Unlike all my friends who are going for Natural Sciences or Engineering or something generically sciency at university, I am applying to study Materials Science (and Engineering).
Nobody has a clue what it is.
Here’s the answer to the most common question I get asked from my friends.
What is Materials Science?
Basically, it’s the study of materials and their properties – why materials have their properties and how you can manipulate them.
Think of any material that you might use. It’s been specifically chosen for that purpose: either because its properties are perfect for that use (like titanium, which is strong but not dense, for jet engines) or because it’s kinda the right stuff but it’s cheap (like plastic for toys).
Materials science optimises the properties of materials for their use and also improves the manufacturing methods to make their production cheaper.
What Do You Study in Materials Science?
This depends on the course and the university – usually, the course is split into the different types of materials (metallurgy, polymers, biomaterials, nanomaterials, composites etc.)
It’s quite common to go into a lecture in the morning on quantum physics and then one in the afternoon on hip replacements!
The variety is what attracted me to this subject – I’m genuinely really excited!
What will you study/have you studied at university/college? How did you find it? How’s your application process going? Let me know in the comments!
Daring To Jess 
This is really interesting – didn’t know this course existed! I’ll be starting English lit with creative writing next year at uni and I’m so excited too 🙂
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Haha me neither until a couple of years ago! Ooh sounds super interesting, it should really suit you 🙂 congratulations!
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thanks 🙂
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One of my Y13s is going for physics and engineering, she’s hoping to get sponsored by Jaguar. I think she feels a bit apart from her peers, but I’ve been very enthusiastic when talking to her. Her personal statement was good. So, best wishes to her (and you).
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That’s amazing! Well done to her for pursuing it, it’s great to hear that she’s going for a scientific degree 🙂 thank you!
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Glad you found a subject that interests you! It’s very diverse and we’ll always need Materials Science because we’ll always be creating new things or improving others!! Exciting, I’ve been wanting to blog about linguistics (my chosen major) and why I love words, so hopefully this gives me incentive to do so!
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Yes I’m glad you agree that it’s a valuable subject! Linguistics is very interesting, there are so many nuances 🙂 hope to read more about your words in your words!
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I’ve never heard of this but it’s so interesting! I can definitely see the appeal of such a unique field(: I just took a class on microbiology (suuuuuper tiny living things) and it was also very interesting!
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I’m glad you agree! Ooh that’s so cool what do you study then?
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In micro it’s a lot of virology, parasitolgy, worms, Protozoa (like amoeba!), and pathogens like what bacteria causes disease and how they grow/where(: very interesting stuff! Can get a little gross at times though haha.
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Oh, forgot to mention, I’m majoring in nursing(:
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Wow that’s really awesome! Good luck with everything 🙂
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Thanks so much!
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