Master of Nanotechnology

The Master of Nanotechnology is a 72-unit program offered by the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The course articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology and the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in Nanotechnology, and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards.

Candidates who have completed either of these courses are awarded credit for related topics. Up to 36 units of credit may be awarded to students with appropriate honours level studies. Up to 18 units of credit may be awarded to students with relevant professional experience.

Students who have completed the four-year undergraduate Nanotechnology course at Flinders may have 36 units of credit towards completion of the Masters program.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
  
  

Admission requirements

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology or the Graduate Diploma in Nanotechnology must normally hold a degree in any relevant discipline of science or engineering or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. Examples of relevant disciplines include but are not limited to Chemistry, Physics, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology.

The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The primary aim of this course is to facilitate skills transfer from another relevant area of engineering or science and technology to the study of nanotechnology. Students will develop the capacity to:

• understand the basic scientific concepts underpinning nanoscience
• understand the properties of materials and biomaterials at the atomic/molecular level and the scaling laws governing these properties
• understand current frontier developments in nanotechnology nationally and internationally
• recognise and develop novel and innovative ideas
• demonstrate ability in a range of laboratory methods, specifically the fabrication and characterisation tools used in nanotechnology such as various microscopies, surface modifications and molecular level construction methods
• embrace the multidisciplinary aspects of nanotechnology which is core to its understanding and engage positively with people and ideas in many disciplines
• demonstrate communication, problem-based and critical thinking skills that will promote life long learning in their future careers
• work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
• appreciate the emerging role of nanotechnology in society, the regulatory framework within which it operates and the ethical issues it raises
• work cooperatively and productively within a team.
  

Learning outcomes

Students will:

• have a sound grounding and expert knowledge in multidisciplinary areas of nanoscience
• have a sound grounding in and expert knowledge of the basic sciences relevant to employment or further study in the traditional sciences
• have a grounding in economics and commerce relevant to the needs of high-technology companies
• be prepared to work in a high tech work force or pursue a research higher degree in nanotechnology
• analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and carrying out experiments and analysing reported data
• design and carry out experiments using both classical and novel science techniques and protocols
• communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form through debates, posters, reports and oral presentations
• appreciate that there are the relationships and connections across the sciences and non-science disciplines are core to nanotechnology and understand such relationships and connections
• work and learn independently and appreciate the need for life-long learning
• interact effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals.
  

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Nanotechnology, a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Core - Year 1 - Semester 1 intake

36 units comprising:

 CHEM8723  Advanced Macromolecular Science GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8710  Foundations of Nanotechnology  (4.5 units)
 STEP8701  Innovation Management GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8701  Structure and Characterisation GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8702  Frontiers of Nanotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8712  Nanotechnology Industry Placement  (9 units)

Plus one of:

 BTEC9010  Medical Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 BTEC9012  Environmental Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 CHEM8701  Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry GE  (4.5 units)
 CHEM8711  Organic Synthesis and Mechanism GE  (4.5 units)
 FACH8703  Chemistry of Energetic Materials GE  (4.5 units)
 EEET4047  Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMS)*  (4.5 units)

*Students interested in this topic should enrol cross-institutionally in the topic EEET4047 Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMs) at University of South Australia.

Core - Year 2 - Semester 1 intake

36 units comprising:

 NANO8700A  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700B  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700C  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700D  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700E  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700F  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8711  Advanced Nanotechnology GE  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 BTEC9010  Medical Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 BTEC9012  Environmental Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9023  Entrepreneurship and Small Business  (4.5 units)
 CHEM8701  Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry GE  (4.5 units)
 CHEM8711  Organic Synthesis and Mechanism GE  (4.5 units)
 FACH8703  Chemistry of Energetic Materials GE  (4.5 units)
 EEET4047  Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMS)*  (4.5 units)

*Students interested in this topic should enrol cross-institutionally in the topic EEET4047 Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMs) at University of South Australia.

Core - Year 1 - Semester 2 intake

36 units comprising:

 NANO8701  Structure and Characterisation GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8702  Frontiers of Nanotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8710  Foundations of Nanotechnology  (4.5 units)
 CHEM8723  Advanced Macromolecular Science GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8711  Advanced Nanotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 STEP8701  Innovation Management GE  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 CHEM3700  Research Project  (4.5 units)
 PHYS8702  Cosmology and Optoelectronics GE  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 BTEC9010  Medical Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 BTEC9012  Environmental Biotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 CHEM8701  Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry GE  (4.5 units)
 CHEM8711  Organic Synthesis and Mechanism GE  (4.5 units)
 FACH8703  Chemistry of Energetic Materials GE  (4.5 units)
 EEET4047  Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMS)*  (4.5 units)

*Students interested in this topic should enrol cross-institutionally in the topic EEET4047 Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMs) at University of South Australia.

Core - Year 2 - Semester 2 intake

36 units comprising:

 NANO8700A  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700B  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700C  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700D  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700E  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8700F  Nanotechnology Research Project  (4.5/27 units)
 NANO8712  Nanotechnology Industry Placement  (9 units)