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Materials engineers study how materials behave under different conditions and discover ways to improve their performance or put them to new uses.
You could work: evenings; occasionally
As a materials engineer, you could:
You could work at a manufacturing plant, in a laboratory or in an office.
You can get into this job through:
You'll normally need a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject, like:
You could also take a degree course specialising in one group of materials or their commercial use, for example:
If you have a related degree, for example, structural engineering, you may be able to take a postgraduate course in materials science and engineering.
You can search for materials science and engineering courses, accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, on the Engineering Council website.
You'll usually need:
You could apply for a degree apprenticeship to begin your materials engineering career. Examples include:
You'll usually need:
Choosing to do an accredited course or a degree apprenticeship can help towards registration for incorporated or chartered engineer status with a professional body. This is a way to demonstrate your professional competence and expertise as your career progresses.
You can find out more about careers in materials science and engineering from Discover Materials and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
With experience, you could progress to lead engineer or move into project management. You could also specialise in particular materials or industries, work in research and development, or become a consultant.