kosovo, 10
• Kuwait: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Latvia: Latvia, 9
• Lebanon: American, 90%
• Liberia: Master's, 4.0 or 90%
• Libya: BSc Engineering, 85
• Lithuania: Lithuania, 9
• Luxembourg: Luxembourg, 18
• Macau: Macau, 1st or GPA 3.7
• Macedonia: Magistar Дипломиран, 10
• Malawi: Master's, MSc 75%
• Malaysia: Classification, First Class
• Malta: Malta, 1st (80%)
• Mauritius: Mauritius, 1st or 70%
• Mexico: Licenciado, 8.5
• Moldova: Diploma de Licenţă, 9
• Mongolia: Диплом Специалиста, 90%
• Montenegro: Diploma of Completed Undergraduate Studies, 10
• Morocco: Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État, 16
• Mozambique: Mestrado, 16
• Myanmar (Burma): 2 year Master's degree, 5
• Namibia: 4-year Bachelor Honours, 80%
• Nepal: 4 -year professional degree, 80%
• Netherlands: Netherlands, 8
• New Zealand: 4 Year Honours degree, First (7.0)
• Nicaragua: Licenciado, 90%
• Nigeria: 7 point Scale, 6
• Norway: Norway, A / 1.8
• Oman: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Pakistan: 4 Year degree, A- or GPA 3.7
• Palestine: Bachelor (4-years), (85%) 3.5
• Panama: 4 Year Licenciado, 91
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor (Honours) Degree, 1st
• Paraguay: 4 Year Título de Licenciado, 4.5
• Peru: 4 Year Título de Licenciado, 14
• Philippines: Degree from prestigious state universities, Summa Cum Laude 4.0
• Poland: Bachelor Degree, 5
• Portugal: Diplom de Estudos Superiores Especializados, 18
• Qatar: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Romania: Diplom de Licenta, 9
• Russia: Bakalavr, 4.5
• Rwanda: 4 year bachelor (Hons) degree, 1st, 16/20
• Saudi Arabia: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Senegal: Maitrise, 16/20
• Serbia: Diplomirani, 9
• Sierra Leone: Honours degree or masters, 1st (70%)
• Singapore: Bachelor (Hons), First
• Slovakia: Bakalár, 1.5
• Slovenia: University Diplom, 9
• South Africa: Bachelor (Honours) or B Tech, 1st or 75%
• South Korea: GPA out of 4.5, 3.8
• Spain: Licenciado, 8.5
• Sri Lanka: 4 year Professional degree, 90%
• Sudan: 4 year degree, 1st, 70%
• Sweden: Kandidatexamen, Overall grade of VG
• Switzerland: Bachelor Degree, 10 / 5.5 / 1
• Syria: State universities, 80%
• Taiwan: Category 1 (4 year degree), 80%
• Tajikistan: Диплом специалиста, 5
• Tanzania: Tanzania, 1st
• Thailand: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Trinidad and Tobago: For degrees studied at The University of West Indies, 1st or GPA 3.6
• Tunisia: Licence, 16
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi, 3.5
• Turkmenistan: 4 Yr Bakalavr, 5
• Uganda: Uganda, 1st or 4.4
• Ukraine: Dyplom Magistra, 4.5
• United Arab Emirates: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• United States of America: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Uruguay: Licenciado, 9
• Uzbekistan: Majistr Diplomi, 90%
• Venezuela: Licenciado, 18/20
• Vietnam: 10-point scale, 8.0
• Zambia: Master's, A or 4.0
• Zimbabwe: 3/4 year degree, 1st or 75%

Fees and funding

Fees for the academic year

• UK fee: £13,250 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £29,950 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the academic year

• UK fee: £13,700 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £30,900 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the academic year apply to courses starting in October 2025 or January 2026. Fees for the academic year apply to courses starting in October 2026.

Scholarships and bursaries

There are scholarships and bursaries available to help with funding your study.

10% off tuition fees

Loughborough University Alumni Bursary

Your development

We are committed to helping you develop the skills and attributes you need to progress successfully in your chosen career. We pay for all our students to be members of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), the professional body in the UK for materials scientists and engineers.

On successful completion of this programme, you will be able to:

• Organise and manage time and resources effectively
• Apply a critical approach to problem solving in areas related to your field of study
• Exercise independent learning skills for the gathering of information and acquire new knowledge for work/subject related activities, as well as for professional development
• Work effectively, both independently and in a group

Our academics

• Dr Rebecca Higginson, Head of Department and Reader in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
• Dr Simon Martin, Reader in Polymers
• Dr Xujin Bao, Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in Materials
• Dr Fiona Hatton, Postgraduate Admissions Tutor and Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry
• Dr Elisa Mele, Senior Lecturer in Biomaterials
• Professor Gary Critchlow, Professor of Surface and Interface Science

Your future career

Typical careers span many industrial sectors including aerospace, power generation, automotive, construction, transport, medical equipment and implants and consumer goods. Possible roles include technical and project management, research and development, technical support to manufacturing, as well as sales and marketing.

Many of our master’s degree students continue their studies with us, joining our thriving community of PhD students engaged in materials projects of real-world significance.

Some employers our graduates work for:

• Babcock
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Rolls-Royce
• Jacobs
• Pfizer
• Beijing Huafu Engineering (China)
• Commercial Aircraft China
• Common Technology Research Institute
• Exp Global
• Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.

Recent graduate roles include:

• Development Engineer
• Materials Engineer
• Commercial Manager
• Project Administrator
• Materials Engineer
• Project Engineer

Related master's degrees

• Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and Management MSc
• Materials PhD