Specialisation

Information on Specialisation

MSE currently offers six niche specialisations under the Materials Science and Engineering programme. These specialisations allow students to pursue greater depth in a chosen area and add value to their degrees. The specialisation will be reflected on the academic transcript, which would immensely assist students in their job search/career as well as in their higher studies.

Specialisation Criteria

In order to obtain the specialisation, student have to meet the following criteria:

  • Complete minimum 5 courses from a particular specialisation area. The minimum requirement for a specialisation is 15 AU.
  • Each specialisation area comprises of 2 core courses and at least 3 elective courses.
  • A course (Core or Major Prescribed Elective) cannot be counted towards more than one specialisation.
  • Students who would like to have two specialisations may choose 3 unique elective courses from each of the specialisation for their Major Prescribed Elective or Unrestricted Elective.
  • Courses counted towards a specialisation cannot be S/U.
  • Students who do not wish to obtain a specialisation may still choose courses of their interest from different specialisation areas.
  • Complete a Final Year Project  (FYP) within the area of Materials and AI (only applicable for Specialisation Area 5: Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Specialisation Areas

The specialisation areas and the respective courses for each specialisation are listed below.

Specialisation Area 1: Medical Materials​ 

MS4013 Biomaterials will be reduced to 2 AU from AY2024-25, so students who take 2 AU MS4013 will need to take 4 elective courses (MPE/UE/BDE) to fulfil the specialisation requirement of a minimum of 15 AU.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester

MS2013 Introduction to Polymer Science

Core3Semester 2
MS4013: Biomaterials​ ​Core 3Semester 1
​MS4610: Advanced Biomaterials ​​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1
MS4611: Biomedical Devices​ ​​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 2
​MS4612: Drug Delivery & Tissue Engineering ​​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 2
​MS4613: Wearable Sensors in Healthcare# ​Major PE 3Semester 1

 

Specialisation Area 2: Industrial Materials Engineering​

For students with double specialisations (specialisation areas 2 & 3), the Core course will be MS2015 Mechanical Behaviour of Materials for specialisation area 2 as MS3014 Analysis of Materials is the Core course for specialisation area 3.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
MS2012 Introduction to Manufacturing Processes ​Core 3Semester 1
MS3014 Analysis of Materials / MS2015 Mechanical Behaviour of Materials* ​Core 3Semester 1 & 2
MS4601 Principles of Semiconductor Devices MPE/UE/BDE3Currently not offered
MS4603: Microelectronic Process Integration​ ​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 2
​MS4621 Selected Topics on Applied Polymer Materials MPE/UE/BDE 2Semester 1
MS4622: Composite MaterialsMPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
MS4630 Photovoltaics Devices and Energy Storage MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
​MS4631: Corrosion Engineering MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1
​MS4642 Additive Manufacturing of MaterialsMPE/UE/BDE 1Semester 1
​MS4663: Engineering Solutions by Design ThinkingMPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1


Specialisation Area 3:  Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

From AY2024-25 MS4014 will be 2 AU, so students who take 2 AU MS4014 will need to take 4 elective courses (MPE/UE/BDE) to fulfil the specialisation requirement of a minimum 15 AU.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
​MS3014: Analysis of Materials​Core 3Semester 1 & 2
​MS4014: Nanomaterials: Fundamentals & applications ​Core 3Semester 2
​MS4613 Wearable Sensors in Healthcare MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1
​MS4640: Advanced Analysis of Materials ​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1
​MS4650 Functional Nanostructured Materials ​MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
​MS4651: Thin Film Technology ​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1

Specialisation Area 4:  Innovation and Intellectual Property

As ET0001 and ML0004 are only 1-2AU, students will need to take 4 elective courses (MPE/UE/BDE) to fulfil the specialisation requirement of minimum 15 AU.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
​MS3015: Industrial Design ​Core 3Semester 1 & 2

 

ET0001 Enterprise and Innovation (pre-ICC students) /

ML0004 Career & Entrepreneurial Development for The Future World* (ICC students)

GER-Core / CC

1/ 

Semester 1 & 2
​MS4660: Fundamentals of Intellectual Property in Materials Science and Engineering ​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1
​MS4661: Application of Patents & Designs in Engineering Related Industry ​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 2
​MS4662: Appreciating IP in Research & Development ​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 2
​MS4663: Engineering Solutions by Design Thinking​MPE/UE/BDE  3Semester 1

 

Specialisation Area 5: Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This specialisation is open for ALL MSE students from students graduating from AY2024-25 S1 onwards (by invitation only up to students graduating AY2023-24 S2).

A survey will be sent by our office near the registration period. Please respond to this survey if you wish to register for SCSE’s courses to satisfy this specialisation. The survey is for vacancy purposes and students should self-register for the courses during the registration period as UE/ BDE.

Reclassification of SCSE’s courses from UE/BDE to MPE will ONLY be done in Y4 for students who are already allocated FYP in Machine Learning/AI-related projects (with MSE or external organization).

The course offering semesters for SCSE’s courses are for reference ONLY, please consult the class schedule or SCSE registration team for the up-to-date course offering semesters. Besides completing a minimum of 15 AU, students under Specialisation Area 5 must complete a Final Year Project (FYP) within the area of Materials and AI. 

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
MS1008: Introduction to Computational ThinkingCore3Semester 1 & 2
MS0003: Introduction to Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceCore3Semester 2
SC2002: Object Oriented Design & Programming (or equivalent)MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 1 & 2
SC3061 Human Computer Interaction (or equivalent)MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 1
SC1007: Data Structures & Algorithms (or equivalent)MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 1 & 2
MS4671: Introduction to Materials SimulationMPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2

 

Specialisation Area 6: Materials and Sustainability

Reclassification of CEE’s courses from UE/BDE to MPE will ONLY be done in Y4 ONLY for students who have passed or registered to other elective courses in the sustainability specialization basket, i.e students who intend to satisfy the specialization by the end of Y4 S2.

The course offering semesters for CEE’s courses are for reference ONLY, please consult the class schedule or CEE registration team for the up-to-date course offering semesters.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
CC0006 Sustainability: Society, Economy and Environment
CC3Semester 1 & 2
MS3011: Metallic and Ceramic Materials
Core3Semester 1 & 2
MS4630: Photovoltaic Devices and Energy Storage
MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
MS4664: Environmental Sustainability and Materials
MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
MS4665: Sustainable Development in Water, Agriculture and Aquaculture@
MPE/UE/BDE2Semester 2
MS4666: Environmental Degradation of Plastics
MPE/UE/BDE1Semester 1
MS4667 Introduction to Sustainable MaterialsMPE/UE/BDE2Semester 1
EM5101: Environmental QualityUE/BDE3Semester 2
EM5104: Air Quality ManagementUE/BDE3Semester 1
EM5109: Environmental Issues and SustainabilityUE/BDE3Semester 2


Specialisation Area 7: Clean Energy 

Reclassification of CEE’s course from UE/BDE to MPE will ONLY be done in Y4 ONLY for students who have passed or registered for other elective courses in the sustainability specialization basket, i.e. students who intend to satisfy the specialization by the end of Y4 S2.

The course offering semesters for CEE’s courses are for reference ONLY, please consult the class schedule or CEE registration team for the up-to-date course offering semesters.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
CC0007 Science & Technology for Humanity
CC3Semester 1 & 2
MS2018 Electronic & Magnetic Properties of Materials
Core3Semester 2
MS4630 Photovoltaic Devices and Energy Storage
MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
MS4681 Carbon Market (New)**
MPE/UE/BDE2Semester 1
MS4682 Materials for Hydrogen Fuel (New)**
MPE/UE/BDE1Semester 1
EN3006 Energy Resources Engineering
MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 1


FAQs:

  1.  I have completed some courses (Core/MPE) under a specialisation area during a study exchange programme (GEM Explorer/Fee-Paying/SUSEP). Can these courses be counted towards the specialisation?
    Yes. Courses that have been approved by the School to be matched to NTU-MSE course can be considered as a course fulfilling the specialisation although it is graded as P/F.

  2.  If I complete a course from another Engineering school in NTU that has similar content as the course that is offered under a specialisation, can it be counted towards that specialisation?
    No. Only the courses listed in the 4 unique MSE Specialisation will be counted.

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