The goal of a PhD education is to enable the candidate to conduct research at a high international level. The research will be made with sound scientific practice and established standards for research ethics. The PhD candidate will be able to solve complex research problems using creative solutions that will have a social and economic impact on society.

Candidate who has completed his or her qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

After a completed PhD in materials science and engineering the candidate is expected to

• be at the forefront of their area of specialisation with ability to evaluate the limitations in existing knowledge and methods within the relevant research area in materials science and engineering
• be able to contribute to new knowledge, methods, interpretations and procedures for documentation and dissemination within materials science and engineering
• master the theoretical basis, problems and methods for synthesis and processing of structural, functional or nano-materials
• master the theoretical basis and mathematical models describing the relationships between material structure (e.g. electronic, atomic, nano-/micro-structure) and properties of metals and alloys, ceramics, functional materials or nano-materials
• master the theoretical basis for relevant experimental and computational methods to characterize and analyse structure and properties of structural, functional and/or nano-materials

Skills

After a completed PhD in materials science and engineering the candidate is expected to be able to

• formulate problems and make adequate plans for research and development, on the basis of the current state of knowledge about a certain topic
• risk assess own research activities and adequately take care of health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues; evaluate the risks associated with chemical or metallurgical processes and evaluate when to seek legal assistance
• perform and critically evaluate own and other’s experimental or theoretical research work with respect to methods, accuracy, sources of error, and good conduct of HSE
• carry out research at a high international level within their area of research in materials science and engineering
• handle complex scientific problems and challenge established knowledge and common practise within their area of research in materials science and engineering
• analyse and document own research in reports and scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed international scientific journals, for
• presentation at national and international conferences and other fora

General competence

After completing a PhD in materials science and engineering the candidate is expected to be able to

• identify ethical problems and execute own research independently with professional integrity
• be an active partner as a part of a research team and handle relevant scientific problems in collaboration with others
• participate in debates within the field of specialisation in national and international fora
• assess possibilities for, and if required initiate, the application of knowledge in practise
• establish a professional network