Informal meeting area
The informal meeting area in foyer of the 'S' building, home to the Department of Materials Engineering
Materials Engineering
Ranked 8th for Materials Technology in the UK
The Times Good University Guide 2012
The Department
Materials science and engineering has been a core strength at Loughborough for nearly 50 years, leading to the development of significant industrial links, with our degrees being highly regarded by employers.
The Department has excellent pilot plant, laboratory, design and computing facilities, including investment in new teaching labs and a drop-in computer suite.
Materials is a small and friendly department where students get more personal attention with an annual intake of just 45 undergraduates and about 300 students in total. We have one simple mission: “We aim to provide you with a first rate learning experience, in a strategically important subject area, leading to a wide choice of valuable careers.”
Studying Materials
Teaching and learning methods include a mixture of lectures, tutorials, practicals, seminars and project work. You are encouraged to develop a range of study, communication and management skills, including presentation, project management and participation in group activities. Average contact time ranges from about 23 to 28 hours and varies throughout the semesters.
The first two years of a BEng or MEng share the same format and structure, with a good mix of theory, application and practical content from day one. The MEng differ from the BEng courses by offering the opportunity to study technical and management topics at a more advanced level.
On average the ratio of examination assessment to coursework assessment in the degree courses is about 60:40, with greater emphasis on coursework in the first year to enable you to adapt your study skills to University life.
Industrial Training
Between Years 2 and 3 we encourage you to spend a year in industry, to provide you with the opportunity to use the skills already acquired during your degree in an industrial environment.
This supervised industrial training leads to an additional University qualification – the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS). The average placement year salary is about £16,500 and we assist in finding placements, which have ranged from Formula 1 motor racing companies, aircraft and automotive companies, medical equipment manufacturers to marketing and business management positions. Often students are offered sponsorships for their final year, or jobs after graduation, as a result of their industrial placements.
Facilities
The Department of Materials is superbly well-equipped, with extensive laboratories containing state-of- the-art equipment in materials processing, testing, analysis, simulations and characterisation.
The Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre (LMCC), which is considered to be one of the best centres of its type in Europe, offers specialist thermal, electron microscopy, x-ray and surface analysis. A design suite was recently opened which offers computing and rapid prototyping facilities for undergraduate project work, adding to the exceptional teaching facilities.
Industrial Contacts
Industrial contacts in the department are substantial with an annual research income of over £2M. Industry sponsored student projects, many related to our bigger research programmes, add real relevance for our students and many of the same companies offer year long and summer placement jobs.
These contacts not only provide potential employment for our students, but also provide invaluable experience from within the industry which is reflected in our teaching.
Professional Memberships and Accreditation
The Department strongly believes in the benefits professional institutes and industry bodies can bring and in line with this philosophy we fully finance membership of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) for all our students. In the case of Design with Engineering Materials Students, they are additionally enrolled as members of the IED (the Institution of Engineering Designers).
Our courses are accredited by IOM3 providing a route to Chartered Engineering status following graduation. The Design with Engineering Materials course is also accredited by the IED.
Entrance Bursary for UK students
If you start an MEng or BEng degree course within the Department of Materials in 2013, you may be eligible for an entrance bursary providing you make the Department of Materials, Loughborough University your first choice. Awards are based on tariff points.
Please see our website for further information.
Career Prospects
Each year across the UK there are a relatively small number of materials graduates, and consequently they are in high demand.
Because Materials covers the entire breadth of engineering and manufacturing activity the range of different career destinations is huge, from high technology aerospace engineering to something as every-day as packaging, with everything in-between.
Our graduates can be found in roles varying from technical, production, project and research management through to technical marketing and sales.