Theory and Practice

The job market offers rather a broad spectrum of opportunities to materials engineers. Therefore, the curriculum favours flexibility both by a broad and well-balanced basic education as well as by the considerable liberty that the students have to choose from a wide range of courses and to set the emphasis in their studies according to their fields of interest.

A survey that was carried out among graduates with several years of practical experience shows that the curriculum provides a solid basis for a wide variety of occupations. Most of our graduates are working as materials engineers in industry. Some of them, however, have headed in a different direction and now work e.g. for insurance companies or in management consulting. Virtually all graduates asked in the survey stated that the study of materials science at the ETH prepares them very well for the demands of industry. In particular, the education concerning the various classes of materials the education is considered excellent. Nonetheless, skills in the fields of personal time management, project organization, and systems analysis are equally important to most employees. Also, basic knowledge of legal and economic matters is essential. For Ph. D. students employed in the management of smaller companies a basic knowledge of law and economics is also important.

Besides the mandatory courses in the first two years, in which the mathematical, chemical and physical fundamentals are imparted, the subsequent advanced studies offer a wide variety of specialized courses. Since the study of materials science is interdisciplinary in nature, students are encouraged to take courses from totally different areas. Moreover, it is recommended to put a strong emphasis on methodology. Fundamentals and concepts for the solution of specific problems are taught in the various mandatory lab courses and industry practicals.

It is one of the strengths of the curriculum of materials science, that it leaves a choice between a scientific or an engineering-oriented education. Students with a career objective in research and development should put emphasis in physics, mathematics and chemistry, in addition to a solid education in material specific topics. On the other hand, jobs more oriented towards production require a broad overview of materials science in general, as well as a basic understanding of law and economics.