This course is available through the following application route(s)
Materials Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary field investigating the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. Materials Scientists and Engineers are at the centre of virtually every area of technology from optoelectronics to space materials and from automotive and automotive manufacturing to biomedical devices. The core knowledge in this field is essential in currently evolving advanced technologies such as additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) and nanotechnology. Graduates will gain expertise in fundamental materials science and real-world engineering application of materials, including metals, ceramics, composites and semiconductors.
This programme is delivered by a School with a long history of innovation, establishing its first spin-out company more than 40 years ago, attracting more than €5 million in research funding annually, and leading SFI’s national centre for advanced manufacturing.
Graduates from this programme will be fully qualified professional engineers, capable of working anywhere in the world at an advanced technical level.
We provide a stimulating learning environment with a wide-ranging and relevant taught curriculum that is underpinned by a hands-on laboratory experience that will encourage students to develop a deep understanding of structure-property relationships in materials. A significant period of structured internship at an industrial partner is a key component of the programme. A variety of teaching, learning and assessment strategies are used to achieve the desired outcomes including individual and team assignments, technical presentations, internship assessment and a significant supervised research project.
If you are a graduate of the MEngSc Materials Science and Engineering programme you can look forward to limitless employment opportunities in leading companies of the manufacturing, biomedical, aerospace, energy and electronic sectors. Manufacturing accounts for 24% of Irish economic output and employs 20% of the Irish workforce directly or indirectly. Ireland’s aerospace and aviation industry is worth over €4.1 billion to the Irish economy, and there are more than 250 companies involved in the aerospace, aviation and space sectors in Ireland, providing employment for around 42,000 full-time workers. Moreover, Ireland hosts 18 of the world’s top 25 medtech companies and a multi-national semi-conductor manufacturing company (Intel Leixlip), overall employing over 40,000 people. UCD materials graduates have taken up roles such as data scientist, manufacturing engineer, development engineer, and research engineer, in different industrial sectors including aerospace (General Electric, Rolls Royce, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics), electronics (Intel), biomedical (Boston Scientific, Stryker, DePuy Synthes) and energy (Siemens).
Hear from our alumni: MEngSc Material Science and Engineering (youtube.com)
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MEEN30090 | Materials Science and Engineering II | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MEEN40080 | Technical Ceramics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MEEN40160 | Materials Thermodynamics and Kinetics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MEEN40560 | Research Skills and Techniques | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MEEN40110 | Advanced Polymer Engineering | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MEEN41150 | Advanced Metals Processing | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MEEN40890 | Project (MEngSc Materials) | Summer | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
CHEM30090 | Chemistry of Materials | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
CHEN40810 | Nanomaterials | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
EEEN20070 | Solid State Devices | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40050 | Computational Continuum Mechanics I | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40060 | Fracture Mechanics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40090 | Energy Systems and Climate Change | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40150 | Computational Continuum Mechanics II | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40600 | Medical Device Design | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40630 | Biomaterials | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
PHYC40410 | Physics of nanomaterials | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
BSEN40350 | Renewable Energy Systems Analysis | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
CHEN40510 | Advanced Characterisation Tech | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN30140 | Professional Engineering (Finance) | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40430 | Professional Engineering (Management) | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: OPTION MODULES: Students must speak to the Programme Director before choosing their Option Modules. |
MEEN40670 | Technical Communication | Spring | 5 |
UCD is strongly committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), embedding sustainability in teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Sustainability principles are integrated into this programme, ensuring students graduate equipped to address global challenges. UCD’s leadership in this area is internationally recognised, ranking 49th globally and 1st in Ireland in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2024. UCD also leads impactful research in areas such as climate action, clean energy, and social equity, supported by a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy focused on reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and fostering a sustainable campus culture.
Here are the SDGs which align more visibly with this programme:
Graduate Profile - Susan Nace
"As an undergraduate mechanical engineering student in the US, I was able to study abroad in Dublin for 6 weeks one summer, during which I lived on UCD’s campus and fell in love with Dublin’s historic-village-yet-international-city vibes. When it came time for me to decide where to pursue a postgraduate degree, I chose UCD based on both my previous positive experiences in Dublin— friendly people, good music scene, great burritos and pizza—as well as UCD’s one year Master of Engineering Science in Materials Engineering degree programme. The programme offered me a chance to study a wide variety of engineering materials used worldwide, such that after finishing the programme, I would be able to use my new knowledge anywhere, not just in jobs or academia in Ireland or the US. The programme required both module and research credits, which allowed me to gain a specialisation in the materials field of mechanical engineering, as well as jumpstart my desired research career. After completing my degree at UCD, I received an Irish Research Council Employment-based Postgraduate Programme doctoral fellowship with a UCD engineering professor and a non-profit based in Dublin, and I am currently in my second year of that PhD programme. I believe that UCD was key to my academic journey and that the university is continuing to help me establish myself in the engineering research field."
Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see www.ucd.ie/global/scholarships/
The College of Engineering & Architecture also offer scholarships for non-EU students, for more information see: www.ucd.ie/eacollege/currentstudents/noneuscholarships.
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MEngSc in Materials Science and Engineering:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | T286 MEngSc in Materials Science and Engineering Master of Engineering Science Full-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Taught |
