The field of Materials Science and Engineering offers unlimited possibilities for innovation and development. Attention is being focussed on developing and processing metals, ceramics, polymers and composites with improved properties.

The activities of the materials engineer range from materials production, including their extraction from ores and their refining, to the design, development, processing and recycling of materials for use in aerospace, transportation, electronics, energy conversion and biomedical systems.

Advanced materials can provide a major competitive advantage in virtually every part of a country’s manufacturing industry. Because Australia is a country rich in minerals, materials science has been designated as a priority area for research and development. Examples of recent and significant developments include the emergence of environmentally friendly and economical metal processing methods, advanced surface coatings, biomedical materials, electrical ceramics, engineering polymers, and advanced composites.

The School of Materials Science and Engineering is in a good position to provide the increased numbers of graduates necessary for development of these new initiatives in materials. It is the only school in Australia that offers professional courses in ceramic engineering, metallurgical engineering and materials engineering as well as providing postgraduate specialisation in these fields.

The School is extremely well equipped with a wide range of advanced computing, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, X-ray and optical and electron microscopy facilities. Students are provided with education and industrial training to prepare them for a significant and important professional career.

Please refer to the section above or contact the School of Materials Science & Engineering for information regarding the Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes.

There are four study streams available in the Bachelor of Engineering (Materials Science and Engineering), providing appropriate preparation for the following Engineering professions:

The first two years of all streams are identical and the third and fourth years contain a number of common courses. Students can change their selection among the study streams up to the end of Semester 1 of Stage 3.

Each study stream provides a range of specialised electives. In addition, a limited number of electives can be chosen from other streams.

When completing the Bachelor of Engineering (Materials Science & Engineering) as a single degree, students must complete a minimum of 192 units of credit (UoC). The following structure is applicable to all streams.

Recommended electives:

*For details of available Professional Electives for Stage 3 & 4 please click on the links below:

Students in this program must also satisfy the University's General Education requirements. This is 12 UoC in General Education courses (or their equivalent) taken from outside the Faculty of Science, usually completed during Stages 3 and 4 of the program. For further information, please refer to the General Education Guidelines.

Please refer to Program Structure and the School of Materials Science & Engineering Program Guide 3135 for the Academic Requirements relating to this program.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

All students are required to have gained at least 12 weeks of approved industrial training before graduation and to have submitted satisfactory reports on such work. The training should be concurrent with enrolment and is usually undertaken during the summer recesses at the end of Stages 2 and 3. Further information is available on the Materials Science and Engineering website.

The Institution of Engineers Australia recognises the degree of BE in any of the 4 undergraduate streams as meeting the examination requirements for admission to graduate and corporate membership. Similarly, substantial or complete recognition is accorded to the BE degree programs by overseas engineering institutions.

Graduates in Ceramic Engineering are also eligible for membership of the Institute of Ceramics of Great Britain, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers USA.