Specialisation
Specialisations
MSE currently offers seven 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 a specialisation, students have to meet the following criteria:
- Complete minimum 15 AU courses from a particular specialisation area.
- Each specialisation area comprises of 2 Core+ courses and at least 3 Elective courses ( MPEs/ BDEs).
- A course cannot be counted towards more than one specialisation
- A course cannot be double counted as a second major program elective and a specialisation elective
- Courses counted towards a specialisation cannot be S/U or on FGO.
- Students who do not wish to obtain a specialisation may still choose courses of their interest from different specialisation areas.
+ Includes GER-Core, Common Core and Foundational Core
Specialisation Area 1: Medical Materials
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | Type | AU | Offered in Semester |
MS2013 Introduction to Polymer Science | Core | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4013 Biomaterials | Core | 2 | Semester 1 |
| MS4610 Advanced Biomaterials | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4611 Biomedical Devices | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4612 Drug Delivery & Tissue Engineering | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4613 Wearable Sensors in Healthcare# | Major PE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4620 Polymer Technology | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Will be offered in due course following a planned revamp |
| MS4701 Special Topics in Medical Materials 1 | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Not offered at NTU; to be fulfilled by matching with equivalent courses at the partner university during the exchange |
| MS4711 Special Topics in Medical Materials 2 | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | |
| MS4721 Special Topics in Medical Materials 3 | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | |
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 and MS3014 Analysis of Materials for specialisation area 3. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | Type | AU | Offered in Semester |
| MS2012 Introduction to Manufacturing Processes | Core | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS3014 Analysis of Materials / MS2015 Mechanical Behaviour of Materials* | Core | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS4601 Principles of Semiconductor Devices | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Currently not offered |
| MS4602 Fundamental of Semiconductor Devices | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | Semester 2 |
| MS4603 Microelectronic Process Integration | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4620 Polymer Technology | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Will be offered in due course following a planned revamp |
| MS4621 Selected Topics on Applied Polymer Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | Semester 1 |
| MS4622 Composite Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4630 Photovoltaics Devices and Energy Storage | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4631 Corrosion Engineering | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4642 Additive Manufacturing of Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Semester 1 |
| MS4652 Failure Analysis | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4663 Engineering Solutions by Design Thinking | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4702 Special Topics in Industrial Materials Engineering 1 | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Not offered at NTU; to be fulfilled by matching with equivalent courses at the partner university during the exchange |
| MS4712 Special Topics in Industrial Materials Engineering 2 | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | |
| MS4722 Special Topics in Industrial Materials Engineering 3 | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | |
Specialisation Area 3: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Starting from AY2024-25, MS4014 Nanomaterials: Fundamentals & Applications has been revised to 2 AU. Students who take the 2 AU version of MS4014 must complete 4 elective courses (MPE/UE/BDE) to meet the specialisation requirement of a minimum of 15 AU. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | Type | AU | Offered in Semester |
| MS3014 Analysis of Materials | Core | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS4014 Nanomaterials: Fundamentals & applications | Core | 2 | Semester 2 |
| MS4613 Wearable Sensors in Healthcare | Major PE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4640 Advanced Analysis of Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4650 Functional Nanostructured Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4651 Thin Film Technology | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4703 Special Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 1 | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Not offered at NTU; to be fulfilled by matching with equivalent courses at the partner university during the exchange |
| MS4713 Special Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2 | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | |
| MS4723 Special Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 3 | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | |
Specialisation Area 4: Innovation and Intellectual Property As ET0001 is only 1 AU, pre-ICC students who take ET0001 (instead of ML0004) must take 4 elective courses (MPE/UE/BDE) to fulfil the specialisation requirement of a minimum of 15 AU. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | Type | AU | Offered in Semester |
| MS3015: Industrial Design | Core | 4 | Semester 1 & 2 |
ET0001 Enterprise and Innovation (pre-ICC students) / ML0004 Career & Entrepreneurial Development for The Future World* (ICC students) | GER-Core / CC | 1/ 2 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS4660 Fundamentals of Intellectual Property in Materials Science and Engineering | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4661 Application of Patents & Registered Design in Engineering Related Industry | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4662 Appreciating IP in Research & Development | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4663 Engineering Solutions by Design Thinking | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4704 Special Topics in Innovation and Intellectual Property 1 | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Not offered at NTU; to be fulfilled by matching with equivalent courses at the partner university during the exchange |
| MS4714 Special Topics in Innovation and Intellectual Property 2 | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | |
| MS4724 Special Topics in Innovation and Intellectual Property 3 | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | |
| Specialisation Area 5: Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
Key Points to Note:
| |||
| Courses | Type | AU | Offered in Semester |
| MS1008 Introduction to Computational Thinking | Core | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS0003 Introduction to Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | Core | 3 | Semester 2 |
| SC2002 Object Oriented Design & Programming (or equivalent) | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| SC3061 Human Computer Interaction (or equivalent) | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| SC1007 Data Structures & Algorithms (or equivalent) | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS4671 Introduction to Materials Simulation | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4705 Special Topics in Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 1 | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Not offered at NTU; to be fulfilled by matching with equivalent courses at the partner university during the exchange |
| MS4715 Special Topics in Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 2 | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | |
| MS4725 Special Topics in Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 3 | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | |
| Specialisation Area 6: Materials and Sustainability | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Key Points to Note:
| |||
| Courses | Type | AU | Offered in Semester |
| CC0006 Sustainability: Society, Economy and Environment | CC | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS3011 Metallic and Ceramic Materials | Core | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS4630 Photovoltaic Devices and Energy Storage | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4664 Environmental Sustainability and Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4665 Sustainable Development in Water, Agriculture and Aquaculture@ | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | Semester 2 |
| MS4666 Environmental Degradation of Plastics | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Semester 1 |
| MS4667 Introduction to Sustainable Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | Semester 1 |
| EM5101 Environmental Quality | UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| EM5104 Air Quality Management | UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| EM5109 Environmental Issues and Sustainability | UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4706 Special Topics in Materials and Sustainability 1 | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Not offered at NTU; to be fulfilled by matching with equivalent courses at the partner university during the exchange |
| MS4716 Special Topics in Materials and Sustainability 2 | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | |
| MS4726 Special Topics in Materials and Sustainability 3 | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | |
| Specialisation Area 7: Clean Energy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Key Points to Note:
| |||
| Courses | Type | AU | Offered in Semester |
| CC0007 Science & Technology for Humanity | CC | 3 | Semester 1 & 2 |
| MS2018 Electronic & Magnetic Properties of Materials | Core | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4622 Composite Materials | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4630 Photovoltaic Devices and Energy Storage | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 2 |
| MS4681 Carbon Market | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | Semester 1 |
| MS4682 Materials for Hydrogen Fuel | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Semester 1 |
| EN3006 Energy Resources Engineering | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | Semester 1 |
| MS4707 Special Topics in Clean Energy 1 | MPE/UE/BDE | 1 | Not offered at NTU; to be fulfilled by matching with equivalent courses at the partner university during the exchange |
| MS4717 Special Topics in Clean Energy 2 | MPE/UE/BDE | 2 | |
| MS4727 Special Topics in Clean Energy 3 | MPE/UE/BDE | 3 | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. What happens if I want to switch specialisations after taking electives in another area?
You can register the remaining required courses under BDE or UE. MPE AUs are fixed, but BDE/UE limits can be exceeded with approval via the Course Approval e-Form (available at MSE Student intranet >> Undergraduate >> Forms).
2. What happens to the courses I took as MPE for my previous specialisation if I switch to another?
Courses already taken under MPE to satisfy previous specialisation will remain on your records and will be counted to satisfy your MPE AU Requirements.
3. Will my completed MPE courses be reclassified if I switch specialisations?
No. Courses you have completed as MPE will continue to count toward your MPE AU requirements. They will not be reclassified as BDE. You can register for your remaining specialisation requirements as BDE or UE courses.
4. Can I use BDE or UE courses to fulfil specialisation requirements if I have insufficient MPE credits?
Yes, you may use BDE or UE courses to satisfy specialisation requirements. If you need to exceed the usual credit limits for BDE or UE, approval through the Course Approval e-Form is required (available at MSE Student intranet >> Undergraduate >> Forms).
5. Can I take extra elective courses outside my specialisation area?
Yes, you can take additional electives outside your specialisation. These will count as BDE or UE credits and contribute toward your overall AU graduation requirements.
6. Do I need to take a specific Final Year Project (FYP) to satisfy my specialisation?
Yes. For Specialisation Area 5: Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI), you must complete an FYP focused on Materials and AI. This requirement applies only to this specialisation.
7. Can I use the same elective courses to fulfil both my Second Major in Medical Biology and the Specialisation in Medical Materials?
No. You must select separate electives for each. A course can only be counted once—either toward your second major or your specialisation, but not both.
8. Can a course (with similar content) from another NTU Engineering school count toward my MSE specialisation?
No, only courses officially listed under MSE specialisations are eligible.
9. Can I pursue two specialisations simultaneously?
Yes, you can, provided that the courses you take for each specialisation are different and do not overlap. If a course is listed in two specialisations, it can only be counted toward one of them—not both.
10. Can courses completed during an exchange programme count toward my specialisation?
Yes, if the course is approved and matched to an NTU-MSE course, even if graded P/F.
11. I do not intend to satisfy Specialisation Area 7: Clean Energy, should I match the course that I took during an exchange with MS4707/17/27? I could not find any similar courses at NTU, so I am unable to match them.
If you do not plan to fulfil Specialisation Area 7: Clean Energy, and your exchange course cannot be matched to a specific NTU course, you should submit it as a generic MPE, BDE, or UE. This allows the course to count toward your (MPE/ BDE/ UE) AU requirements for graduation, with the original course title shown on your transcript. However, if you submit it as MS4707/4717/4727, it will appear as “Special Topics in Clean Energy 1/2/3” instead.
12. Can I take more than 6 AU of specialisation-related courses during exchange, especially for areas not offered at NTU?
There is a 6 AU cap for “shell courses.” An additional 3 AU may be allowed via matched courses, but the total should not exceed this without special approval.