Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the study and control of matter at the scale of atoms and molecules. The US National Nanotechnology Initiative defines it as the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometres. One nanometre is one-billionth of a metre; a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometres thick. At that scale a material can behave differently from the same material in bulk: some nanostructured materials are stronger, and others conduct heat or electricity better.

The subject sits between physics, chemistry, biology, materials science and engineering. Students learn how nanostructures are made, how they are observed and measured, for example with electron microscopy, and how they are used in electronics, medicine, energy and new materials. Laboratory work takes up a large part of most programmes.

Qualifications and levels

Nanotechnology is mostly a postgraduate specialisation. Many students first take a bachelor's degree in physics, chemistry, materials science or a branch of engineering and then specialise with a master's degree or a PhD. A smaller number of universities offer a full bachelor's degree in the subject.

  • Bachelor's degree. The University at Albany, a campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), offers a Bachelor of Science in Nanoscale Science that draws on physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, engineering and technology. Students choose a concentration in materials or in nanobioscience.
  • Master's degree. The same university's Master of Science in Nanoscale Engineering starts with a common sequence of foundation courses and then splits into seven tracks, among them nanoelectronics, optoelectronics and photonics, and nanobiology. In Spain, the Máster en Materiales Avanzados, Nanotecnología y Fotónica of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) lasts one year (60 ECTS credits), is taught on campus in Spanish and has 25 places. The master's degree in Advanced Materials Science and Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) takes two academic years (120 ECTS credits) and covers nanomaterials alongside structural, functional and biological materials.
  • Doctorate. Research posts usually require a PhD. The UAM describes its master's degree as research-oriented, which is the usual route into a doctoral programme.

Official university degrees in Spain follow a fixed structure: bachelor's degrees (grados) of 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Admission

Master's programmes expect a first degree in a related science or engineering field. The UAM master's degree is aimed at graduates in physics and chemistry and at engineers. Applicants who are not Spanish speakers must prove Spanish at CEFR level B2, and applicants with a degree from outside Spain must supply the grade-average equivalence issued by the Spanish ministry responsible for universities. The UAM lists an approximate price for a first enrolment of €2,736, or €5,079 for non-resident students from outside the European Union (page checked in October 2026). For its Master of Science in Nanoscale Engineering, the University at Albany asks for transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a résumé; a GRE General Test score is recommended but not required.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 19 schools for nanotechnology: seven in Spain, four in the United States, three in the United Kingdom and one each in Australia, Iran, Ireland, Switzerland and Vietnam. In Spain the list includes the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the Universitat de Barcelona, the Universitat Jaume I in Castellón de la Plana, the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha and the Universidad de Murcia. Abroad it includes The University of Texas at Austin, Johns Hopkins University, Cranfield University, University College London, the University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, Technological University Dublin and the University of Wollongong.

The language of instruction depends on the programme and not only on the country. The UAM master's degree is taught in Spanish; check the language on each programme page before applying.

Careers

Nanotechnology is applied in many sectors. The National Nanotechnology Initiative names information technology, medicine, transportation, energy, food safety and environmental science among them. The University at Albany states that its graduates are prepared for work in aerospace, biotechnology, energy, electronics, materials science, medicine and pharmaceuticals.

For chemists and materials scientists, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 7 percent from 2025 to 2035 and names nanotechnology among the research areas expected to create demand. It adds that some jobs, such as research positions, may need a master's degree or a PhD. These figures refer to the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study nanotechnology as a bachelor's degree?

Yes, at some universities: the University at Albany, for example, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nanoscale Science. More often students take a degree in physics, chemistry, materials science or engineering and specialise at master's level.

How long does a master's degree in nanotechnology take?

One or two years. The UAM master's degree in Madrid has 60 ECTS credits and lasts one year; the UPC master's degree in Advanced Materials Science and Engineering has 120 ECTS credits and lasts two academic years.

Do I need Spanish to study nanotechnology in Spain?

It depends on the programme. The UAM master's degree is taught in Spanish and asks applicants who are not Spanish speakers for a B2 certificate. Check the language of each programme.

What background do I need for a master's degree in nanotechnology?

A first degree in physics, chemistry, materials science or engineering is the usual requirement.