MSc Macromolecular Materials
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Key Information
Campus location
Stockholm, Sweden
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
SEK 342,000 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* non-EU/EEA/Swiss is 342,000 SEK.
Introduction
The master's programme in Macromolecular Materials equips students with comprehensive tools needed to understand the relationships between molecular structure and macromolecular and material properties. Students gain skills to develop future materials in areas such as advanced health care, energy production, bio-based composites, green packaging and surface coatings. Graduates work in industry, start-up companies, consultant companies and research institutes.
Macromolecular Materials at KTH
As a student in the master's programme in Macromolecular Materials, you will learn about the design, synthesis, characterisation, production and development of polymer and fibre-based materials. You will acquire the knowledge and skills to manage the selection of raw materials (renewable versus fossil), choice of production processes, material combinations and manufacturing methods to achieve the desired characteristics of the finished product. We place great emphasis on environmental issues, such as environmentally-friendly material production and the development of sustainable materials.
The programme provides a solid base in the chemistry and physics of organic materials, as well as their connection to real-life applications. A broad range of courses allows you to customise your degree profile to focus on your areas of interest. The programme also establishes excellent laboratory skills and is closely linked to research at the Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology. Skills in problem-solving and teamwork, as well as oral and written presentations, are developed and enhanced throughout the courses.
This is a two-year programme (120 ECTS credits) given in English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of Science. The programme is given mainly at KTH Campus in Stockholm by the School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (at KTH).
Degree project
A master's degree project takes place during the final semester; it is the culmination of the academic programme and is undertaken at KTH, or at a research institute or company in Sweden or abroad. Topics previously explored include: life-time predictions of commodity plastics, design of biobased adhesives, synthesis of sustainable polymers, fibre-solution interactions, microplastics, nanocomposites, 3D-printing and materials for biomedical applications.
Admissions
Curriculum
Year 1
During the master studies two courses are mandatory, at least three out of five conditionally elective courses must be chosen, recommended courses will be taken, 15 credits can be freely chosen, and during the last semester a master thesis project will be performed. It is recommended that the mandatory and conditionally elective courses are taken during the first year of studies, but the students are free to create their own schedule during the two years. Note that courses given during the spring semester should be taken in the first year since the master thesis project is scheduled to the spring semester in the second year.
There might be changes. Recommended courses may be cancelled if the number of admitted students are less than minimum of places, or will be given every second year.
ME2814 can be replaced by one of the following courses and counted as a recommended course: ME2016 Project Management, Leadership and Control, AL2160 Environmental Management, LS2429 Technical communication in English (period 2 or 3 in year 2), or corresponding course(s) with a maximum of 7.5 credits. If the student wants to take another course than the ones listed here, the program responsible must approve it before the course starts.
The courses KF2110 and AK2036 are mandatory courses for all students admitted to the program, except students admitted to program with a background at the Degree Programme in Materials Design and Engineering (CMATD), which instead must follow the courses: KD1230 and AK2036. If the student has studied the course KD1230, the student should instead follow a course from the recommended or conditionally elective course list. The course KD1270 Organic Chemistry, Basic Concepts and Practice 2 is a prerequisite for the course KD2310 Advanced Organic Chemistry and is therefore a recommended course for the students with a background at the Degree Programme in Materials Design and Engineering (CMATD).
For students following the Degree Programme in Biotechnology (CBIOT) who want to obtain the Degree of Master of Science in Engineering the following courses must be studied;
BB2460 Biocatalysis, 7,5 credits
BB2425 Glycobiotechnology, 7.5 credits
Mandatory courses
- Scientific Methodology and Research Horizons (CK2030) 7.5 credits
- Mechanical Properties of Materials (KF2110) 7.5 credits
Year 2
There might be changes. Recommended courses may be cancelled if the number of admitted students are less than minimum of places, or will be given every second year.
Study year 2 consists of courses and a mandatory degree project, second level, 30 higher education credits.
List of Degree projects;
Degree Project in Chemistry, Second Cycle - KD200X
Degree Project in Chemical Engineering, Second Cycle - KE200X
Degree Project in Fibre and Polymer Technology, Second Cycle - KF200X
Recommended courses
- Batteries (CK2300) 7.5 credits
- Nanostructured Materials (KD2170) 7.5 credits
- Biomedical Materials (KD2300) 7.5 credits
- Corrosion and Surface Protection (KD2380) 7.5 credits
- Risk Analysis and Management for Chemical Engineers (KE2351) 7.5 credits
- Surface Coatings Chemistry (KF2150) 7.5 credits
- Pulp and Paper Processes (KF2470) 7.5 credits
- Polymer Materials Processing (KF2505) 7.5 credits
Program Outcome
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Macromolecular Materials are:
- 3 Good Health and Well-being
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Students in the programme learn how to research, design, and produce environmentally friendly materials that will replace many synthetic materials currently found in society. For example, nanocellulose-based fabrics may replace many synthetic-based fabric materials. As such, contributing to a toxin-free society will improve the health and well-being of humanity.
Students in the programme learn how to build resilient materials for use in infrastructure (for example composites, thermoplastics and formulated products). In addition, students learn how to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation by developing environmentally friendly materials, which promote innovations in industrial material development.
A study in fibre and polymer technology naturally involves the responsible use of materials and sustainable production. In particular, this relates to the development of new materials with superior properties, leading to lower consumption of materials, a longer lifetime, as well as considerations of end-of-life scenarios for materials.
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Macromolecular Materials are:
- 3 Good Health and Well-being
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Students in the programme learn how to research, design, and produce environmentally friendly materials that will replace many synthetic materials currently found in society. For example, nanocellulose-based fabrics may replace many synthetic-based fabric materials. As such, contributing to a toxin-free society will improve the health and well-being of humanity.
Students in the programme learn how to build resilient materials for use in infrastructure (for example composites, thermoplastics and formulated products). In addition, students learn how to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation by developing environmentally friendly materials, which promote innovations in industrial material development.
A study in fibre and polymer technology naturally involves the responsible use of materials and sustainable production. In particular, this relates to the development of new materials with superior properties, leading to lower consumption of materials, a longer lifetime, as well as considerations of end-of-life scenarios for materials.
- Project leaders for development and production
- research and development engineers
- quality assurance engineers
- consultants
- project managers
- PhD students
- product specialists, or process engineers.
Scholarships and Funding
KTH offers four different scholarship opportunities for master's studies. The KTH Scholarship covers the tuition fee of a one or two year master’s programme. The KTH One-Year Scholarship is aimed at current KTH master's programme students and covers the tuition fee of the second year of studies. The KTH Joint Programme Scholarship is aimed at students in certain joint programmes and covers the tuition fee for the study period spent at KTH. The KTH India Scholarship is aimed specifically at students from India.
- KTH Scholarship
- KTH One-Year Scholarship
- KTH Joint Programme Scholarship
- KTH India Scholarship
Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute (SI) offers a number of scholarships for students from targeted countries coming to Sweden.
KTH associated scholarship organisations
KTH cooperates with the following organisations providing scholarship opportunities for prospective KTH students.
- COLFUTURO (Programa Crédito Beca) for students from Colombia
- LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) for students from Indonesia
- FUNED for students from Mexico
Scholarship portals
IEFA database
The IEFA database offer a comprehensive scholarships search, grant listing and international student loan programmes.
Studyportals
The Studyportals scholarship database lists over 1,000 scholarship and grants for students worldwide applying for studies in the EU.
Scholars4dev
Scholarships for Development is a database of scholarships open to students from developing countries.
WeMakeScholars
WeMakeScholars helps students from India secure education loans from banks and NBFCs. They also lists more than 26,000 international scholarships from different trusts, foundations and govt. bodies.
Deferment of student loans in the United States
KTH is an accredited institution at the US Department of Education and holds a Title IV 'Deferment Only' status (OPE ID 03274300). US students may defer payments on existing federal student loan accounts while enrolled in a master’s programme at KTH. The 'Deferment Only' status does not allow students to take out federal student loans for enrolment at KTH. However, the accreditation facilitates grant and loan opportunities for US students as many private student loan institutions in the US use this designation as a requirement to grant new loans. Students who wish to defer payments must contact their lending institution in the US.
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the institute website for more information.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for students from this programme are broad and international. Advanced skills in both fibre and polymer technology combined with a clear environmental focus provide an excellent basis for various careers in industry, government agencies and academia and graduates from the master's programme are very attractive for many different sectors such as the paper and forest, plastics, medical technology, pharmaceutical, coating and adhesive and packaging industry. Material expertise is also needed in many other sectors, ranging from transport to electronics.
Programme graduates are found in traditional Swedish industry, in small start-up companies, consultant companies, governmental institutions, research institutes and universities. Graduates from the programmes have gone on to positions, for example, at Stora Enso, Holmen, Volvo Cars, IVL, AstraZeneca, Becker, Scania, Nynäs, BillerudKorsnäs, ABB, GE Healthcare, Pfizer, PRV, and RISE. Graduates from the programme work in all these sectors and are also well-placed for further studies as PhD students.
The need for graduates with the competence offered by the programme will continue to be excellent and is projected to increase in the future.
After graduation
Project leaders for development and production, research and development engineers, quality assurance engineers, consultants, project managers, PhD students, product specialists, or process engineers.