Materials, Economics and Management

Modern society is heavily dependent on advanced materials such as lightweight composites for transport applications, optical fibres for telecommunications and silicon microchips for the information revolution. Materials scientists study the relationships between the structure and properties of a material and how it is made. They also develop new materials to meet engineering specifications, and devise processes for manufacturing them. MEM combines this industrially-relevant scientific knowledge base with a thorough grounding in economics and management to provide a degree that is ideally suited to a career in technical management, consultancy, or the financial services sector especially the financial appraisal of technology.

MEM is taught by the Department of Materials, the Department of Economics and the Saïd Business School, all of which enjoy outstanding international reputations. The Department of Materials has excellent teaching facilities, including a computer room for students and a well-stocked library. Students learn to work together in team design projects, and they develop IT and presentation skills. Demand for graduates of this challenging course is high. The degree is accredited at CEng level by the Engineering Council. There is an option to study a foreign language during the first year.

Most MEM graduates make practical use of their scientific, management and economics knowledge, either in the technology sector or in financial management. A smaller group of graduates go on to further academic study. Recent MEM graduates include a financial auditor for a multinational petroleum company.

Students interested in this course might also like to consider Materials Science.