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Preliminary Examination in Materials Science

A

  • 1. The subject of the Preliminary Examination in Materials Science shall be Materials Science, including basic practical and mathematical techniques.

  • 2. The number of papers and other general requirements of the examination shall be as prescribed by regulation from time to time by the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Board.

B

In the following, ‘the Course Handbook’ refers to the Materials Science ‘Prelims Course Handbook’, published annually at the start of Michaelmas Term by the Faculty of Materials, and also posted on the website of the Department of Materials.

  • 1. The Preliminary Examination in Materials Science shall comprise four compulsory written examination papers plus compulsory Materials coursework equivalent to one written examination paper:

    • (a) Materials Science 1: Physical Foundations of Materials

      (b) Materials Science 2: Structure and Mechanical Properties of Materials

      (c) Materials Science 3: Transforming Materials

      (d) Mathematics for Materials Science

      (e) Materials Coursework

    The syllabuses for the written papers shall be published annually in the Course Handbook, not later than the beginning of Michaelmas Full Term for examination in the Trinity Term immediately following this.

  • 2. In the assessment of the Materials coursework, the Moderators shall take into consideration the requirement for a candidate to complete the coursework to a satisfactory level as defined from time to time by the Faculty of Materials and published in the Course Handbook. Materials Science Coursework shall comprise practical work, work carried out in crystallography classes and project work for Computing in Materials Science (CMS), as described in the Course Handbook, and it shall be assessed under the following provisions:

    • (a) All elements of coursework must be submitted to the University approved online assessment platform, accompanied by a declaration indicating that it is the candidate’s own work.

    • (b) Failure of the coursework normally will constitute failure of the Preliminary Examination. Materials Coursework normally cannot be retaken. Exceptionally a candidate who has failed the coursework may be permitted jointly by the Moderators and the candidate’s college to retake the entire academic year.

  • 3. Candidates shall be deemed to have passed the examination if they have satisfied the Moderators in the five papers in clause 1 either at a single examination or at two examinations in accordance with either clause 5 or clause 6, and provided further that the same number of papers as were failed in the first sitting have been passed at the same attempt at a subsequent examination. The Moderators will be guided by the provisions of clause 2 when considering the Materials Coursework paper.

  • 4. The Moderators may award a distinction to candidates of special merit who have satisfied them in all five papers in clause 1 in one examination.

  • 5. Candidates who have passed the coursework paper and fail one or two written papers listed in clause 1 may offer that number of papers at one, but no more than one, subsequent examination.

  • 6. In the case of candidates who offer all four written papers of clause 1, the Moderators shall publish the names only of those who have satisfied them in the coursework paper and in two or more written papers. Candidates whose names do not appear on the Results List but who have passed the coursework paper may enter the written part of the examination on one, but no more than one, subsequent occasion: such candidates must resit all four written papers of clause 1. In the case of candidates who, in accordance with clause 5, offer one or two written papers, the Moderators shall publish the names of only those who have satisfied them in each of the written papers offered.

  • 7. The use of calculators in the papers listed in clause 1 is restricted to those models published annually in the Course Handbook. Calculators are not normally permitted for the Mathematics for Materials Science paper.

  • 8. The examination conventions for the written papers and the coursework listed in clause 1 shall be published annually on the website of the Department of Materials.