Materials Science

Materials Science is a four-year undergraduate course, with a common syllabus taught at every College. Our students at Trinity achieve excellent results, and often win University and national prizes.

Our tutors are all research scientists. Jan Czernuszka has a special interest in the processing and mechanical properties of biomedical and biological materials. Michael Moody works on quantum mechanics, semi-conductors, and electronic structures. Susie Speller leads a research group specialising in superconducting materials and co-directs the new Centre for Applied Superconductivity. Charlotte Lynch works on modelling nanopores in cell membranes.

Trinity is located within close walking distance of the Department of Materials.

Admissions

Our tutors welcome applications from prospective undergraduate students with strong skills in mathematics, physics and chemistry, and who are prepared for a demanding but rewarding schedule of work. You will need to show that you achieve high academic standards both independently and as part of a group.

We regularly admit some of the strongest DPhil students in various branches of Materials, and we also offer associate college membership to postdoctoral researchers who are working in the groups led by our Tutorial Fellows.

Materials Freshers stand in Trinity's front quad.

Our third-year Materials students

A group of female students stands in aprons doing a materials experiment.

Teaching Structure

The University Department organises lectures and lab-based practicals; the College organises the small-group teaching (tutorials or classes), so your College tutors play a key role in your course. In the first three years, students typically attend two tutorials a week: Materials ‘problem sheets’ are covered in detail, which allows students to develop a good understanding of the course material.

A female student smiles into the camera while holding some lab equipment; she is wearing a lab coat and purple safety gloves.

I really enjoyed the things we got to do in the labs, like playing with jelly, casting molten metal, breaking stuff and using cool microscopes.

Sarah

Couse Details

Our students have tutorials with College tutors for the first three years of the undergraduate course, before undertaking a research project in the Department in their fourth year. The tutors set practice exams at the start of most terms so that students consolidate their learning and prepare for their university examinations. Optional courses in French and German are available for those wishing to improve their language skills. This allows students the option of working abroad for their fourth-year projects. Some students have recently undertaken research projects at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in industry, and at research laboratories in Oxford.

Fund/Grant Information

Trinity is able to offer financial support for travel and living costs to students undertaking internships and other research related to their degree.

Useful Additional Information

Department of Materials

A close-up of bicycles parked in Trinity college.

Google Maps

Trinity and the Department of Materials

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Career Prospects

Many of our graduates in Materials Science go on to pursue further study and research in this field. The skills developed during the degree - the ability to analyse and present complex technical information and to solve high-level problems – are also highly valued by employers in areas like banking, consultancy and environmental work.

An image of a material composition as seen under a microscope.

Trinity’s Materials students regularly win prestigious departmental and University prizes for their individual achievements and teamwork.

Materials Science

Tutors

Jan Czernuszka

Fellow and Tutor in Materials Science

Organising Tutor

Michael Moody

Fellow and Tutor in Materials Science

Organising Tutor

Charlotte Lynch

Lecturer in Materials Science

Susannah Speller

Lecturer in Materials Science