The Department of Materials at Oxford University's objectives are to produce world class graduate materials scientists and engineers, and to conduct world class research into the manufacture, structure, properties and applications of materials, for the benefit of the UK and world community. In the UK Government’s most recent assessment of research excellence in universities, the 2008 RAE, Oxford Materials was one of the top-rated materials departments in the country with 80% of our research activity judged to be ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.