BEng Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London

Many of the technological advances that have transformed our lives are founded in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). Modern life would be impossible without the thousands of manufactured items we use every day, from the clothes we wear, to our phones, cars, computers and the buildings we inhabit, as well as more advanced and life-changing technologies like biomedical devices or satellite communications.

The motivation to invent or improve materials comes from our need to solve real societal problems, in fields such as healthcare, energy, environmental sustainability and transport. New opportunities are growing in areas such as biomedical engineering, 3D printing, robotics and quantum computing.

Our courses engage you in both the scientific and engineering aspects of the discipline. You will learn about the processing, structure, properties and performance of materials and much more.

This course focuses on understanding the relationship between the fundamental structure and properties (mechanical, electrical, optical and magnetic) of matter. You will learn how to manipulate existing materials and how to develop new and improved ones, with access to cutting edge equipment and tools for advanced materials imaging and characterisation.

Studying Materials Science and Engineering

All of our undergraduate courses follow a core series of modules. These will provide you with a strong base of theoretical principles.

Experimental work is a core part of all our courses. This starts with a series of laboratory tutorials that introduce foundational ideas and key techniques in a practical setting.

The laboratory sessions associated with the modules will introduce you to the key practical skills. As the course progresses, you are given more opportunity to design your own experiments to test a hypothesis and investigate materials using electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Your third year includes modules from the Business School which is triple-accredited by AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB.  These will focus on innovation, management and entrepreneurship.

You'll also have the chance to choose from a selection of optional materials modules, allowing you to specialise in the areas that interest you most.