Materials Engineering

The structure of the program consists of a core of 60 credits, four options of 12 credits, three fixed elective packages of 12 credits, engineering and general interest electives of 12 credits and the Master's thesis of 24 credits. The four options focus on materials families or on application domains: Metals and Ceramics, Polymers and Composites, Materials for Nanotechnology, and Materials for Biomedical Applications. The three fixed elective packages have been designed to help the students in imagining themselves in their future professional environment and thus in developing a career profile: research, production and management. The two latter packages include industrial internships.
The programme crowned with the 24 credits Master's thesis where the student will apply his/her knowledge to a research topic of choice. These topics are usually embedded in a cutting-edge research project in cooperation with other institutions and/or industrial companies.

Core Courses

Materials Families

• Advanced Metal Processing & Case Studies
• Metals: Production and Recycling
• Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy

Methods and Techniques

• Materials Modelling and Simulation Techniques
• Materials Characterisation Techniques I
• Sustainable Materials Management

Applications

• Surface Science and Engineering
• Materials in Service
• Materials Physics and Technology for Nanoelectronics

Design

• Design and Analysis of Experimentation
• Project Work and Problem Solving linked to the Core Courses: Part I
• Project Work and Problem Solving linked to the Core Courses: Part II

Options

Students choose one option 'Materials Families and Application Domains'.

Metals and Ceramics

• Metals: Shaping and Joining
• Advanced Ceramic Materials
• Nanomaterials for Nano-electronics

Polymers and Composites

• Composites Manufacturing
• Mechanics of Composites
• Polymer Processing
• Design and Applications of Polymers and Composites

Nanomaterials

• Semiconductor Physics
• Semiconductor Devices
• Advanced Ceramic Materials
• Nanomaterials for Nano-electronics

Biomaterials

• Structure, Synthesis and Cellular Function of Macromolecules
• Biomaterials I
• Host Response to Implanted Materials
• Next Generation Biomaterials

Elective Packages

Professional Profile Packages

Research-oriented Package

• Materials Characterisation Techniques II
• Materials Modelling for Forming Process Simulations
• Computational Thermodynamics in Materials Design
• Scientific Writing

Production-oriented Package

• Industriële stage: Materiaalkunde / Industrial Internship: Materials Engineering
• Bedrijfservaring: Materiaalkunde / Industrial Experience: Materials Engineering
• Hazardous Materials and Safety in the Process Industries

Management-oriented Package

• Industriële stage: Materiaalkunde / Industrial Internship: Materials Engineering
• Industriële stage: Materiaalkunde / Industrial Internship: Materials Engineering
• Project Management

Materials Engineering Fundamentals

Depending on your background, the programme director will decide whether you have to follow one or several of the preparatory 'Materials Engineering Fundamentals' modules listed below. If yes, the first module replaces the fixed 'Professional Profile Packages' except for the course H0S65A 'Scientific Writing' or H06T8A 'Hazardous Materials and Safety in the Process Industries' or H04X2A 'Project Management'. The second module replaces the remaining 3 credits form the 'Professional Profile Packages' and the 'Elective Courses'.

Fundamental Materials Science

• Physical and Chemical Foundations of Materials Engineering
• Materials Selection

Mathematical Materials Science

• Transport Phenomena
• Continuum Modelling of the Mechanical Response of Materials

Polymers and Composites

• Properties of Composites A&B
• Physics and Mechanical Behaviour of Polymers

Elective Courses

• Capita selecta ingenieurswetenschappen I.1. (Athens / Summer Course)
• Functional Anatomy of the Human Locomotor System
• Capita selecta ingenieurswetenschappen I.2. (Athens / Summer Course)
• Textile Preforms for Composites
• Production Machines and Systems
• Chemistry and Characterisation of Surfaces and Thin Films
• Basics of VLSI Processing
• Ecodesign and Life Cycle Engineering
• Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
• Artificial Organs and Tissue Engineering
• Chemistry at Nanometre Scale
• Computational Methods in Solid State Physics
• Resource Recovery and Recycling
• Reliability and Yield for Micro- and Nanoelectronic Components
• Capita selecta ingenieurswetenschappen II.1. (Athens / Summer Course)
• Applied Physical Chemistry
• Water Technology
• Powder Technology
• Recent Developments in Composites Research and Technology
• Capita selecta ingenieurswetenschappen II.2. (Athens / Summer Course)

General Interest Courses

• Industrial Organisation: Theory and Applications
• Organizational Behaviour
• Philosophy of Technology
• Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Development and Cultures
• Energy Economics
• Engineering & Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship in de praktijk / in practice
• Studium generale: mens- en wereldbeelden
• Engels in de bedrijfsomgeving
• Frans in de bedrijfsomgeving

Master's Thesis

Requirements

• Except for native speakers, students should present proof of a test of English proficiency: Grade Point Average 75 % + TOEFL paper test (550) or computer test (213) or iBT (92).
• All applicants (EEA and non-EEA) will have to pay an application fee of 50 € to process their file.
• PDF scans of your diplomas and transcripts of academic records
• PDF scan of the translation of your diploma and official transcripts
• The PDF scans of the TOEFL or IELTS certificates have to be uploaded in the web application Applicant. The original TOEFL or IELTS certificates have to be sent directly by ETS or by the official IELTS test centre administered by The British Council or IDP Education to International Admissions and Mobility at KU Leuven. Alternatively, you can also request ETS or the British Council to make your test result available to KU Leuven online, so we can verify your result via the online verification tool.
• If you still have to take the test by the time you want to submit your application file, upload a proof of registration for the TOEFL or IELTS test in the meantime. The proof of registration should mention the date when you will be taking the test.
• PDF of the proof of payment of the application fee made either via bank transfer or via credit card
• PDF scan of the identity page of your passport
• PDF of your motivation letter (recommended size: one A4 page)
• PDF of your CV

Scholarships

• Master Mind Scholarships