Research & Development
Engineering
Degree
Materials Scientist
Investigate and develop new materials for everything from batteries and aircraft to medical implants.
A day in the life
Use electron microscopes and X-ray techniques, test material properties, and scale promising materials for manufacture.
Entry routes
- A-level Physics + Maths (+ Chemistry useful)
- Materials Science, Physics or Chemistry degree
- PhD for independent research roles
Typical salary
- Starter
- £25,000-£31,000
- Experienced
- £38,000-£55,000
- Senior
- £65,000+
Industrial R&D and specialist consultancy can exceed academic pay.
Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Materials Scientist.
UK employers
- Johnson Matthey
- Tata Steel
- Diamond Light Source
- National Physical Laboratory
Worldwide employers
- BASF
- Corning
- 3M
- Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology
Useful route links
These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.
UCAS course search: materials science
Compare degree prospectuses, entry requirements, open days and course structures.
ucas.com
National Careers Service: Materials engineer
UK profile covering materials engineer and materials scientist routes.
nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
UKRI studentships and research funding
Explore UK research councils and postgraduate research funding routes.
ukri.org
Engineering apprenticeships
Search current engineering apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies.
findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk
UCAS Physics and astronomy courses
Search UK undergraduate physics, astrophysics and related degree options.
ucas.com
Prospects: what can I do with a physics degree?
Independent overview of careers that physics graduates enter.
prospects.ac.uk
Key skills
Explore related careers
Sources and further reading
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