Materials Science Courses in New Zealand
Materials Science is the general name given to the study of fields including ceramics, metallurgy and advanced composites.
Materials science student learns about the processes required to change the atomic structures of materials in order to engineer new and different materials. Studying materials science is really an exploration of a hugely progressive field and you will have the chance to generate your own ideas and research during a degree in New Zealand.
Materials science not only surrounds us in our everyday lives but is critical to development in areas such as the economy, health care, the environment, sport, defence and much more. The continuous developments in materials science and engineering make it both a challenging and rewarding industry and one which demands well-trained graduates.
In New Zealand, materials science is studied as part of the Bachelor of Engineering (BE (Hons)) in Chemical and Materials Engineering. It is a highly intensive and specialised course, only offered by 3 institutions in New Zealand: Massey University, University of Auckland, and University of Canterbury, all of which are leading institutions in New Zealand.
The degree is accredited by the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand, the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the UK Engineering Council. This high level of accreditation makes the BE (Hons) in Chemical and Materials Engineering an internationally recognised qualification.
The BE (Hons) is a 4 year course made up of a balance of academic and practical study. The first year of the chemical and materials engineering degree lays the foundations for students. It covers key engineering courses in mathematics, materials science and engineering design. The second year progressed into the area of chemical and process engineering and includes courses in energy and design process, and technical communication for engineers. By the third year students will have moved onto the study of materials processing and performance and chemical reactor engineering. As well as these highly technical courses students will have the chance to take courses in business and management in engineering in order to increase employability skills and prepare students for the competitive jobs market. The final year is primarily taken up with practical work and design and research programs will form the core of the fourth year syllabus.
Chemical and Materials Engineering graduates are not short of career options. With highly regarded academic and practical skills, a diverse range of careers are open to them. Most graduates move into employment in sectors such as process operations and development, research, construction and installation, manufacturing and production, and business and management.
