Loughborough University is one of the best engineering universities in the UK. Having completed my undergraduate here in Chemical Engineering, I experienced first-hand the high level of teaching as well as the opportunity to carry out various design projects. I also worked in the Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre which is an industry-leading laboratory with complex machinery. For these reasons, Loughborough felt like the perfect place to continue my studies in the MSc Advanced Materials Science and Engineering course.
The course is great at ensuring you develop a fundamental foundation of knowledge that is transferrable to a range of sectors including the Aerospace, Construction and Biomedical industries. The modules on the course cover the core concepts of Materials but also offer option modules that meant I could specialise in my fields of interest, nanomaterials and composites.
Teaching and facilities
The teaching at Loughborough is of very high quality and lecturers are specialised in different areas of my respective field. They are always happy to take time out of their day to help me if there was an area of the module I was struggling with. They are all very active online which meant they were easy to reach and helped resolve my issues quickly.
There are numerous laboratories developed for a range of materials such as metals, polymers and ceramics where I could apply what I had learnt in my lectures to a practical setting. There is also an online teaching system where you can find all your lecture notes and watch back lectures at any time which assisted me significantly during the course.
I recommend attending as many classes as possible during semesters because the lecturers tend to give valuable information during classes, and they are more intimate so any issues you may have can be solved during these sessions.
The projects I’ve worked on
The scope of my MSc project involves exploring two different emerging steels which are increasingly being used in power plants due to their higher operating temperatures. The integration of these steels leads to greater thermal efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and thus advancing the industry closer toward carbon neutrality. I am investigating the oxidation steels as oxidation is a key constraint in affecting the structural integrity. My project can provide valuable information on the oxidation of these steels and how they should be employed in industry. The data and analysis obtained ultimately may influence the future impact of carbon emissions on the environment.
I have been involved in group projects where we had to propose a novel solution to measure plastic film thickness to maintain quality control. I led on analysing of the different mechanisms to carry out thickness measurements, assessing the material and component requirements and writing a product design specification.
My career ambitions
Loughborough has inspired me to pursue my passion for working within the materials industry. The ‘Nanomaterials and Composites’ and ‘Advances in Biomaterials’ modules prompted me to think about how newly developed materials such as nanocarriers can be used for targeted drug delivery for cancer applications. This inspired me to work in an innovative industry and deliver new products that can be incorporated into our daily lives as a Materials Engineer in the nanomaterials field. By continuing my studies to postgraduate level, I have the advanced knowledge needed to work in this industry. Also taking part in various assignments and group activities, I have enhanced my ability to communicate efficiently and to function effectively in a team which are essential skills in the working world.
