Studies

 Studies in the master's degree programme in Materials Science provide students with the following competencies:

• to apply the knowledge acquired during advanced studies and a scientific approach to topical and concrete tasks

• to operate in different expert, development and management positions in working life
• to participate in societal debate pertaining to technology 
• to use their English language, communication and cooperation skills in working life
• to apply their knoweldge and skills to scientific activities and societal debate in their field 

After completing the programme and achieving the defined learning outcomes, students will be eligible to pursue a PhD / Doctoral degree and continuous learning.

Structure of the programme

The total extent of the programme is 120 credits, of which 90 credits is composed of course work and 30 credits of the final project, i.e. master's thesis. Each credit represents the average workload of 27 hours, including lectures, exercises, assingments, independent learning and an examination.

The programme consists of the following study modules:

Common studies 20cr

The common studies aim at giving students a common ground for pursuing the studies and orienting them towards the major and minor modules that concentrate on more professional skills. Common studies consist of, for example, an introduction to structure and properties of chrystalline materials, product development and innovations and also the basics of Finnish language as well as the essential oral skills to participate in scientific debate.

Focus area 35cr

The focuas area refers to a major subject that students choose when they apply for admission to the programme. Students are expected to commit to their major subject and it is not possible to change the focus area during the studies, except when choosing focus area from international partner universities. The master's thesis is on a topic connected to the major.

Minor studies 25cr

Minor studies complement the major studies and offer students a well-rounded, holistic view of the selected focus area. 

Optional studies 10cr

Students may freely choose these studies from the overall curriculum.

Master's thesis 30cr

An independent scientific work written on a topic connected to the major studies.

Language

The official language of the programme is English, meaning that all the courses, exams and student services are arranged in English. Consequently, proficiency in both written and spoken English is an absolute prerequisite. International students are required to submit a certificate of their language proficiency when applying to the programme. See further details in the Requirements section.

However, the course titled Finnish for Beginners (3cr) is compulsory during the common programme studies. It provides good basic knowledge of Finnish for everyday use and a brief introduction to Finnish culture.

Problem-based learning enviroment

How are the studies implemented at the department of Materials Science? Besides conventional lectures, more practical teaching methods are also used, such as excercises, laboratory assignments and web-based methods. The department fosters a problem-based approach to learning. The four different focus areas available in the programme provide in-depth knowledge of fibre, textile and fashion engineering, materials research, metallic materials, as well as polymeric materials. Students can freely select the minor studies that they are interested in to support  their chosen path toward the degree.