Why study Materials Science at Imperial?

• Reputation, Ranking and Accreditation

Our Materials Department consistently ranks highly in the world. We are ranked 2nd in the UK for Materials Technology by the Good University Guide 2023.

All our courses are accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) on behalf of the Engineering Council to fully meet the educational requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meet the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

• Teaching and Learning

The Teaching Excellence Framework is intended to ‘recognise and reward excellent learning and teaching’ in British universities. The Excellence Framework (TEF) awarded Imperial College London the Gold award. 

Imperial’s TEF Gold ranking was rationalised for four main reasons:

1. Creation of an ‘exceptionally stimulating and stretching’ education that challenges students to fulfil their potential
2. Development of a ‘range of ways in which students are exposed to and deeply engaged with r
3. Maintenance of an ‘outstanding learning environment that supports learning.’
4. Embedding a ‘culture of student engagement and active philosophy of students as partners’.

• Industry Partnership and Graduate Employability

The Department of Materials has a strong track record of collaborating with industry and external partners in various sectors. For example, Shell-Imperial Advanced Interfacial Materials Science (AIMS) Centre,  the Rolls-Royce Nuclear University Technology Centre and BP International Centre for Advanced Materials.

• Research

The College ranks top in the UK overall – with a greater proportion of 4* “world-leading” research than any other UK university. In addition, Imperial ranks first in the UK for research outputs, first in the UK for research environment, and first for research impact among Russell Group universities.

The Department is at the forefront of materials research and innovation. Our staff are involved in various interdisciplinary initiatives and Research Centres, and we have a history of commercialising our innovative ideas. Undergraduate students can also develop personally and professionally by completing an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme. 

• Entrepreneurship
  
  We have some of the best-resourced entrepreneurship facilities in the country, including the largest mentoring system and a network of prototyping equipment. So if you're looking to bring an idea to life, there's no better place to do it.
  
  
• Location 

Based in South Kensington, in central London, we are at the heart of one of the most exciting cities in the world – ps, shopping, bars, restaurants and clubs surround you. There are also festivals, street-food markets and historical landmarks which make London a unique city to explore. You can apply to live in one of our accommodation halls in the centre of London. 

• Tailor-make your degree

In the third year, you can select electives that map to the Department’s research themes and allow you to study a particular class of material or an underpinning principle in more detail. You will also broaden your educational experience by taking an I-explore module. 

In your 4th year, you will undertake an individual research project with one of the Department’s research groups. This may involve working at an external facility such as Diamond in Oxfordshire or a laboratory overseas, e.g. MIT in the US. Project students work alongside researchers, including world-leading academics and PhD students, in areas from bone regeneration to aircraft landing gear and solar cells to cement-bonded refractories.

Imperial also offers a wide range of courses to stimulate your personal, professional and intellectual growth via Imperial Horizons, Imperial’s flagship Centre for Languages, Culture & Communication.

For more information, please visit the Why Imperial? webpage.