Study materials engineering abroad
An in-depth guide to studying materials engineering as an international student.
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 universities to study materials engineering
How to study materials engineering abroad
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Materials engineering study abroad programs
Materials engineering undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in materials engineering
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Materials Science and Engineering - BEng Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 30,634 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
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Nuclear Science and Materials - BSc University of Birmingham, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 23,400 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Materials Engineering - BSc University of Kentucky, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 29,050 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Materials Science - BSc/BSc (Tech) University of Waikato, New Zealand
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 31,795 NZD
- Start date
- February, July
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Technology (Education) in Materials and Engineering Technology - BTech University of Limerick, Ireland
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,986 EUR
- Start date
- September
Diploma in materials engineering
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Materials Engineering Technology - Dip Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 19,110 CAD
- Start date
- September
Materials engineering graduate programs
Master's in materials engineering
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Materials Science and Engineering - MSc Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 25,118 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Materials Science and Engineering with Industrial Experience - MEng University of Birmingham, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 5 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 23,400 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Materials Research - MSc University of Helsinki, Finland
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,000 EUR
- Start date
- September
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Materials Science and Nanotechnology - MSc Linköping University, Sweden
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 19,000 USD
- Start date
- September
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Materials Science and Engineering - MEngSc University College Dublin, Ireland
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Tuition fees per year
- 24,800 EUR
- Start date
- September
Doctorate in materials engineering
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Mechanical Engineering - Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering Track - PhD University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 22,896 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization - PhD Texas State University, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,034 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Science of Advanced Materials - PhD Central Michigan University, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,300 USD
- Start date
- May, August
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Materials Science and Engineering - PhD Koç University, Turkey
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 0 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Chemistry and Materials Science - PhD Lakehead University, Canada
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 22,406 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
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.
