Program Overview

Materials Science

The specialisation in Materials Science focuses on the application of fundamental principles of physics to develop cutting-edge materials for societal challenges. This field is crucial for advancements in industries such as clean energy technologies, information technology, high-tech manufacturing, and biomedical devices.

What is Materials Science?

In this specialisation, students study the relationship between materials' structure and properties to develop and optimise materials with specific optical, electrical, magnetic, or mechanical characteristics. This involves combining computational methods with experimental research in high-tech laboratories. The goal is to gain an in-depth understanding of how physical principles govern material behaviour and to learn how to manipulate these principles for specific applications.

• Examples of courses include:
  • The course Nanophysics, which deals with unique physical phenomena occurring on the nanometre length scale.
  • Techniques to create thin films for applications such as data storage technologies, drug delivery systems, solar cells, and optical coatings.

What will you learn?

As a graduate of this Master's specialisation, students acquire specific scientific knowledge, skills, and values applicable to future jobs.

• Knowledge:
  • A solid understanding of materials and the experimental techniques and theoretical models used to study their physical properties.
• Skills:
  • The ability to determine the physical properties of materials using a broad range of experimental and theoretical techniques.
  • The ability to design and tailor materials for specific applications.
  • The capability to proceed with a PhD trajectory or start a R&D job in the industry as a material scientist.

Other master's and specialisations

For those interested in related fields, other specialisations and Master's programs are available, including:

• Master's in Nanotechnology
• Master's in Chemical Science & Engineering
• Master's in Mechanical Engineering

Curriculum and Research Areas

The curriculum includes a multidisciplinary approach, combining knowledge of physics, chemistry, and mechanical engineering. Research areas are diverse, with a current focus on energy-efficient electronics, aiming to make information technology more efficient. Collaborations with industrial partners such as ASML, Zeiss, and DESY provide opportunities for real-life projects.