Find your perfect materials engineering programs abroad
Find materials engineering programs you love that match your needs and aspirations, where you stand a high chance of acceptance.
Materials Engineering degrees abroad
Material engineers apply their knowledge of material properties to engineering designs and projects.
As a materials engineering student, you’ll develop a thorough understanding of the structure and behaviors of different materials, including metals, polymers, ceramics, and biomaterials. You’ll explore how materials perform in different environmental conditions, and consider how they could be used to develop problem-solving technologies and products.
The engineering industry is a global one, and the expertise of materials engineers are highly-prized across the world. By studying abroad, you’ll gain an international perspective that’ll help you kickstart a career anywhere you choose.
Materials Engineering program structure
Bachelor’s degrees require at least three years of full-time study, but completing an industrial placement as part of your BEng will increase your total program length to four years. Placements allow you to put your skills into practice and network with experts in the field.
Universities in the US follow the liberal arts model, so you’ll take general education classes alongside your materials engineering major. Undergraduate programs in the US take four years to finish.
Students wishing to work in research, development, or education can gain specialist knowledge through a postgraduate degree. A master’s program generally takes one or two years to complete, while a PhD adds a further five or so years to your studies.
Teaching is mainly delivered through lectures, seminars, practical workshops, and computer labs. Assessment methods vary between modules, but research projects, exams, presentations, written assignments, and computer-based tests are common.
Every university’s program content will be slightly different depending on the elective modules offered. However, most institutions cover these core areas:
- Fundamentals of materials science
- Design for structural applications
- Design for functional applications
- Modeling materials behavior
- Physics of materials
- Microstructures of materials
- Mechanics of materials
- Structure of solids

Best countries to study materials engineering
Materials Engineering study abroad programs
What are the top materials engineering undergraduate programs abroad?
Arizona State University (in partnership with Kaplan International)Materials Science and Engineering (Tempe Campus) - BSc
- 4 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- General Science, Materials Engineering
- Location
- Phoenix, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 35,430USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Arts University PlymouthCraft and Material Practices - BA (Hons)
- 3 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Materials Engineering
- Location
- Plymouth, UK
- Next available start date
- September 2025
- Annual tuition fee
- 16,500GBP
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Auburn UniversityMaterials Engineering - BMEng
- 4 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Materials Engineering
- Location
- Auburn, USA
- Next available start date
- January 2026 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 35,182USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
California State University, Long BeachChemistry: Material Science - BSc
- 4 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Materials Engineering, Chemistry
- Location
- Long Beach , USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 18,400USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Subject area
- Materials Engineering
- Location
- Kaunas, Lithuania
- Next available start date
- September 2025
- Annual tuition fee
- 3,640EUR
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
See all undergraduate degrees in materials engineering abroad
What are the top materials engineering postgraduate programs abroad?
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- General Science, Analytics, Materials Engineering
- Location
- Phoenix, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +2 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 29,880USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Arts University PlymouthCraft and Material Practices - MA
- 1 year
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Materials Engineering
- Location
- Plymouth, UK
- Next available start date
- September 2025
- Annual tuition fee
- 16,500GBP
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Avans University of Applied SciencesMaterials and Energy Transition - MSc
- 2 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Materials Engineering
- Location
- Breda, Netherlands
- Next available start date
- September 2025 +1 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 9,949EUR
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
California State University, San BernardinoMaterials Science - MSc
- 2 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Materials Engineering
- Location
- San Bernardino, USA
- Next available start date
- August 2025 +1 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 14,657USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
Colorado State UniversityBiomanufacturing and Biotechnology - PSM
- 2 years
- Full-time
- On campus
- Program type
- Master's
- Subject area
- Biotechnology, Materials Engineering
- Location
- Fort Collins, USA
- Next available start date
- January 2026 +1 more
- Annual tuition fee
- 30,656USD
- Admission requirements
- Am I eligible?
See all postgraduate degrees in materials engineering abroad
Future materials engineering careers
As a materials engineering student, you’ll graduate with the tools needed to shape a forward-thinking and exciting career.
Your technical and professional skills can be transferred across several sectors, including manufacturing, research and development, education, and technology. Here are some of the job prospects available to you:
- Materials engineer
- Product/process development scientist
- Manufacturing systems engineer
- Materials tester
- Aerospace engineer
- CAD technician
- Design engineer
- Metallurgist
Adding practical, real-world experience to your CV is sure to grab the attention of recruiters. The majority of universities have a careers office where staff can help you find and apply for relevant placement opportunities.
