Materials Science and Engineering, Master’s Program (Two-Year)

Materials science deals with different kinds of materials and their properties. This broad field spans disciplines such as strength of materials, materials physics, materials chemistry, and mechanics. A key aspect of materials science is the functional role played by materials in areas such as medicine, microelectronics, or aerospace.

Materials science grapples with questions such as how to optimize materials’ strength and resilience; how to make technologies more energy efficient and how to increase the recyclability of materials. Examples of materials studied within the programme include metals, metal alloys, ceramics, polymers and nanomaterials.

The programme also covers surface engineering since material surfaces and interfaces are areas of increasing importance with applications in for example sensors, surface treatments and catalysts.

The programme courses address materials science at different scales, from the atomic and microstructural level to macroscopic and structural. The programme courses integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Students learn about cutting-edge technologies and how to combine methods for physical experimental examination with advanced computational simulations to analyse, test, and predict material properties.

Students of the programme are trained to adopt a broader societal and environmental perspective by highlighting the role of materials in global sustainable development. Through a materials engineering project in the second year of the programme, students have the option to do experimental work. The programme has close ties with the regional large scale research facilities ESS and MAX IV.

By offering students the option to focus either on computational modelling or experimentation, the coursework provides graduates with flexibility while also strengthening the programme's relevance for industry and research.

At Malmö University, research within the field of materials science is conducted in areas such as materials engineering, materials physics, mechanics, strength of materials, and materials characterisation. Materials research at Malmö University also includes collaborations in medicine and medical applications, particularly in odontology and biomedical surface science.

Read more about Materials Engineering research at Malmö University

Graduates of the programme have gone on to work at large scale research facilities such as MAX IV. Others have gone into industry to work in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, and energy production. Some alumni now work for large companies such as Alfa Laval, Tetra Pak, Scania and Hitachi.

Because of global trends such as increasing resource competition or scarcity, or the shift towards green energy production, graduates of the programme enter a global job market with strong demand for people with advanced knowledge of materials science and engineering.

The programme also prepares students for doctoral studies (PhD), which several alumni have pursued at Malmö University. After completing the degree, graduates are qualified to apply for PhD positions in subjects such as materials science, structural mechanics, physics and applied mathematics.