MRes in Soft Electronic Materials

What makes this MRes stand out is how deeply practical it is. From the moment you begin, you’re working directly with real materials, real devices, and real research teams. Because the programme is closely connected to Imperial’s Centre for Processable Electronics, you’ll be surrounded by an environment where physicists, chemists, materials scientists and engineers all work side-by-side — giving you access to specialist labs, high-end equipment and the kind of project experience that mirrors professional research and development.

And to give you a clear feel for what that looks like in practice, here’s how your hands-on learning unfolds:

• Access to fabrication and characterisation facilities where students work with soft electronic materials, organic semiconductors, printable electronics and flexible devices. You’ll use tools for thin-film deposition, solution processing, synthesis, microscopy, spectroscopy and device testing.

• Interdisciplinary lab work across departments such as Physics, Chemistry, Materials, Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering — meaning your projects often involve mixed teams, shared expertise and joint problem-solving.

• A major research project forming the core of the degree, giving you experience in designing experiments, fabricating devices, processing materials, and analysing performance — essentially stepping into the role of a researcher for most of the year.

• Applied, industry-aligned themes such as wearable electronics, bioelectronic sensors, sustainable energy materials, flexible optoelectronics and next-generation semiconductor technologies.

• A strong research community with access to seminars, group meetings and discussions across roughly thirty research groups linked to the Centre for Processable Electronics.

• Access to Imperial’s comprehensive library and digital resources, supporting your research with scientific journals, datasets and advanced reference materials.

Graduates from this MRes step into a field that’s rapidly growing — from flexible electronics and wearable technology to sustainable energy materials and advanced device engineering. With such a research-intensive training year, students often move into roles like research scientist, materials engineer, device development specialist, or technical consultant. Because the programme is rooted in real laboratory work and interdisciplinary collaboration, employers value the blend of scientific depth and practical skill you bring.

Here’s how Imperial helps shape those outcomes:

• Careers support that continues after graduation, giving you access to guidance, job-search resources, employer events and application coaching for several years after completing your degree.

• Strong employment prospects, with Imperial materials and science graduates frequently securing roles in research labs, high-tech manufacturing, energy companies, electronics firms, consultancy, and advanced engineering sectors.

• A wide range of career pathways, since the skills you develop — materials processing, device fabrication, problem-solving, data analysis and research communication — are sought across industries including electronics, healthcare technology, energy storage, pharmaceuticals, and even finance or consulting.

• Long-term professional value, as the degree draws from multiple departments (Physics, Chemistry, Materials, Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering), giving you a multidisciplinary profile that employers increasingly look for.

• A strong tradition of successful graduate outcomes, supported by Imperial’s reputation as one of the world’s leading science and engineering universities.

Further Academic Progression:
Many students use the MRes as a direct pathway into a PhD, either at Imperial or other top universities worldwide. The programme’s research focus prepares you particularly well for doctoral work in soft electronic materials, organic semiconductors, flexible devices, energy materials, bioelectronics, or other emerging fields where advanced material design meets real-world applications.