Program overview
Materials Science and Engineering, simply put, is the study of 'what things are made of and how to make them better.' From phone screens to aircraft engines, from batteries to artificial bones, materials are everywhere. At the graduate level, you will delve into the structure, properties, preparation, and characterization methods of materials. Core courses include Materials Thermodynamics, Solid State Physics, Materials Characterization Techniques (such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction), and Materials Processing and Forming. Many Chinese universities have strong experimental platforms in this field—for example, the materials schools at Tsinghua, Shanghai Jiao Tong, and Beihang all have national-level labs where you can access cutting-edge equipment. This major suits students who enjoy hands-on experiments, don't mind physics and chemistry, and are willing to explore the microscopic world. If you have an undergraduate background in materials, chemistry, physics, or mechanical engineering, you'll find it easier to adapt to graduate studies.