Handbook - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours)

Overview

This handbook entry is for students commencing their studies from 2024. Please refer to previous editions of the handbook for pre-2024 requirements. The field of Materials Science and Engineering presents an incredible opportunity for innovation and progress.  The field impacts almost every aspect of our daily lives, such as the … For more content click the Read More button below. The UNSW Bachelor of Engineering (honours) in Materials Science and Engineering is one of the most contemporary degrees of its kind in Australia, with a strong emphasis on societal impact.  The early stages cover the fundamental scientific principles necessary for understanding the structure, properties, and performance of all major classes of materials, including metallic, ceramic, polymeric, composite, and nature-inspired materials. The focus then shifts towards the principles involved in designing, selecting and processing materials for use in applications that positively impact the world around us.  Ultimately, the degree program, which requires students to select two societal materials electives, two general electives from outside the discipline, and two free electives from any discipline, cultivates the necessary professional and socially aware mindset required for a successful career as a materials engineer. The School of Materials Science and Engineering is ideally positioned to train the next generation of materials engineering graduates who are passionate about making a positive difference to the world.  The School boasts a team of leading educators and state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, computing, and materials processing, characterization, and properties.  These resources provide students with an exceptional education and training environment, preparing them for careers in various sectors, including aerospace, transportation, defence, construction, mining, electronics, renewable energy, and biomedical science.

This handbook entry is for students commencing their studies from 2024. Please refer to previous editions of the handbook for pre-2024 requirements.

The field of Materials Science and Engineering presents an incredible opportunity for innovation and progress. 

The field impacts almost every aspect of our daily lives, such as the remarkable recycled products produced from seemingly end-of-life waste materials, the ubiquitous concrete and steel in the structures all around us, the novel materials needed for improving the performance of rechargeable batteries, and the amazing biomedical materials that improve our health and extend our life.  In this century, sustainability, environmental impact, and the ongoing quest to improve our health and standard of living, lie at the core of materials development and application.

The UNSW Bachelor of Engineering (honours) in Materials Science and Engineering is one of the most contemporary degrees of its kind in Australia, with a strong emphasis on societal impact.  The early stages cover the fundamental scientific principles necessary for understanding the structure, properties, and performance of all major classes of materials, including metallic, ceramic, polymeric, composite, and nature-inspired materials. The focus then shifts towards the principles involved in designing, selecting and processing materials for use in applications that positively impact the world around us. 

Ultimately, the degree program, which requires students to select two societal materials electives, two general electives from outside the discipline, and two free electives from any discipline, cultivates the necessary professional and socially aware mindset required for a successful career as a materials engineer.

The School of Materials Science and Engineering is ideally positioned to train the next generation of materials engineering graduates who are passionate about making a positive difference to the world.  The School boasts a team of leading educators and state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, computing, and materials processing, characterization, and properties.  These resources provide students with an exceptional education and training environment, preparing them for careers in various sectors, including aerospace, transportation, defence, construction, mining, electronics, renewable energy, and biomedical science.

Program Structure

Students must complete 192 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

MATSM1 Materials Science and Engineering (Materials Engineering) (168 UOC)
ENGG4999 Industrial Training (0 UOC)
Free Electives (12 UOC)
General Education (12 UOC)

All students are also required to complete 60 days of Industrial Training.

Disciplinary Component168 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 168 UOC of the following to satisfy the core requirements of this degree

Specialisation Requirements

Industrial Training

Students must complete the following course.

Students must complete a minimum of 60 days of Industrial Training to graduate. Industrial Training must be undertaken concurrently with enrolment in the program. Students are also required to complete a short formal presentation summarising their work experience and reflecting on the key Stage 1 Engineering Competencies that they gained exposure to and practiced. Presentations are held at an industry networking event hosted by the School of Materials Science and Engineering and attended by students, academic and professional staff and industry representatives. For more information on Industrial Training, please visit https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/student-life/industrial-training

ENGG4999

0 UOC

Industrial Training

Maximum Level 1 UOC

Free Electives12 Units of Credit:

General Education12 Units of Credit:

Excluded General Education Courses

Industrial Training

Program Constraints

Maturity Rule

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Sample Programs

To access sample program(s), please visit:

Science Degree Template

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

UNSW Students may be granted Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) which may or may not reduce the amount of learning required to achieve a degree at UNSW. Generally, RPL is only granted based on the completion of tertiary-level studies, but in exceptional circumstances may also include non-formal or informal learning such as professional experience. RPL will not be granted based on partly completed tertiary courses. All applications for RPL at UNSW are subject to UNSW Recognition of Prior Learning (Coursework Programs) Policy and Procedures. Students seeking credit for courses completed at another university are required to submit documentary evidence (course outlines, academic transcripts) to support their application, and to nominate the course(s) for which they seek credit. In addition, the following conditions apply for all UNSW Science programs (including the Science component of dual award programs): Specified course credit, i.e. credit granted for an exact or near exact equivalence to a course at UNSW, will not be granted when more than 7 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Where this time period is shorter it will be stipulated in the individual rules for the relevant program. Unspecified course credit (e.g. General Education or free electives) will not be granted when more than 10 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Students may only receive credit of up to a maximum of 50% of the coursework component of their Science program, excluding Honours. For most undergraduate programs this will be 72 UOC. For dual award programs that include a Science component, it will be a maximum of 50% of the Science component of the dual degree, excluding Honours. Credit for the other program will be assessed by the Faculty that administers that program. Applications for RPL will only be assessed for students who have accepted a place to study in a UNSW Science program. Students must formally apply for RPL unless they become a UNSW student as part of a formal Articulation Agreement. Applications for RPL should be made as early as possible in the student’s program. Students who are readmitted into a Science program after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, will not necessarily retain credit for all units completed at UNSW prior to the absence if the date of completion of the units of study is greater than the 7 and 10-year rules outlined in points 1 and 2 above. In these cases, the credit retained will be decided by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) in consultation (when necessary) with the Program and/or Course Authority.

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Domestic Students

International Student

Program Requirements

Compulsory Training Component

Industrial Experience Requirement
All students are required to have gained at least 12 weeks of approved industrial experience before graduation and to have submitted satisfactory reports on such work. Industrial experience is usually obtained during a long vacation at the end of Stages 2 and 3.

Progression Requirements

Students are not permitted to continue in Program 3131 and will be transferred to Program 3970 BSc (Materials Science Major), with such transfer subject to appeal, if any of the following apply:

2 fails in any given core course
Less than 50% of program courses have been passed after half or more of the BE program (>84 UOC) has been attempted
A WAM of less than 55% prior to the final 48 UOC of the BE program (ie., after 120 UOC of the BE program completed)

The School of Materials Science and Engineering Education Committee will consider appeals against transfer out of the BE Program and will take into account academic, medical, and personal issues in accordance with the UNSW Special Consideration Policy and the Re-Enrolment Appeal Committee process.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Similar Program

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE (Hons)3707 - Engineering (Honours)

Bachelor of Science - BSc3970 - Science

Related Double Degree

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE(Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering Science - BEngSc3132 - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours) / Engineering Science

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE(Hons)
Master of Biomedical Engineering - MBiomedE3133 - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours) / Biomedical Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE(Hons)
Bachelor of Commerce - BCom3134 - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours) / Commerce

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Engineers Australia

Professional Recognition

Engineers Australia recognises the degree of BE as meeting the examination requirements for admission to graduate and corporate membership. Similarly, substantial or complete recognition is accorded to the BE degree programs by overseas engineering institutions.

Recognition of Achievement

University Medal

Honours Classes

Recognition of achievement for Honours in the program is as follows:

Class 1: Honours WAM >80 and Thesis mark of >65
Class 2 Division 1: Honours WAM >75 and Thesis mark of >65
Class 2 Division 2: Honours WAM >65 and Thesis mark of >65

The Honours WAM is calculated to one decimal place as a weighting of courses according to UOC and the particular level, the latter being:

General Education = 1
Level 1 Courses = 1
Level 2 Courses = 2
Level 3 Courses = 3
Level 4 Courses = 4

Only the first attempt at a course counts.

The above weighing reflects the embedded Honours model of the program and a significant research project (18 or 24 UOC) is included in the final year of study.

Additional Information

University Medal

Medalists will be determined in accordance with UNSW Policy and Procedure. However, to be considered for a university medal students will need to have achieved at a minimum an Honours WAM greater than or equal to 85 and a thesis mark greater than 65.

Science Handbook Rules and Editions

Students must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year they commence their studies with the Faculty of Science.

Students who transfer from another UNSW Faculty into Science (for example, from a Bachelor of Arts into a Bachelor of Science) must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year of their transfer.

Students, who are readmitted to UNSW after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, must satisfy the program rules in the Handbook published in the year of their readmission. In addition, these students may be subject to restrictions on which courses taken at UNSW may be counted on their return. In some cases, students returning from an unapproved absence may be required to repeat courses. See the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Advanced Standing section below for more details. Students who take approved leave or deferment will follow the Handbook for the year of their original commencement unless otherwise approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

Faculty of Science Rules

The Faculty of Science has some rules that relate to all students enrolled in programs offered by the Faculty in relation to recognition for prior learning, general education, course exclusions, study load, and cross-institutional study. All students should read the information contained on the Faculty General Rules and Requirements page.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students

Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)

International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions