The MSc in Materials Engineering for Sustainability in Demanding Environments provides comprehensive training in the understanding and mitigation of material degradation, equipping you with the expertise to develop sustainable solutions for industries operating in extreme and challenging conditions. The course covers fundamental and advanced aspects of materials degradation, including electrochemical processes, corrosion inhibition, environmentally assisted failure, and high-temperature stability. You will explore cutting-edge solutions such as surface engineering and coatings, as well as sustainable material development, to extend the lifespan of critical components while minimising environmental impact.
As the global shift towards cleaner energy and resource-efficient technologies accelerates, ensuring the durability and reliability of materials has never been more crucial, e.g. CO2 resulting from steel production to replace corroded infrastructure is expected to account for ~5 – 10% of total CO2 emissions by 2030. This course explores the role of material degradation and protection in emerging fields such as hydrogen transportation, battery technologies, and geothermal energy, as well as in traditional sectors like nuclear power, oil & gas, and carbon capture for a more sustainable future. It also addresses critical challenges in aerospace, transportation, construction, and biomedical engineering, ensuring the long-term integrity of materials in highly demanding environments.
You will learn directly from leading academics and industry experts, gaining insight from cutting-edge research and practical applications. In the final phase of the MSc, you'll engage in a research dissertation in collaboration with an academic research group, working on innovative solutions to extend material lifespan and improve sustainability.
The course is delivered through a dynamic blend of teaching methods, integrating traditional lectures with interactive and modern approaches that enhance student engagement and practical understanding.
A problem-based learning approach is embedded throughout the course, so you will tackle real-world material degradation and sustainability challenges through collaborative projects, case studies, and applied research activities. This method fosters critical thinking, teamwork, and the practical skills essential for careers in materials science, engineering, and sustainability.
This course was previously known as MSc Corrosion Control Engineering
Course duration 12 months (full-time)
Accreditation This course is accredited by by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
Total self-study time Approximately 30 hours per week (depending on individual background and learning needs)
Teaching time Approximately 12 hours per week
(including pre-recorded and live lectures, seminars and practical exercises)
WHAT CAREER PATHWAYS ARE AVAILABLE?
Opportunities for our graduates are wide-ranging, with many securing key roles as materials engineers, degradation specialists, consultants, and project managers across various industries. Others continue their academic journey by pursuing PhD research at world-renowned institutions, contributing to advancements in material sustainability, surface protection, and degradation science.
Our graduates are highly sought after and employed across diverse sectors, including energy (oil & gas, nuclear, hydrogen, and renewables), transportation, aerospace, infrastructure, and manufacturing.
WHAT ROLES HAVE GRADUATES SECURED?
Graduates of this MSc course typically aim for careers in:
- Corrosion Engineering – Preventing and managing material degradation in oil & gas, aerospace, marine, and infrastructure.
- Materials Design & Selection – Providing Resilient Materials Solution
- Failure Analysis – Investigating failures and selecting resistant materials.
- Protective Coatings & Inhibitor Development – Advancing coatings, inhibitors, and surface treatments.
- Asset Integrity Management – Ensuring long-term reliability of industrial structures.
- Research & Development – Innovating corrosion control technologies.
- Consultancy & Compliance – Advising on industry standards and regulations.
- Sustainability & Green Technologies – Developing eco-friendly degradation prevention methods.
- Pipeline & Offshore Engineering – Managing corrosion in subsea and transport systems.
- Water Treatment & Corrosion Monitoring – Implementing corrosion control in water systems.
- Aerospace & Automotive Materials – Enhancing materials performance in transport.
- Advanced & Additive Manufacturing – Improving corrosion-resistant 3D-printed materials.
OUR STUDENTS' MSc PROJECTS
The MSc project is one of the most exciting parts of a master’s degree — you are paired with an expert supervisor and get a chance to dive deep into a topic you’re passionate about, solve real-world problems, and bring your ideas to life. It’s where everything you’ve learned comes together, showcasing your skills, creativity, and potential to stand out in your field. Here are some projects that our MSc graduates have worked on:
🔎 Next Generation Li-ion Pouch Cells
Lithium-ion pouch cells power electric vehicles, electronics, and energy-storage systems, but the aluminium tabs that connect the cells can corrode over time, reducing battery life and safety. This project explores eco-friendly surface treatments to protect these tabs, moving away from toxic chromium coatings to sustainable alternatives such as zirconium-titanium and rare-earth compounds. Students will use advanced electrochemical testing and microscopy to understand how these coatings work and improve their performance in real battery conditions. The goal is to create longer-lasting, greener batteries, supporting the future of clean energy technologies.
🔎 Conserving Our Past: Understanding the Degradation of Submerged and Buried Lead Artefacts
Lead artefacts provide valuable insights into ancient civilisations, but many are at risk of corrosion when buried or submerged. This project explores how environmental factors—such as oxygen levels, pH, chloride ions, and even microbes—affect the degradation of lead, and investigates eco-friendly ways to slow or prevent this damage. Students will combine laboratory tests, field studies, and advanced analysis (including SEM, EDS, and EIS) to uncover corrosion processes and assess sustainable inhibitors. The findings will help improve long-term preservation strategies, protecting our shared cultural heritage for future generations.
🔎 Hydrogen Embrittlement of Aluminium alloys for hydrogen fuelled transport and storage
As hydrogen becomes a key clean energy source, the materials used for its storage and transport must be safe and reliable. Some aluminium alloys, vital for aerospace and hydrogen technologies, can suffer from hydrogen embrittlement, which weakens them over time. This project investigates how microstructural features, such as precipitates, influence hydrogen uptake and damage in aluminium alloys. Focusing on aerospace-grade 2xxx series alloys, students will use advanced testing methods to study the interaction between hydrogen and alloy microstructures and how it affects mechanical performance. The findings will guide the design of stronger, safer aluminium alloys for the next generation of hydrogen-powered transport and storage systems.
🔎Corrosion Deposition in Nuclear Systems: Investigating CRUD Formation in PWR Reactors
In pressurised water reactors (PWRs), corrosion products known as CRUD (Chalk River Unidentified Deposits) can accumulate on internal surfaces, affecting heat transfer, efficiency, and long-term operational safety. This project examines how water chemistry, flow velocity, and material surfaces influence CRUD deposition under high-temperature, high-flow conditions that replicate reactor environments. Students will compare the effects of different alkalising agents, such as potassium hydroxide (KOH) and lithium hydroxide (LiOH), and investigate how modifying water conductivity or using different substrate materials impacts deposition processes. The findings will provide valuable insights for optimising PWR water chemistry and flow control, supporting safer and more efficient nuclear energy operations.
Dr Beatriz Mingo
Senior Lecturer and Royal Academy of Engineering Fellow
ACADEMIC VOICE
This MSc offers comprehensive training in materials engineering, focusing on sustainable solutions for challenging environments. Students explore degradation mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and approaches to enhance material durability. Through case studies in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and transportation, they develop practical skills to design robust, environmentally responsible materials.
ALUMNI VOICE
After completing my bachelor’s and first master’s degree in Egypt, I pursued an MSc in Corrosion Control Engineering at The University of Manchester, and it truly changed the course of my career. The course gave me not only in-depth technical knowledge in areas like oil & gas corrosion, high-temperature materials, and surface protection, but also a global perspective and a strong professional network. My dissertation on hydrogen embrittlement in aerospace alloys, under the guidance of leading experts, helped me gain confidence in solving real-world industrial problems. Since then, I’ve worked across the Middle East and North Africa in various roles, from a corrosion engineer in Saudi Arabia to leading technical sales teams in Egypt. I’ve managed multimillion-dollar contracts, introduced advanced preservation technologies, and worked with major oil & gas clients to extend the life of critical infrastructure. Looking back, what mattered most wasn’t just the degree itself, but receiving the right education in the right environment. Being taught by experts, exposed to real industry problems, and held to high academic standards made a lasting impact on how I approach my work today.
Ahmed Shawky Shaker
MSc Corrosion Control Engineering Graduate, Class of 2016
Current role: Technical Sales Manager, Atlantic International Corporation
The University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL UK