Materials Engineering, M.Sc.

Overview

The master aims at educating you so that you will be able to design new materials, and make sustainable choices, both in an industrial and academic environment. 

These capabilities will be based on a thorough understanding and use of the relationships between the internal structure (crystal structure, microstructure, architecture) of materials, their properties (mechanical, electrical, chemical) and their processing (the materials triangle).

Programme outline

The structure of this master’s programme  consists of a compulsory core of 60 credits, four options of 12 credits, three fixed elective packages of 12 credits, engineering and general interest electives for 12 credits, and the master's thesis of 24 credits.

The four options focus on materials families or on application domains:

• Metals and Ceramics
• Polymers and Composites
• Materials for Nanotechnology
• Materials for Biomedical Applications. 

The fixed elective packages are meant to orient students towards different future career options: research-oriented, production-oriented, or management-oriented. For students with other bachelors than materials science and engineering, bridging courses may replace the elective packages. 

The programme is crowned with the 24 credits master's thesis, where you will apply your knowledge to a selected research topic.

Strengths 

• The Department of Materials Engineering (MTM) is a world player in design, characterisation, modelling and development of new materials. Close links with imec and KU Leuven's biomedical group strengthen the programme in addressing upcoming application domains.  MTM is strongly involved in powder processing of metals and ceramics, including 3D printing.
• MTM is one of the few material departments where both structural composites and metals are strongly represented in both research and teaching.
• You mingle with fellow-students and assistants, (68% non-Belgian), lecturers (26% non-Belgian) from around the globe. In terms of outgoing mobility, participation in the Erasmus+ programme is encouraged for the Belgian students. 

EIT-KIC Dual Degree Tracks in Sustainable Materials Engineering (SUMA)

SUMA is a track within the Master of Materials Engineering, labelled by the European Institute of Technology (EIT). The SUMA Dual Degree tracks aim to train tomorrow’s industrial engineers in collaborative work in a global world and gather some of the best educational programmes in the field of sustainable materials engineering in Europe. The programme stimulates innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership, with focus on circular (eco)design, materials substitution, life cycle engineering, materials processing and manufacturing. The programme culminates with studies in two different institutions, an internship in a company, and a master thesis in collaboration with a company.

Career perspectives

Prominent technical industries such as the automotive, aerospace, energy, microelectronics, and chemical industries and emerging sectors such as nanotechnology, biomaterials and recycling are keen to hire qualified and talented materials engineers.

Materials engineers are prepared for work as process engineers, materials or product developers, design specialists, quality control engineers or consultants. Graduates with an interest in research can apply for an R&D position, or start a PhD. Some alumni have gone on with starting their own successful companies.

Questions about student life in Belgium, life at KU Leuven or more information about a specific course? Chat with our students: www.kuleuven/be/chatwithourstudents.