1. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

2. Where can materials take me?
MODULE FIVE
Where can materials take me?
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

3. Where can materials take me?
The aim of this module is to give you an appreciation of the broad range of materials careers available and the routes into them.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

4. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
Aims and objectives
The module aims to introduce you to the various different ways that you can get in a career in materials and show you the breadth of options available.
At the end of this module you should be able to:
Appreciate the breadth of the field of materials and give three examples of fields which rely on materials technology.
List 5 universities that offer accredited degree programmes in materials.
Give one example of a company that employs materials specialists at all levels.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

5. Session 1 How do I get in to materials?
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

6. How do I get in to materials
If you are considering going in to any branch of engineering, in particular materials you should:
Have an interest in science and how things work
Be interested in applying science to the real world
Have a thirst for finding out about the world around you
The type of qualifications you will need depend on the level that you want to go in at, but there are many different pathways available.
There are so many areas that rely on materials that you can choose a field that is of interest to you.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

7. What do materials people do?
Materials Science and Engineering is a vast field and materials experts work in many different areas at all levels throughout the materials cycle.
Some work on a very practical level looking at processing and manufacturing materials.
Some work on the fundamental science side, understanding the structure of materials and how it can be manipulated.
Some look to solve issues relating to failure in order to improve materials.
Some look at how we can better reuse and recycle materials and how can make it easier to do this.
In most cases materials experts work in a cross-disciplinary team with other scientists and engineers
The area and level that you work at is up to you!
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

8. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
Activity time!
The Materials Cycle
The area I find most interesting
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

9. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
The Materials Cycle
Materials experts are crucial at every stage of the materials cycle from extraction, processing, use, reuse and recycling.
Choose a product or area that is of interest to you and consider where materials people have played a part in its life cycle.
For example, consider plastic drinks bottle. In brief, materials people were involved in:
Processing raw materials to make the polymers for the bottle and lid
Designing the shape of the bottle and lid to withstand the loads during use
Deciding the best way to manufacture the product and implementing this
Analysing the structure and properties of the polymer to ensure it is fit for purpose, including corrosion testing
Identifying ways in which the polymers can be separated from waste and how they can be recycled in to new products
You can go in to more detail that this, think of each stage in the life of your product!
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

10. The area I find interesting is...
Throughout this project you have investigated traditional and modern materials and how they can be used.
Identify one area that you find particularly interesting, this could be an application (for example aerospace, communication or medicine) or a material group (for example metals, polymers or smart materials).
Your task is to investigate your chosen subject in terms of the areas where you might work.
For example in aerospace you could work on developing new materials for engines, air frames or landing gear and how they can be made, you could be involved in failure investigation or routine inspection and maintenance.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

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12. Session 2 What courses could I study?
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

13. How can I study materials?
You can get in to materials at many levels:
Some people get a job in materials when they finish school and their employers provide training to get BTEC, HNC, HND and eventually degree level qualifications
Some people study materials at university to obtain a degree before getting a job.
Professional qualifications are available at all levels too. The Engineering Council offers professional registration as EngTech or IEng for people working through a more vocational route or CEng registration which is better suited, though not exclusively, for people that have studied an accredited degree and then done further graduate training.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

14. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
What could I study?
There are many courses available at both HE and FE level that focus on materials.
Some are specifically on materials, others allow you to study materials along side other engineering disciplines, languages or business and some look at materials for a specific application such as sports materials or biomaterials.
Some courses are full time, lasting 3 or 4 years, some include industrial placements lasting 6 months or a year.
Some courses are part-time and some can be done via distance learning.
All of these courses will give you the technical and key skills to get a job at the end of your studies.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

15. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
Activity time
Routes in to engineering
Accredited materials courses
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

16. Routes into engineering
Use the Tomorrows Engineers website to explore the different routes into engineering and find out which would suit you best.
Remember studying materials or any other branch of science or engineering will give you the skills to make you highly employable in any field.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

17. Accredited materials degrees
If you decide to study a materials degree you should ensure that it is accredited. By studying an accredited degree you will have be able to progress on to an approved graduate training course in order to achieve professional registration as a Charted Engineer (CEng).
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining accredits Materials degree courses and approved company training schemes on behalf of Engineering Council.
Use the UCAS website and the Engineering Council list of accredited degrees to explore the range of degrees containing some materials content and their entry requirements.
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

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19. Session 3 Where could I work?
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Where could I work?
In addition to working in a wide variety of fields, materials people also work in many different environments.
Some work in offices, some in labs, some in manufacturing plants, some work in industry and others in academia.
Some people that have studied materials end up in other careers such as teaching or constulancy.
Where you work it up to you!
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

21. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3
Activity time
Materials employers in the UK
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

22. Materials employers in the UK
Use the internet to research three large companies in the UK that employ materials people.
Look for the different levels of employment that they offer, for example apprenticeships and graduate training schemes.
Think about different applications of materials and any companies that maybe local to you.
To help you get started here are a few examples: Rolls Royce, Tata Steel, Morgan Advanced Ceramics, DePuy, Vascutek, Shin Etsu Handotai, any car manufacturer, any electronics company, spinout companies from university materials departments...
Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3

23. Prepared by Dr Diane Aston, IOM3