Materials Science

The graduate school is common to the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, the Department of Materials and Manufacturing Technology, the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, and the Department of Applied Physics.
Directors of Graduate Studies:
Eva Olsson, f10eva@chalmers.se
Igor Zoric, igor.zoric@fy.chalmers.se

Syllabus

(approved by the Pro-Vice-President August 17, 2005, ref. nr. C2005/937)
(revised April 8, 2008)

1.    Subject description and goals of the graduate program

Materials science focuses on the relationships between the chemical and physical structure of materials, their properties and performance and processing parameters. Regardless if the material belongs to the metallic, ceramic, polymeric or composite class of materials, an understanding of the structure-processing-property-performance relationships provides a scientific basis for developing materials for advanced applications in modern technology. Fundamental and applied research in this field responds to an ever-increasing demand for improved or better-characterized functional materials.

The main goal of this educational program is to provide a fundamental knowledge, practical skills and professional experience, at a highest international level, necessary for the individual to become a leader in materials science in academia or the industry. The three pillars of the program, based on the research carried out at participating departments, are: relevance, quality and uniqueness. The interdisciplinary approach, guaranteed by the broad spectrum of material related research at participating departments, is expected to give synergetic effects.

Specific goals for our students are:

1. Acquire a working knowledge of the materials science based on foundations of physics, chemistry, biology, mechanics and engineering science… ,
2. Develop analytical ability to apply acquired knowledge, analyze and interpret data and synthesize results and decide how to proceed.
3. Acquire communication skills (both oral and in writing)
4. To push the frontline of research in a particular area of specialization evidenced by scientific publications, conference contributions and patents.
5. Become creative in identifying new promising areas of material science research,

To achieve these goals a series of steps described below is prescribed.

2.    Admissions/General requirements

A university degree in engineering (Chemistry, Chemistry and Biotechnology, Physics, Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience), a Master of Science degree or a university degree (240 hec minimum) in physics, chemistry, appropriate engineering science or another discipline close to the materials science is required. Good working knowledge in English is required. Decision about the student admission is made at the participating department by a Deputy Head of Department in charge of a graduate education and/or Head of Department. In some special cases the Study Director together with the Deputy Head of Department from the local department may decide to register a student with an undergraduate degree outside of the above mentioned areas.

3.    The structure of the graduate program

The participating departments carry out research programs in the practical and theoretical aspects of materials, their utilization and processing methods, and their electronic, physical, mechanical, and chemical properties in relation to their structure.
Within this broad framework, students will focus research on well defined research problems. This focusing constitutes the major field of research. The students follow a program of study under the guidance of an appropriate thesis supervisor. The research interests of departmental faculty members continuously evolve in response to new developments in science as well as the changing needs of a technological society. A list of thesis supervisors and examiners will be provided in the supplementary announcement issued to students each year. Incoming students will be assigned, who will serve in this capacity for the duration of the student's tenure.
The program of study for each degree includes courses, the selection of a research supervisor, examinations, research work, and thesis.
In what follows essential steps are indicated, to be performed after the admission to the program is approved:

1. Thesis supervisor is decided. (The thesis supervisor and the examiner can be the same person.)
2. Examiner is decided
3. Deputy thesis supervisor is decided
4. Selection of courses to be taken (30 hec for a licentiate and 60 hec for a doctoral degree). This is done in consultation with a thesis supervisor.
5. Mandatory courses should be taken as early as possible,
6. Individual study plan formulated,
7. Research work should start immediately,
8. Study research literature in the area of research.
9. Participate at the seminars organized by the graduate schools as well as research group seminars,
10. Regular follow up meetings with examiner and Study Director to follow the progress of the course work and research work,
11. Thesis work completed,
12. Successful thesis defence

Course requirements: 60 hec for a doctoral degree and 30 hec for a licentiate degree. Chalmers courses in ethics (3 hec) and pedagogy (3 hec) are mandatory. All PhD students registered after 1st of January 2005 are obliged to attend  “General introduction for doctoral students'' event. Two basic materials science courses (Mat. Sci. : Structure and properties (7, 5 hec) and Advanced Analysis methods (7, 5 hec)) are strongly recommended for all graduate students. Courses taken at the Masters level can be accepted as graduate courses (maximum 30 hec). Active participation in school and departmental seminars gives 0,5 hec. The remaining courses (up to a 60 hec or 30 hec level) are chosen in consultation with a thesis adviser.
A completion of the research work culminates in a thesis (licentiate or doctoral) based on the published work and manuscript(s) submitted or prepared for submission to scientific journals. A successfully presented/defended (licentiate/doctoral) thesis, done in public, is the last step in the graduate education process

4.    Specialisation (särskilda inriktningar)

The awarded degree is in the field of materials science. Each individual participating department will decide on a possible specialisation for the degree (for example materials science with specialisation in composite materials). A list of approved minor fields will be established.

5.    Courses

Requirements: 60 hec for a doctoral degree and 30 hec for a Licentiate degree

Mandatory courses:

1. TLC102 Teaching, learning and evaluation (3 hec)
2. TLE206 Ethics, Science and Society (3 hec)
3. General Introduction for Doctoral Students  
   

Strongly recommended courses:

1. Mat. Sci.: Structure and properties (7, 5 hec)
2. Advanced Analysis Methods (7, 5 hec)

The strongly recommended courses can be waived on request providing a student has taken these courses or acquired an equivalent knowledge at the masters/undergraduate level. The waiver is approved by the Study Director together with the Deputy Head of the Department where the student’s home base is located. Courses taken and passed at the masters’ level are accepted as graduate courses (maximum 30 hec). Students can also waive some of the blocks of the courses depending on their knowledge in the particular materials science area. This waiver must be approved by the Study Director together with the Deputy Head of the Department at the local department of the student.
A complete list of approved courses is to be prepared by the participating departments before the start of each school year.

6.    Licentiate and doctoral thesis

a)    Licentiate thesis

In all matters the general rules for licentiate theses at Chalmers should be followed. The thesis should be written in English. The content and writing should conform with the rules and requirements for publishing scientific articles in recognised international journals. The examiner makes the decision if the thesis is ready for a public presentation. The presentation of the thesis in the presence of an external reviewer shall take place in a seminar open for public in the presence of the examiner. The latter decides on the passing or failing grade for the thesis.

b) Doctoral thesis

The thesis research is an integral part of the educational process for achieving depth, for fostering originality and for advancing knowledge. The doctoral thesis should manifest these features. It should be written in English. In all matters the general rules for doctoral theses at Chalmers should be followed. The content and writing should conform to the rules and requirements for publishing scientific articles in recognised international journals.
The usual thesis format, containing a compilation of published/accepted/submitted articles and manuscripts accepted by the examiner with a suitable introduction is a desirable format An alternative is a monograph containing sections with a general introduction, abstract, and conclusions. The sections should be arranged so that the document reads as a whole. It is appropriate to put detailed descriptions of procedures and tables of data in appendices so that the thesis sections may be comparable in length and scope to journal articles.

7.    Examination requirements

Licentiate degree

• 30 hec of graduate courses (mandatory courses included) + two articles published, accepted or prepared for submission (in latter case approved by examiner) in an international scientific journal with a peer review system
• Licentiate thesis and its presentation are approved by the examiner
• The course package and research work should be equivalent to 120 hec total work

Doctoral degree

• Successful thesis defence carried out in a public seminar
• Passing grade for the thesis work and thesis defence by the thesis committee approved by the Head of the Department
• 60 hec of graduate courses (mandatory courses included)
• Thesis supervisor and examiner are responsible for upholding highest international standards for the quantity and quality of the research carried out and for its presentation in the thesis
• The total time needed to acquire doctoral degree should roughly correspond to 4 years of full-time work, i.e. the research work should be equivalent to 180 hec and the course package should be equivalent to 60 hec.

8.    Thesis supervising

Consists of:

• Thesis supervisor
• Associate thesis supervisor
• Examiner

Every graduate student admitted to the program chooses/is allocated a qualified supervisor and an associate supervisor as well as an examiner. A list of qualified thesis supervisors and examiners is to be announced every year by the participating departments at the beginning of a school year. The thesis adviser is responsible for establishing an individual plan of study with details for all the planned activities. Once a year a meeting between the student, examiner and a director of study takes place for review of the student progress. The Study Director may delegate this responsibility to the Deputy Head of Department.
Thesis supervisor and examiner are responsible for upholding the highest international standards for the quantity and quality of the research carried out and for its presentation in the thesis.

9.    Examination methods

Determined by the course instructors and announced on the course home page.