Module Overview 

Of the seven short-course modules that make up the MSc in Advanced Materials, one is compulsory and six selected from a range of optional modules. 

Compulsory Module 

Research Methods 

An introduction to the general principles and practices associated with planning, undertaking and reporting research in the engineering or physical sciences and the opportunity to undertake a group project. 

Optional Modules 

There are optional modules examining all the main classes of materials in detail. There are also groups of modules focusing on particular areas such as surfaces, adhesive bonding, metals, composites and nanomaterials. Modules include: 

• Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering 
• Introduction to Composite Materials 
• Introduction to Physical Metallurgy 
• Ceramics and Hard Coatings 
• Polymers: Science, Engineering and Applications 
• Numerical Modelling in Materials Engineering 
• Surface Engineering 
• Materials for Biomedical Engineering Application 
• Life Cycle Approaches 
• Materials Under Stress – An Introduction to Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue 
• Corrosion Engineering 
• Composite Technology and Smart Systems 
• Nanomaterials 
• The Science and Technology of Adhesive Bonding 
• Scanning Probe Microscopy 
• Surface Analysis by Electron Spectroscopy – An Introduction to XPS, SIMS and Scanning Auger Microscopy 
• Characterisation of Advanced Materials 

All of the modules are taught by experts from the University. Almost all of them also include lectures and presentations from users of the technology in industry and research organisations. Most modules include practical demonstrations or laboratory work, as well as tutorial sessions. Some also include site visits to see processes in operation. Modules usually start on Monday morning and finish at Friday lunchtime. 

The project and dissertation, approximately 20 weeks of work, are undertaken in the Faculty laboratories by full-time students and in their place of work by part-time students working on a project which is part of their normal work. Part-time students who do not have access to experimental facilities may take an independent study option and write a dissertation which is a theoretical piece of work. This carries less credits than an experimentally based project, so the student will take two additional short-course modules.

Programme Structure

Typically the entire programme will be made up of 210 contact hours and 1590 hours of self-study.

Each module carries 15 credits. The MSc degree is awarded on the attainment of 180 credits, the Postgraduate Diploma at 120 credits and the Postgraduate Certificate at 60 credits.

Credits can be obtained from either short-course modules, projects, independent study, guided studies or lecture courses.

Teaching and Learning

Short courses are the main building blocks of this MSc programme. Each short course has its own assessment package, which requires an in-depth study of the material of the module (including use of available research literature, when appropriate). It is expected that 120 hours of study is required to answer the questions within the assessment package.

For part-time students, the project is normally taken in the student’s place of work. However, this can also be undertaken by arrangement in the Faculty laboratories. 

Full-time students will undertake their projects within the Faculty laboratories. An independent study module may be taken by part-time students who are unable to undertake a project. The independent study consists of a 10,000-word dissertation on a materials topic of current interest.

A number of the short courses run in alternate years and therefore are not all available to fulltime students who attend for twelve months. Such students are therefore offered the option of selecting two of these short courses to take as guided study modules. If you select this option, you will be given the notes from the course when it was last run and a series of tutorials. Guided studies are only available for part-time students in exceptional circumstances.

Assessment 

When the assessment package for a module has been marked, a mark is given to the student, subject to confirmation by the statutory University bodies. The official awarding of the credits is made subsequently by the appropriate University body upon submission by the MSc Board of Examiners. 

The credit system is in line with that initiated by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA). The intention is that credits are transferable between institutions using the Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).

Facilities and Equipment 

The laboratories employed for teaching on the MSc programme are well equipped and maintained. The facilities span the activities of fabrication, characterisation, testing, design and modelling. Some of these laboratories are used for practical classes and demonstrations during the modules, and all of the laboratories are available for student project work. 

With regard to materials fabrication and thermal processing, standard facilities for the manufacture of metal and polymer matrix composites, bulk ceramics and metals are utilised. 

For materials characterisation, we are particularly well equipped. We are home to Europe’s largest surface analysis laboratory, including: small-area XPS; time-of-flight SIMS; Auger microscopy and scanning probe microscopy instrumentation; and an electron microscopy facility comprising five electron microscopes, plus associated analytical techniques. 

Other facilities include: XRD; optical microscopy; particle-size analysis; thermal analysis (DSC, TGA); non-destructive analytical techniques (acoustic emission, X-radiography, ultrasonics); and dilatometry. 

For mechanical testing, the facilities include a full range of quasi-static and fatigue testing instruments, which have recently been upgraded with state-of-the-art software, and standard and micro-hardness testing machines. Design and modelling activities primarily employ the finite element analysis ANSYS and ABAQUS software and this is installed on the Faculty’s dedicated computing suite.

Project Example

After graduating from the Institute of Himeji Technology and working in Japanese industry for a few years, Kyoko Schimizu registered as a full-time Advanced Materials MSc student. 

Her project was entitled ‘The Interfacial Chemistry of Structural Adhesive Joints’ and was supervised by Professor John Watts. Kyoko employed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to study the interface interactions between a new epoxy adhesive formulation and aluminium substrates. Such structural adhesives are important in many technological applications, but in particular, the aerospace industry. 

A silane adhesion promoter, GPS, was added to the epoxy resin at different concentrations and its uptake and bonding at the metal–adhesive interface were studied. The XPS and ToF-SIMS results showed the adsorption of GPS to follow a Langmuir-type behaviour and the formation of strong covalent Si-O-Al bonds were observed at the interface for specific GPS concentrations. 

Kyoko is now studying for a PhD at Surrey, sponsored by the multinational adhesive and chemicals manufacturer, Huntsman. The results of her MSc thesis work will be published in the Journal of Adhesion.

Industrial Links 

The Advanced Materials MSc programme has been running successfully for over 20 years and the programme structure and content is strongly influenced by the requirements of UK industry. 

One of the two external examiners for the MSc programme is an industrialist, and over 25 lectures on the programme are given by industrial experts. Part-time MSc students registered on the programme have been, or are employed by international companies such as Intel, Airbus, Dow Corning, Corus, Ford, Imerys, Grundfos, Chemineer and Goodrich. Our students also come from UK-based SMEs and large UK companies and institutions, such as QinetiQ, the National Physical Laboratory and DSTL.

Programme Aims and Objectives

We aim to provide you with a broad knowledge of the properties, manufacture, selection, characterisation, design, usage and economics of materials in science and engineering applications. We will equip you with a thorough understanding of the major classes of advanced materials and the means by which they are selected, characterised and utilised.

Accreditation

The Advanced Materials MSc is accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). Students completing this MSc programme will have fulfilled the Masters level requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status awarded through either of these institutions.