Materials Science

Program information

The Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs in Materials Science are offered jointly by Ontario Tech University and Trent University. Materials Science is a broad multidisciplinary area of science that lies at the intersection of physics and chemistry. It comprises many sub-fields including nanotechnology, electronic materials, surface science, biomaterials and materials characterization.

An important goal of the Materials Science programs is to advance the understanding and prediction of the properties of matter. Such understanding facilitates the design of new materials with particular properties. The development of experimental and theoretical predictive tools applicable to size scales, ranging from the molecular to the macroscopic levels, is an integral component of the MSc and PhD in Materials Science programs. The programs provide both a broad and integrated overview of materials science and the opportunity for in-depth study of a particular problem emphasizing either theory or experimentation under the guidance of a research supervisor and a multi-disciplinary team of faculty from Ontario Tech and Trent University.

The PhD program is comprised of four fields:

• Biomaterials
• Materials Chemistry
• Materials Physics
• Theoretical and Computational Materials Science

Admission requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate studies , Materials Science applicants must meet the following program-specific requirements.

MSc in Materials Science

Hold an honours BSc degree in chemistry, physics or engineering, or hold equivalent qualifications as judged by the admissions committee. This committee is made up of the graduate program directors and one faculty member from each of the two universities. Prospective applicants must be well recommended and be accepted by a prospective supervisor who guarantees research assistant support for the duration of the student’s program.

PhD in Materials Science

The minimum admission requirement for the PhD program is completion of an MSc-level degree in Materials Science, or related area, at a Canadian university or its equivalent.

Prior to being accepted into the program, PhD applicants must be accepted by a professor who is willing to act as a supervisor.

Under exceptional circumstances, MSc in Materials Science students may transfer directly to the PhD program after completing one academic year and their first progress report in the MSc program if the following conditions are met:

1. Completion of at least three courses in the master’s program with at least an A-minus average.
2. Strong evidence of research ability as identified by the supervisory committee.
3. Approval of the direct transfer by the thesis supervisor(s) and the supervisory committee. The transfer must also be approved by the graduate program director and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

See the university’s policy on transferring from a thesis-based master’s to a PhD program  for additional information.

Part-time studies

Part-time studies are permitted on a case-by-case basis.

Degree requirements

Select a program from the list below for details on degree requirements.

Programs

• Materials Science, MSc

• Materials Science, PhD