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Materials engineers make new materials and improve existing materials by making them more functional, sustainable and affordable.

Materials – metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites – give manufactured products their functional and aesthetic qualities.

Materials engineers improve the way we do things. They apply their knowledge of the behaviour of materials to improve both the processing and the properties of a particular product.

You'll work across a broad range of industries on everything from your phone screen and running shoes to aircraft wings and artificial skin, and help to improve the performance of machines and structures.

Depending on your specialisation, career paths can include design, operation, management, research and consulting in the automobile, whitegoods, steel, aluminium and polymer industries.

Graduate in demand – UQ is the only university in Queensland to offer this highly specialised major.

Specialisations

To study this major, you'll have to choose an engineering specialisation first. The materials engineering major is available in the following specialisations:

Highlights

1 in Queensland for chemical engineering

QS World University Rankings 2023

1 in Queensland for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering

QS World University Rankings 2023

Watch What's it really like to study Chemical and Materials Engineering at UQ? on YouTube.

Career possibilities

Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

  • Materials engineer
  • Materials and processing engineer
  • Laboratory supervisor
  • Chemical engineer
  • Metallurgist
  • Materials scientist
  • Mechanical engineer

Average annual salary range

Materials Engineer

$95K–$115K

seek.com.au

How you'll learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Work placements
  • Overseas study
  • Laboratory work
  • Fieldwork
  • Workshops

What you'll study

At UQ, subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study:

  • Statics and Materials
  • Structures and Materials
  • Biomaterials: Materials in Medicine
  • Nanomaterials

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