Student Profile: Materials Science

Read what one of our students, Li, Jun (1st Year Materials Science), says about life at Mansfield.

I enjoy the tutorial system'”I learn more in depth and even have chances to challenge the tutor! Moreover, the friendly small college has a good location which is just in between the centre and the science departments.

Read more ››

Mansfield is one of a small number of Oxford colleges to take students in Materials Science and we take about four students a year. Materials Science involves both the physics and chemistry of solids and provides a broad-based scientific training highly valued by many branches of industry.  The ideal A2 (or equivalent) subjects are Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, with Physics the most important, but applications from candidates with only two of these subjects are also welcomed.

Oxford University offers two courses: Materials Science (MS) and Materials, Economics and Management (MEM).  Both courses last 4 years and lead to the MEng. degree.

The 4th year of the MS course is spent entirely in research, working in a research group, usually within the Department of Materials.  This is particularly valued by students and potential employers.  It can be carried out in industry and in some instances has been completed abroad.

Applicants can expect to be given a thorough technical interview to explore their potential for academic work.  This will test their ability to think clearly and solve problems, rather than assessing depth of knowledge.  Candidates are not expected to display any detailed knowledge of materials, but evidence of a genuine interest will do no harm.

We have two tutors in materials Science. Marina Galano and Jason Smith who has recently been appointed to a post in Quantum Information Processing.

Useful Links

• Department of Materials Science
• University Course Detail: Materials Science
• University Course Detail: Materials, Economics and Management (MEM)