Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Materials Science & Engineering)

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Materials Science and Engineering at UNSW emphasizes social impact, providing a comprehensive understanding of materials science and engineering principles. Students develop skills in materials design, processing, and characterization, focusing on sustainable manufacturing and eco-friendly products. The program culminates in a research thesis on a topic of the student's choice, fostering a professional and socially aware mindset for a successful career as a materials engineer.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Materials Science and Engineering at UNSW is a newly redesigned program with a strong emphasis on social impact. Students will develop a solid foundation in science and engineering principles, focusing on the relationship between the structure, properties, and performance of materials. The program emphasizes sustainable manufacturing processes and the design of eco-friendly products. In the latter stages of the degree, students will explore principles involved in designing, selecting, and processing materials for applications that positively impact society, cultivating a professional and socially aware mindset for a successful career as a materials engineer.

Objectives:

• Provide a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of materials science and engineering
• Develop skills in materials design, processing, and characterization
• Foster an understanding of the social and environmental impact of materials
• Prepare students for careers in materials engineering and related fields
• Cultivate a professional and socially aware mindset

Program Description:

The program begins with courses in mathematics, data analytics, chemistry, physics, computing, and engineering design. Students then delve into courses on materials properties, structure, and applications, as well as aspects of materials engineering design. The latter stages of the degree focus on principles of materials design and selection for societal impact, culminating in a research thesis on a topic of the student's choice. A range of societal impact electives and core courses provide students with the knowledge and skills to select and justify suitable materials for specific applications, considering environmental, sustainability, economic, and other factors. Students can choose from electives in areas such as energy and environment, medicine and health, electronics and communications, and transportation and infrastructure. The electives and thesis offer opportunities for students to tailor their learning experience and specialize in areas that align with their interests and career aspirations.

Outline:

Course Schedule:

The program consists of 192 units of credit (UOC) completed over four years of full-time study. The course schedule includes:

• Core courses in materials science and engineering
• Enabling and thematic electives
• Free electives from any discipline
• General education electives from outside the discipline
• Final-year honors project

Individual Modules:

Core courses include:

• Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
• Materials Properties and Characterization
• Materials Processing and Fabrication
• Materials Design and Selection
• Materials for Energy and Environment
• Materials for Medicine and Health
• Materials for Electronics and Communications
• Materials for Transportation and Infrastructure
• Materials for Sustainability
Enabling and thematic electives provide students with the opportunity to explore specific areas of interest within materials science and engineering. Some examples include:
• Advanced Materials Characterization
• Computational Materials Science
• Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials
• Polymers and Composites
• Materials for Aerospace
• Materials for Nuclear Energy
• Materials for Biomedical Applications
Free electives allow students to pursue their interests outside of materials science and engineering. Students may choose courses from any discipline offered at UNSW. General education electives provide students with a well-rounded education. Students may choose courses from outside of their discipline, such as history, philosophy, economics, or literature. The final-year honors project is a major research project that allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world problem.

Careers:

A Bachelor of Engineering degree in Materials Science and Engineering offers diverse career opportunities, including:

• Materials Engineer
• Polymer Scientist
• Biomaterials Engineer
• Forensic Materials Scientist
• Nanotechnologist
• Metallurgical Engineer
• Ceramic Engineer
• Materials Failure Specialist
• Semiconductor Scientist
• Aerospace Materials Engineer
• Additive Manufacturing Technologist
• Materials Data Scientist