Materials chemistry, MSc

Materials chemistry master's programme​ at Chalmers

Society is increasingly relying on chemistry in creating materials that are more environmentally sustainable, more durable, lighter, consume less energy and are cheaper. This broad engineering master's programme aims at deepening your understanding of materials properties in order to design and develop the materials of tomorrow.

Centred around organic- and inorganic chemistry, polymers and nanotechnology we train you in how to use these tools in tweaking molecules to give materials specific properties. This could range from high-temperature corrosion-resistant materials and materials for catalysts in a chemical process or in cars to nanomaterials that have unique traits and precision-targeted pharmaceuticals. 

Evolving fields where materials chemistry stands for great opportunities are e.g. biodegradable detergents, solvent-free paints, polymers made of renewable recourses, polymer-based solar panels and diodes, thermoelectric materials that transfer heat to electricity and handling complex emissions from fuel-efficient engines that rely on biofuels instead of fossil fuels.

The master's programme provides you with an engineering education within the materials field where the emphasis is on synthesis, chemical characterisation, physical and chemical properties and applications, and top-down chemical nanomanufacturing. There is also a close connection to industrially relevant materials, including both present products and the materials of the future.

You will develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are necessary to handle the complexity of materials related to problem-solving in products and processes. This includes the design, development of new and existing materials, synthesis and characterization of material’s properties. Several of the compulsory elective courses have a project-based part where teamwork and innovation processes are included.

Topics covered

The subjects of materials chemistry, polymers and nanomaterials are fundamental areas in the Materials chemistry master’s programme. The courses included in the programme plan handle topics such as advanced catalysis, surface chemistry and nuclear chemistry. ​

Career

Sweden, and the Gothenburg region, in particular, has cutting-edge research in the characterization, design, and development of new materials. In industry and academia, scientists and engineers in materials science are active in fields ranging from fundamental materials development to the application of materials technology in products and processes. Thus, the job market in Sweden has a continuous need for materials engineers with a sound chemistry background within the Swedish industry, such as automotive, rolling bearings, bioimplants, polymers, surface treatment, paint, packaging materials, pharmaceuticals, nuclear materials as well as hygiene and healthcare products.  

Chalmers has connected academic research in all these fields, often together with start-up companies. In addition, sustainable engineering opens up more opportunities such as catalysis, recycling, biodegradable materials, tailored nanomaterials, and corrosion-resistant alloys which can lead you to a career at Chalmers in Sweden or anywhere in the world. Around 30% of the graduated students from Materials chemistry move on to Ph.D. studies, in most cases at Chalmers but also elsewhere. 

Some examples of companies where the previous students have found positions include Powercell, AstraZeneca, ESAB, ST1, Emerson, Borealis, Rise, Ringhals Nuclear power, Nouryon, Mölnlycke Healthcare, Elasto Sweden AB, Preem, Tetra Pack, Intellego Technologies, Akzo Nobel, Oxeon, Vinci Technologies, Perstorp, Volvo, Volvo Cars, Alström Power, Inovyn or Adesso Bioproducts. 

There are also a large number of graduated students that work as consultants or in different parts of the public sector. Around half of the master thesis work conducted on the programme is done in different research groups at Chalmers and the other half is conducted at, on in connections with, companies and industries primely in the Gothenburg area. 

Research

Connections to research are strong within all areas of the master's programme. The teachers are always researchers who all take an active part in the research activities at the department. Laboratory supervision is done by PhD students doing research at the department and in quite many cases these PhD-students are former master’s students in the programme. This guarantees relevance, novelty and a connection to the frontier of research in the courses on the programme.

The connection is strengthened through the Research School in Materials Science and the Area of Advance in Materials Science. In many of the courses, the students work on small research projects, which are directly related to the ongoing research Around half of the master thesis work conducted on the programme is done in different research groups at Chalmers and the other half is conducted as research projects at, on in connections with, companies and industries, primely in the Gothenburg area. 

Find out more about research in Chemistry and chemical engineering