Master of Materials Technology

Join the forefront of materials innovation.

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Broaden your knowledge of the design, selection, use and performance of modern materials. This program will put you at the forefront of innovation, enabling you to develop materials that are lighter, greener and stronger.

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Award

Master of Materials Technology

Commencing Terms

Term 1, Term 2, Term 3

Duration (Full Time)

2 Year(s)

Overview

Materials scientists and engineers are involved in every aspect of technology, ranging from designing high-performance materials for use in integrated circuits, transport vehicles, water purification systems, medical implants, and green energy generation and storage, through to developing sustainable processes and recyclable products. In this century, sustainability and environmental impact lie at the core of materials development and application.

The Master of Materials Technology at UNSW Sydney is the leading postgraduate degree of its kind in Australia and is ideal for recent graduates and professionals looking to further their career in materials science and engineering. The program is suitable for graduates with science, engineering, technology, or related backgrounds. Your study will include both a coursework component (75%) and a research component (25%). The degree covers a broad spectrum of materials science and engineering, emphasising the application of the basic sciences to the understanding of the structure, properties, and processing of materials for designing high-performance materials that substantially impact the world around us.

Key features

Breadth of course offerings

UNSW’s School of Materials Science and Engineering offers one of the foremost masters-level programs in Australia, with the most comprehensive range of courses across the entire spectrum of materials science and engineering.

Flexible study options

This master’s program offers a very broad selection of elective courses that enables specialisation in a particular discipline of materials science and engineering. This degree also includes a component of experimental or design project work and an original research project of your choice.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be granted for materials science and engineering subjects studied previously, which can reduce the normal 2-year full-time program to 1.5 years or, in some cases, to 1 year in duration.

Wide range of career opportunities

The degree provides graduates with outstanding career prospects across various sectors, such as aerospace, transportation, defence, construction, mining, electronics, energy conversion, and biomedical science.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

Learn with the best

UNSW’s School of Materials Science and Engineering is leading the way in innovative education and research. The School is extremely well equipped with a wide range of state-of-the-art teaching, computing, materials processing, characterisation and property testing facilities providing students with a world-class postgraduate education.

We’re one of the top 50 universities in the world for Materials Science (#38).*
We’re ranked 1st in Australia for research outputs in Chemistry and Physical Sciences.**

Leverage our industry partnerships

We have a number of partnerships and collaborations with leading local and international industry names such as Boral, Cochlear, CSIRO, Hitachi Chemical Limited, BHP, BaoSteel, Chalco, OneSteel, Weir Minerals, and more. Our strong industry partnerships provide you with great opportunities to develop valuable relationships with Australian materials engineering enterprises.

Connect with world-class research centres, hubs and institutes

UNSW is home to advanced developments in the fields of materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering, and sustainable materials processing, and many of our staff are affiliated with one or more of the following centres, hubs, and institutes:

UNSW Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology
UNSW Future Materials & Manufacturing Institute
UNSW Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation
ARC Centre for Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies.
ARC Research Hub for Transforming Waste in Cost Effective Green Manufacturing
ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health
ARC Research Hub for Fire Resilience Infrastructure, Assets and Safety Advancements
ARC Training Centre for Innovative Composites for Sustainable Mining Equipment
The Australian Centre for NanoMedicine
Baosteel-Australia Joint Research Centre

^{*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

**Nature Index Institution Outputs 1 Dec 2019 – 30 Nov 2020}

Program Code

8717

CRICOS Code

085912A

Campus

Kensington

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

96

Indicative Enrolments

133

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Entry requirements

For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:

a four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 65 in a cognate science or engineering discipline (e.g., materials science and engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, mineral engineering and mechanical engineering)
a bachelor’s degree with a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 50-65 in a cognate science or engineering discipline and approximately five years’ professional experience in a relevant field such as in the materials processing or testing industry
an honours degree at a recognised university
a graduate certificate or graduate diploma in the materials sciences with a minimum WAM of 65.

Applicants with other relevant qualifications and experience not listed above may apply for admission to this program. You will need to demonstrate that you have achieved the same knowledge and skills through your formal or informal learning as the qualifications listed for entry into this program.

Those applying for admission from a cognate field and/or with an honours degree may receive Recognised Prior Learning (RPL). Those entering from a non-cognate bachelor’s degree or other degrees will only be eligible for credit where it is directly relevant to materials technology.

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:

a four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 65 in a cognate science or engineering discipline (e.g., materials science and engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, mineral engineering and mechanical engineering)
a bachelor’s degree with a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 50-65 in a cognate science or engineering discipline and approximately five years’ professional experience in a relevant field such as in the materials processing or testing industry
an honours degree at a recognised university
a graduate certificate or graduate diploma in the materials sciences with a minimum WAM of 65.

Applicants with other relevant qualifications and experience not listed above may apply for admission to this program. You will need to demonstrate that you have achieved the same knowledge and skills through your formal or informal learning as the qualifications listed for entry into this program.

Those applying for admission from a cognate field and/or with an honours degree may receive Recognised Prior Learning (RPL). Those entering from a non-cognate bachelor’s degree or other degrees will only be eligible for credit where it is directly relevant to materials technology.

English language requirements

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Select from the options below

Which applies to you?

Program structure

This degree covers a broad spectrum of materials science and engineering, emphasising the application of the basic sciences to the understanding of the structure, properties and processing of materials.

Full program structure

The Master of Materials Technology can be completed in one to two years of full-time study. The length of your program can be reduced, depending on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The program is made up of 12 courses, including 4 core disciplinary courses and 8 courses selected from 20+ electives. You’ll also complete a compulsory masters-level research project supervised by a member of our academic staff.

You must take MATS6114 Research Project A twice and MATS6113 Research Project once to satisfy the research component of this program.
Fundamentals of Materials Processing

Fundamentals of Materials Design

Presentation Skills for Materials Technology

Materials Industry Management
You’ll choose eight courses from the following list of electives.

Engineering in Process Metallurgy

Phase Transformations

Process Metallurgy Advanced

Fracture Mechanics and Failure Analysis

Polymer Science and Engineering 2

Recycling of Materials

Sustainable Materials Engineering

Advanced Functional Materials

Advanced Alloys

Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria

Kinetics and Phase Transformations

Physical Properties of Materials

Chemical Properties of Materials

Mechanical Properties of Materials

Thermal Properties of Ceramics

Functional Properties of Materials

Polymer Materials Science

Computational Materials Science

Processes in Materials Engineering

Characterisation of Materials

Go to the handbook

Future careers

Graduates of our Master of Materials Technology program are highly sought after by employers, both in Australia and internationally, where they often become specialists in one or more of the following sub-disciplines of materials science and engineering:

Materials Scientist: Conducts research and development to discover new materials or improve existing materials that positively impacts the world around us.

Materials Engineer: Develops environmentally friendly materials and processes, such as recyclable or biodegradable materials, to reduce the environmental impact of various industries.

Polymer Scientist: Develops and synthesises new polymeric materials or improving existing ones for structural and functional applications.

Biomaterials Engineer: Designs and develops materials that interact with biological systems, such as implants, prosthetics, and drug delivery systems.

Metallurgical Engineer: Specialises in the sustainable production, processing, and properties of metals and alloys.

Ceramic Engineer: Designs and manufactures advanced ceramic materials for various applications such as electronics, construction, and aerospace.

Materials Failure Specialist: Investigates material failures and determining the root causes to prevent future occurrences.

Semiconductor Scientist: Specialises in materials used in the production of microchips and electronic devices, working on improving performance, miniaturization, and energy efficiency.

Renewable Energy Technologist: Designs and optimises materials for energy storage applications, such as batteries and fuel cells.

Aerospace Materials Engineer: Designs and optimises materials for use in aircraft and spacecraft, focusing on properties like strength, weight, and resistance to extreme environments.

Forensic Materials Scientist: Analyses and identifies materials used in criminal investigations, such as trace evidence, such as fibres, paints, and glass, found at crime scenes.

These types of careers are just the beginning, as the field of materials science and engineering is constantly evolving to meet a wide range of societal and environmental demands.

Our alumni

“As a postgraduate student, the coursework in the material field taught me a lot of advanced scientific technology. The various assessments evaluate the students from different aspects, such as individual effort, team cooperation and oral presentation. Due to these assessments, my capability has been dramatically improved. I learnt to browse information online more comprehensively, to work as a team more efficiently, and also to present a speech in public more logically and confidently. I really appreciate my experience at UNSW, which will bring me a huge triumph in my life, and I will strongly encourage any potential researchers to join UNSW and achieve your goals.”

Runkai Liu

PhD Candidate

“The courses offered by UNSW Materials Science & Engineering are in line with the mainstream market, and the knowledge you have learned will be of great help in your job search.”

Robin Zhang

Master of Materials Science 2021, UNSW

Optical Engineer, Molex

“The School of Materials Science and Engineering at UNSW is a high-quality and world-class education. It provided me with the newest academic study and advanced equipment to support your idea to become a reality.”

Rocco Yang

Master of Materials Technology 2020

Process Engineer, Intel

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$31,920*

2023 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree

$64,400*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

2023 Indicative First Year Fee

$45,100*

2023 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree

$91,555*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

Scholarships

At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.

Explore Scholarships