MSc Composites: the Science, Technology and Engineering Application of Advanced Composites
How high performance composite materials are increasingly important in the production of aircraft.
Key information
Duration: 1 year full-time
Start date: October 2022
Campus: South Kensington
ECTS: 90 credits
Applications are now closed
Overview
This course addresses the broad field of advanced composites, specifically the manufacturing and characterisation of composites and engineering design.
New aircraft and other challenging engineering applications are becoming increasingly dependent upon the unique capabilities of high performance composite materials.
This course addresses the broad field of advanced composites and is presented by experts in the field from the College, other universities, major aerospace companies and government research organisations.
It will appeal to graduates of engineering, materials science, physics or chemistry. You will develop an outstanding knowledge of composite technology, allowing you to take up specialist roles in industry and research.
The facilities in the department are of a high standard with numerous technicians on-hand to support you when using the equipment and software in the laboratories and workshops.
The programme has been designed to provide a breadth and depth of knowledge of composite materials that will be of relevance to a wide range of companies who use these materials.
Many of the research projects and literature review topics proposed to students are from industry contacts.
The programme is one of the primary providers of postgraduate education in composite materials in Europe and strives for excellence through the delivery of a comprehensive and integrated programme attracting ambitious applicants of high intellectual calibre.
Professional accreditation
This degree is accredited by the following organisations on behalf of the Engineering Council:
Achieving a professionally accredited integrated Master's means that you have satisfied the first step to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in your chosen field by meeting the educational requirements of professional registration. To gain Chartered status, you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet additional graduate level competencies described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC.
A CEng is a highly respected qualification earned by professionals working in engineering, which can lead to higher earning potential and better career prospects.
Professional registration also brings international recognition of your qualification, which is particularly useful for students preparing for a career abroad.
Our accreditation agreements with RAeS and IMechE are renewed every five years. The RAeS and IMechE accreditation agreements last until the 2024-25 academic year intake.
Careers
Graduates of this MSc are in high demand and possess the skills necessary for leading roles in design, research, development and manufacturing.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Page last reviewed on 22 October 2021.
Structure
Core modules
You'll take the core modules below.
Fundamentals of Composite Materials
Learn the fundamental concepts, including the mechanical properties and characterisation of composite materials, including composite systems.
Advanced Manufacturing
Cover the manufacturing principles and processes of composite materials and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between material design, processing and properties.
Lightweight Structures
Broaden your understanding of the mechanics of composite materials and foams, including sandwich construction.
Analytical Characterisation of Composite Materials
Discover advanced analytical techniques used to characterise polymer, fibre and fibre-matrix interfaces’ properties.
Composite Engineering Practice
Develop the knowledge and skills to engage in the practical and hands-on aspect of composite engineering in a multi-disciplinary design environment.
Optional Modules
You'll choose two of the following modules.
Finite Elements
Gain an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of finite element methods and learn to apply this to solving real-life structural problems.
Innovation Management
Cover key principles of innovation management from knowledge co-creation to developing sustainable business models.
Structural Integrity and Health Monitoring
Gain an in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of safe design and learn to apply damage detection techniques to different types of structures.
Computational Mechanics
Explore advanced concepts in the application of the finite element method to the analysis of aerostructures.
Composite Innovation – Nanocomposites and Structural Power
Learn about the latest composite innovations including nanophase reinforced composites and multifunctional composites.
Project
You will choose a research topic from a list of areas relevant to composites science and technology in the autumn term.
From May until the end of your studies, you will have only your research project to complete. The projects are normally conducted at Imperial, but can be taken in industry.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Laboratory work
- Blackboard (Virtual Learning Environment)
- Student Portal on Sharepoint
- Panopto recordings
- Major Individual Research Project
Assessment methods
- Written Examinations
- Presentations (solo and group)
- Written Reports (solo and group)
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Admissions
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, physics or chemistry.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View the Department of Aeronautics' competence standards [pdf]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Aeronautics
T: +44 (0)20 7594 5066
E: aero.msc-admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Admissions
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate (overseas candidates)
An ATAS certificate is required for all visa-nationals, with the exception of EEA/Swiss nationals and nationals of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA.
To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and ‘descriptor’, as well as your university supervisor name. For this course, these are:
| CAH code | Descriptor | Supervisor name |
|---|---|---|
| CAH10-01-04 | aeronautical and aerospace engineering | Professor Paul Robinson |
Your student visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one.
For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate please see the information on our International Student Support website.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£15,400
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£35,700
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies. Find out more about our scholarships to see what you might be eligible for.
A number of external organisations also offer awards for Imperial students. Find out more about non-Imperial scholarships.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
T: +44(0) 20 7594 5066
E: aero.msc-admissions@imperial.ac.uk
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