School of Materials Science & Engineering - Future Undergraduate Study

Materials Science & Engineering at UNSW supervises several undergraduate programs. The objective of the courses is to provide professional training and the background in science and engineering necessary to be equipped to work effectively as engineers or technologists in the continually innovating materials industries around the world.

A presentation introducing our School may be found here...

All applications from Australian students (and those sitting Australian final high school exams) should be made through UAC.

There are an increasing number of programs that compliment the versatility and wide applicability of the Bachelor of Engineering (Materials) program.

Program information will help you know what courses to enrol in online at http://my.unsw.edu.au or look at UNSW's online handbook.

Program 3135: Bachelor of Engineering UAC code 429009

Major in Materials Engineering
Major in Physical Metallurgy
Major in Process Metallurgy
Major in Ceramic Engineering

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 provides education and training for students to prepare them for a significant and important career in the materials and other industries.

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.

Materials Science & Engineering courses extend over four years of full time study (192 units of credit) and lead to the award of Bachelor of Ceramic/Materials/Metallurgical Engineering at either honours or pass level.

The first two years are common for Materials, Ceramic & Metallurgical Engineering students. Classes consist of suitable components of chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, computing, and some professional subjects and general education. The final two years focus on the specific discipline chosen (either Ceramics, Materials or Metallurgy). Metallurgical Engineering students elect to specialise in process metallurgy or physical metallurgy with some subjects common to both strands.

The final year includes an experimental research/development project and seminar.

The programme is accredited with the Australian Institute of Engineers.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions regarding the BE program.

A full list of subjects offered by the School of Materials Science and Engineering is also available in the Virtual Handbook.

Program 3136: Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Commerce UAC code 424000

Bachelor of Engineering/ Bachelor of Commerce course details

Further information

The Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Commerce and Economics offer a combined degree program which qualifies students for two degrees after five and a half years of successful study: Bachelor of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering (potentially with Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (for which an Honours program requires an additional 48 UoC). The program is intended for potential engineers in the fields of Physical Metallurgy, Materials Engineering, Ceramic Engineering or Process Metallurgy who wish to become more aware of economic and social aspects of the engineering profession, and skilled in technical management. It is expected that those taking this program would progress to entrepreneurial and managerial roles.

A full range of commerce and engineering careers will still be open to those who qualify with both components of the combined degree program. Most engineers progress to technical management roles, and these programs will strengthen the commerce background in addition to providing the engineering skills. Increasingly, engineers also find employment in the commercial sector, and the combined programs will provide a good background for those entering banking, consultancy etc. Students wishing to enter the purely commercial sector will benefit from technical and numerate strengths obtained as part of the engineering program.

The engineering part of the degree is accredited by professional bodies such as Engineers Australia.

Program 3138: Bachelor of Engineering/ Masters of Biomedical Engineering UAC code 429010

An increasing number of materials engineers in Australia and overseas are involved in the development, processing, and application of materials used in many areas of biomedical engineering including orthopaedics, dental and maxilliofacial implants, artificial vascular materials, controlled drug delivery, prosthetics and orthotics, and device housings. In many areas of medical technology, a concurrent study of materials and biomedical engineering form a logical and useful training. The objectives of the concurrent degree program will prepare materials engineers to work in these areas of biomedical technology like many of their overseas counterparts. Biomaterials Engineering is a strong discipline in Europe and the USA.

The five-year concurrent degree program consisting of a Bachelor of Engineering (in Process Metallurgy, Physical Metallurgy, Ceramic Engineering or Materials Science) and a Master of Biomedical Engineering (BE/MBiomedE) is specifically designed to cater for students wishing to pursue a career in biomedical engineering through the technical base of materials science and engineering. The concurrent BE/MBiomedE program is 240 units of credit (5 years full-time) by allowing 18 units of credit of graduate level MBiomedE courses to substitute for elective courses in the BE and one undergraduate BE elective to substitute for a MBiomedE elective. This overlap arrangement is only available to students who complete the BE/MBiomedE program. Students who discontinue the BE/MBiomedE program to complete the BE program only will have to complete the normal 192 units of credit BE program but may be given credit for some of the BIOM courses completed. All students are required to have gained at least 12 weeks of approved industrial experience before graduation and to have submitted satisfactory reports on such work. Industrial experience is usually obtained during a long vacation at the end of years 2 and 3.

The Institution of Engineers, Australia recognises the Bachelor of Engineering components of the BE/MBiomedE programs as meeting the examination requirements for admission to graduate and corporate membership. Furthermore, examination requirements are met for the membership of the Institution's College of Biomedical Engineering . The degree is accorded substantial or complete recognition by overseas engineering institutions.

Program 3617: Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology) UAC code 429011

This program in Nanotechnology offers a comprehensive education in this emerging field, which represents an important development in the evolution of scientific understanding, with profound implications for the new economy. Nanotechnology provides the potential to create new manufacturing sectors from our ability to observe, characterise and manipulate the atomic and molecular structure of materials which form the basis of the bio-, communications, information and environmental technologies. This program will lead to the award of a Bachelor of Science in Nanotechnology over four years of full-time study, with Honours for students who perform with merit. At present, the principal entry point into this degree will be at first year level. Students will normally be expected to complete each stage before proceeding to the next stage. A total of 192 units of credit must be completed for the award of this degree. There are many frequently asked questions about Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology also has its own website.

Undergraduate scholarships are available in each of the programs supervised by the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

Further information regarding undergraduate courses and scholarships within the School of Materials Science and Engineering is available by contacting Amanda Smith. Further information about other undergraduate programs and courses may be found in the UNSW online handbook.

Alternative Materials Science study programs

The listed programs below allow materials science to be studied as a major but do not provide as much depth as the BE program, they are not directly supervised by the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

Program 3970: Bachelor of Science

Any combined degree with a Bachelor of Science e.g. Engineering, Commerce, Arts, Law.