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:

  1. Complete minimum 15 AU courses from a particular specialisation area.
  2. Each specialisation area comprises 2 Core+ courses and at least 3 Elective courses.
  3. A course cannot be counted towards more than one specialisation.
  4. Courses counted towards a specialisation cannot be S/U or on FGO.
  5. 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​ 

Starting from AY2024-25, MS4013 Biomaterials has been revised to 2 AU. Students who take the 2 AU version of MS4013 must complete 4 elective courses (MPE/UE/BDE) to meet the specialisation requirement of a minimum of 15 AU.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester

MS2013 Introduction to Polymer Science

Core3Semester 2
MS4013: Biomaterials​ ​Core 2Semester 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
MS4620 Polymer TechnologyMPE/UE/BDE3Semester 1
MS4701 Special Topics in Medical Materials 1MPE/UE/BDE1Not offered in NTU and to be matched with partner university courses during the exchange
MS4711 Special Topics in Medical Materials 2 MPE/UE/BDE2
MS4721 Special Topics in Medical Materials 3 MPE/UE/BDE3

 

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.

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
MS4602: Fundamental of Semiconductor DevicesMPE/UE/BDE2Semester 2
MS4603: Microelectronic Process Integration​ ​MPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 2
MS4620 Polymer TechnologyMPE/UE/BDE3Semester 1
​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
MS4652: Failure AnalysisMPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
​MS4663: Engineering Solutions by Design ThinkingMPE/UE/BDE 3Semester 1
MS4702 Special Topics in Industrial Materials Engineering 1 MPE/UE/BDE1Not offered in NTU and to be matched with partner university courses during the exchange
MS4712 Special Topics in Industrial Materials Engineering 2MPE/UE/BDE2
MS4722 Special Topics in Industrial Materials Engineering 3MPE/UE/BDE3


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.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
​MS3014: Analysis of Materials​Core 3Semester 1 & 2
​MS4014: Nanomaterials: Fundamentals & applications ​Core 2Semester 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
MS4703 Special Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 1​MPE/UE/BDE1Not offered in NTU and to be matched with partner university courses during the exchange
MS4713 Special Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2 ​MPE/UE/BDE2
MS4723 Special Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 3 ​MPE/UE/BDE3

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.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
​MS3015: Industrial Design ​Core 4Semester 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
MS4704 Special Topics in Innovation and Intellectual Property 1MPE/UE/BDE  1Not offered in NTU and to be matched with partner university courses during the exchange
MS4714 Special Topics in Innovation and Intellectual Property 2MPE/UE/BDE  2
MS4724 Special Topics in Innovation and Intellectual Property 3MPE/UE/BDE  3

 

Specialisation Area 5: Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Key Points to Note:

  1. Survey for SCSE Course Registration:
    • A survey will be sent by MSE UG Academic Office near the registration period.
    • Students interested in registering for SCSE’s courses to fulfil this specialisation must respond to the survey.
    • The survey is for vacancy allocation purposes only; students must self-register for the courses as UE/BDE during the registration period.
  2. Reclassification of SCSE Courses:
    • Reclassification of SCSE courses from UE/BDE to MPE will be done only in Year 4 and ONLY for students who have been allocated FYP projects in Machine Learning/AI-related areas (with MSE or an external organization).
  3. SCSE Course Offering Semesters:
    • The listed offering semesters for SCSE courses are for reference only.
    • Please refer to the class schedule or consult the SCSE registration team for the most up-to-date information on course availability.
  4. Specialisation Area 5 Completion Requirements:
    • Students must complete a minimum of 15 AU under this specialisation.
    • In addition, students must complete a Final Year Project (FYP) focused on 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
MS4705 Special Topics in Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 1MPE/UE/BDE1Not offered in NTU and to be matched with partner university courses during the exchange
MS4715 Special Topics in Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 2MPE/UE/BDE2
MS4725 Special Topics in Materials and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 3MPE/UE/BDE3

 

Specialisation Area 6: Materials and Sustainability

Key Points to Note:

  1. Reclassification of CEE Courses:
    • Reclassification of CEE courses from UE/BDE to MPE will be done only in Year 4 and 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.
  2. CEE Course Offering Semesters:
    • The listed offering semesters for CEE courses are for reference only.
    • Please refer to the class schedule or consult the CEE registration team for the most up-to-date information on course availability.

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
MS4706 Special Topics in Materials and Sustainability 1MPE/UE/BDE1Not offered in NTU and to be matched with partner university courses during the exchange
MS4716 Special Topics in Materials and Sustainability 2MPE/UE/BDE2
MS4726 Special Topics in Materials and Sustainability 3 MPE/UE/BDE3


Specialisation Area 7: Clean Energy 

Key Points to Note:

  1. Reclassification of CEE Courses:
    • Reclassification of CEE courses from UE/BDE to MPE will be done only in Year 4 and 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.
  2. CEE Course Offering Semesters:
    • The listed offering semesters for CEE courses are for reference only.
Please refer to the class schedule or consult the CEE registration team for the most up-to-date information on course availability.

CoursesTypeAUOffered in Semester
CC0007 Science & Technology for Humanity
CC3Semester 1 & 2
MS2018 Electronic & Magnetic Properties of Materials
Core3Semester 2
MS4622 Composite MaterialsMPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
MS4630 Photovoltaic Devices and Energy Storage
MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 2
MS4681 Carbon Market
MPE/UE/BDE2Semester 1
MS4682 Materials for Hydrogen Fuel
MPE/UE/BDE1Semester 1
EN3006 Energy Resources Engineering
MPE/UE/BDE3Semester 1
MS4707 Special Topics in Clean Energy 1 MPE/UE/BDE1Not offered in NTU and to be matched with partner university courses during the exchange
MS4717 Special Topics in Clean Energy 2 MPE/UE/BDE2
MS4727 Special Topics in Clean Energy 3MPE/UE/BDE3


 

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.

3.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.

Suppose you do not intend to satisfy Specialisation Area 7. In that case, you should simply submit the course(s) taken at the partner university during the exchange as generic MPE/BDE/UE if they cannot be matched with a specific course in NTU. Generic MPE/BDE/UE mean that the course(s) are not matched to a specific course(s) in NTU, but they can be transferred to satisfy your MPE/BDE/UE AU Requirements. If you submit a partner university course as a generic MPE/BDE/UE, the original course title will be maintained and reflected in your academic record. If you submit the course as MS4707/17/27 they will be reflected as MS4707/17/27 Special Topics in Clean Energy 1/2/3.

4 .What will happen if I want to take more than 6 AU courses during the exchange to satisfy one of the specialisations that are not offered at NTU?

We refer to such courses (MS4707, MS4717/, MS4727, MS4706 and so on) unofficially as “shell courses’. The submission for shell courses to satisfy specialisation is capped at 6 AU. 6 AU of shell courses and 3 AU course matching to satisfy specialisation is acceptable.

5.I intend to satisfy Specialisation Area 1 when I am in year 3. I already took and passed 6 AU of MPEs from Specialisation Area 1   in year 3. Now in year 4, I have changed my mind and I want to satisfy Specialisation Area B. I only have 4 AU of MPE balance left. How do I register for the remaining courses to satisfy specialisation B?

You can register for the elective courses under BDE/ UE. Courses registered under BDE/ UE can also be used to satisfy specialisation requirements. MPE AU Requirement is fixed – it cannot be changed. However, you can exceed your BDE/UE AU Requirements – subject to approval. Please submit your request for additional BDE/UE through Course Approval e-Form (Guide). The form is accessible only in NTU campus network for active students. Please refer to this guide to connect to NTU VPN if you are accessing the links outside of NTU.

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