About this program
Master of Materials Engineering
The Master of Materials Engineering recognizes that materials change the world. Each engineering design needs to be ‘materialised’: smart phones, implants, solar cells, aircrafts, cars, bridges, all of it. Materials are at the heart of our quality of life and economic welfare, and that will increasingly be the case in the future, with an increased need to use resources wisely and contribute to a sustainable world.
The program is geared towards educating young people who want to participate in the development of materials solutions as researchers or production engineers. It focuses on basic concepts as well as on emerging trends in materials engineering and covers the study of materials properties and structures, optimising processing routes, manufacturing as well as evaluation of final products. You will have ample opportunity to develop strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities, for example through case studies and projects, and you will have frequent contact with industrial partners through plant visits, practical exercises and/or internships. In the master’s thesis, you will apply your knowledge to a research topic of choice, usually embedded in a cutting-edge research project in cooperation with other institutions or industrial companies.
The master aims at educating you so that you will be able to design new materials and make sustainable choices, both in an industrial and academic environment. These capabilities will be based on a thorough understanding and use of the relationships between the internal structure (crystal structure, microstructure, architecture) of materials, their properties (mechanical, electrical, chemical) and their processing (the materials triangle).
Admission requirements
The admission policy is intended to ensure equal opportunity of access to higher education for qualified European and third country students. There are three ways to be admitted to the program:
Direct admission, on the basis of a relevant degree obtained in the Flemish Community. You can check the list of relevant program here.
After a preparatory program, which is meant for students that obtained a degree at an institution of the Flemish Community that does not give immediate access to this program. You can check the list of program that require a preparatory or bridging program here.
After an admission process, which is meant for students that obtained a degree outside the Flemish Community. They have to meet the conditions below.
Applicants enrolling for the first time at KU Leuven prove their English language proficiency by means of an
- IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge English Exam (CAE).
- The minimum score required for IELTS is 7 (with no subscore under 6.5).
- For the TOEFL internet-based test the minimum score is 94 (with no subscore under 22).
- The minimum score required for the Cambridge English Exam (CAE) is 185 (with no subscore under 176).
For more information about admission requirements, Please visit the university website.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
The TOEFL iBT® test is accepted by 11,500 universities and higher education institutions in over 160 countries. Book your test today!
Learn moreChat with students
Program content
Stage 1
Materials Families
- Advanced Metal Processing & Case Studies
- Metals: Production and Recycling
- Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy
Methods and Techniques
- Materials Characterisation Techniques I
- Materials Modelling and Simulation Techniques
Applications
- Surface Science and Engineering
Design
- Design and Analysis of Experimentation
- Project Work and Problem Solving linked to the Core Courses: Part I
- Project Work and Problem Solving Linked to the Core Courses: Part II
Metals and Ceramics
- Metals: Shaping and Joining
Polymers and Composites
- Composites Manufacturing
- Mechanics of Heterogeneous Materials
- Polymer Processing
Nanomaterials
- Semiconductor Physics
- Semiconductor Devices
Biomaterials
- Structure, Synthesis and Cellular Function of Macromolecules
- Biomaterials
- Host Response to Implanted Materials
- Next Generation Biomaterials
Stage 2
Methods and Techniques
Sustainable Materials Management
Applications
- Materials Physics and Technology for Nanoelectronics
- Adhesion Science and Engineering
- Quality Control and Advanced Non-Destructive Testing
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.
Program delivery
The courses taught in English and Dutch.
Tuition
Please visit the university website for more information about tuition fees
Qualification
Credits: 120 ECTS
Career paths
Materials engineers invent, design, make and use materials for products, processes and services. You are educated for leadership in sectors where materials play a decisive role. Examples are the materials making and processing industries, nanotechnology, chemical industry, automotive and aerospace, but also the biomedical sector.
Message the school
About this institute
KU Leuven. Inspiring the Outstanding
KU Leuven is Europe’s most innovative university. Located in Belgium, it is dedicated to research, education, and service to society. KU Leuven is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and has a strong European and...
Why study at KU Leuven
A Highly Ranked University
According to international rankings, KU Leuven is among the best 100 universities in the world. Moreover, KU Leuven was ranked as most innovative university of Europe by Reuters four years in a row (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). All of KU Leuven’s disciplines proudly belong to the top 100 of their field. Scholars and researchers, teachers and visionaries, thinkers and makers all have their place in KU Leuven’s fertile intellectual habitat.
Most Innovative University in Europe
KU Leuven has been identified as Europe’s most innovative university for four years in a row by Reuters. By developing the most important drug against HIV, a new type of solar panel that converts oxygen into hydrogen and uncovering the secrets of Sagalassos, KU Leuven researchers have a profound impact on our everyday lives in nearly all fields of research. That innovative character is deeply embedded in the way we teach our students, by integrating relevant guest lectures, taking an Interdisciplinary approach and opening the most advanced research and education facilities.
A Comprehensive University
As a comprehensive university, KU Leuven offers a wide range of disciplines organized by 15 faculties. Each of these disciplines is ranked in the top 100 of its field according to the THE World University Rankings by subject. Half of the university’s faculties are even in the top 50 within their fields of study.
Contact info
KU Leuven
Want to know more about Master of Materials Engineering? Fill out the following form and we'll pass your details on to a representative from the school, who will respond to your enquiry.
Be the first to write a review!