Material Science
MSc by Research in Materials
University of OxfordA research-intensive master's covering advanced materials, energy storage, nanomaterials, semiconductors, biomaterials, quantum devices and computational modelling.
Related pathways
Study Level
Master's Degree
Study Mode
On Campus
Duration
2 to 3 years full-time
Programme Overview
The University of Oxford MSc by Research in Materials is an advanced research-based master's degree designed for students who want to develop specialist expertise in materials science beyond the level of a conventional taught master's programme.
Students work under academic supervision on an original research project while developing broad expertise across materials science, solid-state physics and chemistry.
Research areas include materials characterisation, processing and manufacturing, computational materials modelling, properties of materials, energy-storage materials, structural and nuclear materials, semiconductors, superconductors, polymers, biomaterials, ceramics, nanomaterials and materials for quantum technologies.
Students have access to advanced research facilities including electron microscopy, clean rooms, nanomechanical characterisation equipment, atom-probe facilities, materials processing laboratories and advanced computational resources.
The degree concludes with a substantial research thesis and an oral examination.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate honours degree, or an equivalent international qualification.
Suitable academic backgrounds include:
Materials Science
Engineering
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Other subjects may be acceptable depending on the proposed research area.
For UK bachelor's or integrated master's degrees, Oxford normally expects an overall grade of at least 65%.
For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the United States, the normally required minimum GPA is 3.5 out of 4.0.
Applicants should demonstrate strong research potential, academic excellence, analytical ability, motivation and suitability for their selected materials research projects.
GRE and GMAT scores are not required.
Three referees must be registered, normally including at least two academic referees.
English-Language Requirements
Oxford Standard English-language level required.
IELTS Academic:
7.0 overall
Minimum 6.5 in each component
TOEFL iBT under Oxford's currently accepted pre-21 January 2026 format:
100 overall
Listening: 22
Reading: 24
Speaking: 25
Writing: 24
Cambridge C1 Advanced:
185 overall
Minimum 176 per component
Cambridge C2 Proficiency:
185 overall
Minimum 176 per component
Oxford Test of English Advanced:
155 overall
Minimum 145 per component
Oxford currently does not accept TOEFL tests taken from 21 January 2026 onward while it reviews the revised test.
English-language tests normally must have been taken within two years of the programme start date.
Career Outcomes
Scholarship Information
University of Oxford provides a wide range of graduate scholarship opportunities. Oxford Graduate Scholarships Oxford expects to offer more than 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across its graduate programmes for the 2026–27 academic year. Applicants who apply by the course's January funding deadline and subsequently receive an offer are automatically considered for many Oxford scholarships. Most Oxford scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, academic potential or a combination of merit and other eligibility criteria. Additional Scholarships Some Oxford scholarships require a separate application or have specific nationality, college, subject or financial-need requirements. College Funding Individual Oxford colleges may provide additional scholarships and financial-support opportunities. External Funding Applicants are also encouraged to investigate government, foundation, industry and other external postgraduate funding schemes.