Materials students dip by a quarter

The numbers of undergraduates on materials and engineering courses have slumped dramatically over the last 10 years. Research from Sheffield Hallam University shows a 24% decline in the numbers studying materials since 1996. Over the same period, the total undergraduate numbers have risen by 17%. The courses studied in the research are mainly engineering related, and include materials science, minerals technology and metallurgy. At the same time, full time undergraduates in ‘engineering and technology’ – which encompasses mainly engineering courses – fell by 17%. Hywel Jones (pictured), of the university’s Materials and Engineering Research Institute, said: “The decline in materials subjects is particularly worrying as there was such a small number of these students to begin with. If numbers keep dropping then courses will not have enough students to be viable and may close altogether.” On a positive note, he said there was growth in subjects such as aerospace materials and bio-materials.