Presentation

If you want to focus on the research and development of innovative functional materials, you can choose between two study tracks: Materials Science, with which you will be awarded the Italian Master Degree, and Material Science (which is accessed by merit-based selection), which will also award you the Master of Science degree from Justus Liebig University in Giessen (Germany), where you will spend the second year and prepare your dissertation. You will study chemistry and physics applied to the properties of materials and specialised topics in materials sciences; from the interaction with other areas of knowledge, such as engineering, you will learn the ability to link the properties and functions of materials with their microscopic structure and other interdisciplinary skills. You will be able to work in high-tech fields, such as companies that produce, process and develop materials.

  Characteristics and purpose

The master’s degree programme in Materials Science aims to train graduates with high-level skills in the field of research and development of innovative functional materials. This is a strategic area in innovation, which requires a strong multidisciplinary background, featuring knowledge of the latest developments in scientific research, with a focus on the sustainability of processes and technologies.

Teaching is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of lecturers working in research groups at the forefront of materials development in the fields of nanotechnology, photonics, electronics, surface science and materials for energy. This means that students have direct contact with the most advanced research in the various fields.

There is an international curriculum, in cooperation with the Justus Liebig University of Giessen (Germany), which leads to obtaining the German title of Master of Science in addition to the Master’s Degree.

In addition, there are various opportunities to conduct the thesis or part of the thesis at international universities and research centres, also thanks to collaborations with the teachers of the degree programme.

Registration is open to graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science or other technical-scientific disciplines who have a solid background in the basic subjects (chemistry, physics, mathematics). More detailed information can be found in the regulations. From the academic year 2021/22, a specific tutoring activity will be provided to support the education of master’s degree students from other bachelor’s degree programmes, such as chemistry and physics. 

Training can be completed by attending short specialisation degrees on specific topics or PhD programmes, in Italy or abroad. The interdisciplinary preparation allows graduates of master’s degree programmes to enter PhD courses in Science & Engineering of Materials and Nanostructures, as well as PhD programmes in Chemistry and Physics.

The proposed courses include a first block of compulsory course units, in which the student acquires advanced knowledge and skills on materials properties and techniques of synthesis and experimental investigation of materials.

A second block focuses on topics of a more specialised nature, also through optional course units, which allow students to define a course of study based on their cultural or professional interests.

 

The offer delivered by the degree programme includes in-depth study of topics such as:

- synthesis, characterisation and applications of nanostructured materials;

- materials and techniques for the production, transformation and storage of energy;

- supramolecular materials and organic materials for electronics;

- materials for advanced applications in photonics and quantum computing;

- physics and technology of semiconductor devices;

- surface chemistry and catalysis;

- optical and microscopy techniques for material characterisation;

- design of materials, also by using computational simulation techniques.

The inclusion of course units provided by other courses at the University makes it possible to extend the offer to other subjects, e.g. biomedicine and nano-biotechnology.

The training programme is completed with the final examination, in the form of an experimental or theoretical/computational thesis to be carried out at the university or external companies and bodies.

Below you can download the complete degree programme description and the syllabus of the course units:

full degree programme description (master’s degree)

syllabus of the course units (master’s degree)

  Occupational fields

Graduates with a master’s degree in Materials Science are able to work in manufacturing or research fields, leading to:

- a solid basic background in chemistry and physics;

- the knowledge of a wide range of materials (metals, polymers, semiconductors, glasses, ceramics, composites, thin films);

- skills in the design, synthesis, production and transformation of materials;

- expertise in advanced instrumental material analysis techniques;

- expertise in innovative sectors such as nanotechnology, biomedicine, photovoltaics and in general materials for energy and environmental sustainability;

- characteristics of flexibility and the ability to deal with different languages, with a proactive attitude towards problem solving.

Graduates find jobs with national and international manufacturing companies operating in the following sectors: plastics, metal, ceramic and polymeric materials; materials for electronics, electricity, telecommunications and construction; mechanical or industrial engineering; metallurgy; health; energy; cultural heritage; and automotive. Locally, specific sectors of employment include precious metals, eyewear and sports materials.

 The Materials Science graduate is usually placed in quality control and research and development departments, and is involved, also with roles of responsibility, in managing even complex experiments and the advanced design and production of materials. They may also deal with technological innovation and intellectual property.