Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
Metallurgy and Materials Engineering involves the engineering principles required to concentrate, extract and refine metals, materials and carbon (coal) materials, as well as to develop new alloys and materials, including ceramics and composites.
Overview
Design, operate and manage industrial plants that convert minerals and metals into valuable products.
Core subjects in Materials Engineering focus on the structure and behaviour of materials and their conversion into usable forms through heat treatment processes such as welding, forming processes and powder metallurgy.
As in Chemical Engineering, the Materials Engineering Programme Outline also focuses on the issues of environmental engineering, management and professional ethics. There is a strong emphasis on design and project work, with the programme culminating in an extensive laboratory project and a large design project. The degree programme provides a sound foundation for future postgraduate study, as well as a career in technical management.
Career Opportunities
- Corrosion Engineer
- Extractive Metallurgist
- Failure Analysis Consultant
- Foundry Engineer
- Heat Treatment Engineer
- Metallurgical Plant Design Engineer
- Process Control Engineer
- Tribologist Materials Consultant
Curriculum
A common first-year programme was introduced from 2019 across all professional engineering disciplines. The academic curriculum is regularly modernised in order to ensure that it meets the highest professional and academic standards and that it simultaneously remains locally relevant and applicable.
Many engineering students entering the engineering programmes have limited knowledge of the different branches of engineering and only gain the knowledge to make an informed choice of the programme during their first year.
A first-year curriculum that is identical for all programmes allows students to amend their choice at the end of the first year.
First-year
- Engineering Chemistry
- Introduction to the Engineering Profession
- Engineering Analysis and Design IA AND IB
- Engineering Mathematics IA AND IB
- Engineering Physics IA AND IB
- Applied Physics I
AND, one of the following courses:
- Elementary IsiZulu Language and Culture IA
- Elementary Sesotho Language and Culture IA
- The International Relations of South Africa and Africa
- Introduction to Political Studies
- Southern Africa in the Era of Globalisation
- Identity and Society
- Introduction to Ethics I
- Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality
- Global Encounters and Contemporary Realities IA
Second-year
- Engineering Chemistry IIA
- Introductory Mineralogy and Earth Sciences
- Computing for Process Engineering
- Introduction to Extractive Metallurgy
- Practical Metallurgy
- Material Science and Engineering
- Process Engineering Fundamentals A
- Economic Concepts IA
- Electrical Engineering
- Mathematics II
Third-year
- Numerical Methods (Metallurgy)
- Engineering Failure Analysis
- Kinetics and Transport Processes in Metallurgical Engineering
- Solidification, Heat Treatment and Microstructure
- Environmental Process Engineering
- Crystal Structure and Analysis
- Corrosion and Wear
- Non-Ferrous Pyrometallurgy
- Metallurgical Thermodynamics I AND II
- Process and Materials Design I AND II
- Engineering Statistics
Fourth-year
- Physical Chemistry of Iron and Steel Manufacturing
- Metallurgical Design
- Research Project
- Management for Process Engineers
- Particulate Systems
- Process Control
- Welding and Forming Processes
- Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials
- Hydrometallurgical Processes
Entry Requirements
APS 42+
English Home Language OR First Additional Language
Level 5
Mathematics
Level 5
Physical Sciences
Level 5
Wait-listing
Applicants with English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5 will be wait-listed, subject to place availability. Generally, applicants who achieve Level 6 in English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences stand a greater chance of being accepted.
University Application Process
- The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
- Please click here for an overview of the application process.
- Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply.
- Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
- Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
- Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
- If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.
Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.
University Fees and Funding
Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.