Your degree in Materials Engineering

Skills you'll develop

While studying Materials Engineering, you're learning to formulate material-selection solutions to diverse product design challenges. You’ll develop important skills to discover and manufacture new materials from extraction to recycling.

These skills may include:

  • Application of principles of thermodynamics, mass, momentum and energy transport, as well as kinetics and mechanics to develop economical and sustainable material solutions
  • Analysis of the physical, chemical, and mechanical structure and properties of materials in relation to how it performs using micro-analytical techniques
  • Production of specifications for moulding, shaping and forming metals, alloys, ceramics, and other materials
  • Creation of systems and procedures to extract, synthesize, and process raw materials into advanced composites and biomaterials
  • Conducting research, corrosion, and failure analyses, operational testing, and quality assurance reviews
  • Development and design of equipment, systems, and processes to manufacture new materials
  • Performing material performance evaluations and developing qualification test plans and reports

Explore career possibilities

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including electronics and advanced computers, automotive, medicine, consumer products, mining, equipment design and development, aerospace and manufacturing, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academic backgrounds, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

  • Aerospace design engineer
  • Asset integrity engineer
  • Biomechanics research engineer
  • Biomedical instrumentation technical officer
  • Ceramics engineer
  • Chemical engineer
  • Consulting mining engineer
  • Corrosion scientist
  • Electrometallurgical engineer
  • Extractive engineer
  • Forensic accident reconstructionist
  • Foundry project engineer
  • Hazardous material consultant
  • Hydrometallurgist
  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Materials engineer
  • Materials planner
  • Materials scientist
  • Materials testing technologist
  • Metallurgical engineer
  • Physical failure analysis engineer
  • Piping material engineer
  • Product development manager for apparel
  • Product safety engineer
  • Professor or Lecturer
  • Pyrometallurgical engineer
  • R&D engineer
  • Refinery engineer
  • Safety engineer
  • Smelting plant engineer
  • Special process quality engineer
  • Supply base quality engineer
  • Textile design engineer
  • Welding engineer

Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help clarify your values and interests.

Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and finding job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Materials Engineering graduates on LinkedIn to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

More information

From your Applied Science degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Engineering degree.