Careers and Employability Service
Services for current students

Materials Engineering and Materials Design

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A degree in materials engineering or materials design equips you to understand, develop, and improve the materials that underpin every industry - from aerospace alloys to biomedical polymers.

It also builds expertise in research, problem-solving, and innovation, making you highly sought after across sectors focused on product development, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

Where can it take you?
You could work with organisations like Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover, Johnson Matthey, Airbus, or Lucideon - across sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, healthcare, and consumer products.

Common roles include:
Materials engineer, research and development scientist, failure analyst, product development engineer, metallurgist, or roles in sustainability, testing, and quality assurance.

 

What skills will I develop during my degree?

In addition to your subject knowledge, the degree equips you with key employability skills such as:

  • analytical and problem solving skills
  • IT competence and computer modelling experience
  • creative and innovative thinking
  • able to plan and prioritise
  • high standard of numeracy
  • teamworking
  • communication skills
 

How can I develop my skills during my degree?

Regardless of whether you are a first year or final year, developing skills outside your degree will enhance your CV and allow you to provide evidence of these in applications and at interviews. We have a wide range of opportunities at the University for you to explore:

Faculty of Engineering placements

An industrial placement will enable you to gain industry experience, crucial for your career development.

Faculty of Engineering placements
 

Work experience and volunteering

Depending on what area of work or role you might be interested in, and where, there will be specific strategies, from speculative applications to formal processes you need to be familiar with.

Work experience - what, how and when

 

Nottingham Internship Scheme

We work closely with a huge variety of local and national businesses to bring you an exciting range of internship opportunities, for both current students and recent graduates.

Nottingham Internship Scheme

 

Nottingham Consultancy Challenge

The Nottingham Consultancy Challenge offers the chance for you to gain hands-on experience of managing a short term project for a local business or charity as part of a multi-disciplinary team.  

Nottingham Consultancy Challenge

 

Nottingham Advantage Award

Through the completion of extracurricular modules, the Nottingham Advantage Award helps you develop key life and work-based skills and reflect on your experiences, allowing you to demonstrate your achievements and skills more effectively when applying for jobs.

Nottingham Advantage Award

 

Students' Union

The Students’ Union offers a wide range of volunteering options both locally and internationally which you can fit around your studies.

Alternatively you could get involved in a society or sports club - there's so many, you're bound to find one that interests you!

Students' Union

 

Apply for part-time jobs

The university advertises part-time, casual and temporary jobs on campus and with local businesses.

Created just for you, the advertised vacancies can fit around your studies and other commitments. 

Part-time jobs

 

Careers events

We offer a range of events to develop your skills and meet employers throughout the year. Check out:

 

What do Nottingham graduates go on to do?

Graduate Outcomes is a national survey capturing the activities and perspectives of graduates launched in 2018 and is the biggest annual social survey in the UK. 

You can view the destinations of graduates, who completed the survey, from your course by booking an appointment with an adviser. This can help you to explore your options if you are unsure what you want to do.

Find out more about the Graduate Outcomes Survey

Logo: in wiritng Graduate Outcomes Survey

 
 

 

Careers and Employability Service

University of Nottingham
Portland Building, Level D
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

email: careers-team@nottingham.ac.uk