PhD in Material Science and engineering

Class Profile

Class Size

25

Average Age

27

Average Work Experience

2 Years

Diversity

California:

20%

Florida:

5%

Illinois:

4%

Texas:

10%

New York:

30%

Others:

31%

Career Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

$1,10,000 / year

Graduation Rate

90%

Job Placement

85%

Top recruiters

IBM

Google

Amazon

Microsoft

Apple

Intel

Siemens

Lockheed Martin

Meta

The Boeing Company

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

$56,840 / year

Overall Cost

$71,840 / year

FAQs

• Can I apply to the PhD program directly after my bachelor’s degree?
  
  You can apply to the MS/PhD track program if you do not already have an MS. If admitted, you will complete the MS at Columbia before progressing to the PhD.
• What are the key milestones for doctoral students?
  
  After completing the MS, students must pass a comprehensive written qualifying exam at the end of the first year, an oral exam within a year after the qualifying exam, and a thesis proposal defense within two years of the qualifying exam. The final requirement is the defense of the doctoral dissertation before a committee.
• Are there financial aid opportunities?
  
  Yes, financial aid is available for doctoral students in the form of fellowships, scholarships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. Awards are competitive.
• What are the main research areas in the program?
  
  Research areas include nanoscale materials, energy technologies, photonics, biomaterials, electronic ceramics, thin films, grain boundaries, interfaces, electrodeposition, corrosion, and computational materials science. Students have access to advanced facilities including clean rooms and electron microscopy labs, and benefit from collaborations with the Columbia Nano Initiative and other research centers.
• What is the structure of the PhD program?
  
  The program includes coursework, a written qualifying exam (after the first year), an oral exam (usually in the second year), a thesis proposal and defense, and the completion and defense of a doctoral dissertation. Students must also complete an online ethics course and attend departmental ethics seminars during their first and second years.
• Is a master’s degree required for admission to the PhD program?
  
  Yes, a Master of Science (MS) degree is required for admission to the PhD or EngScD programs. Applicants without an MS should apply to the MS/PhD track program, which allows students to earn the MS at Columbia and then continue to the PhD.
• What degrees are offered in materials science and engineering at the doctoral level?
  
  Columbia offers both the PhD and the Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD) in Materials Science and Engineering. Both have identical academic requirements for courses, thesis, and examinations, but differ in residence and some administrative details.