COURSE SPECIFICATION

Course Aim and Title MSc Mechatronics and Computer

Systems Engineering

Intermediate Awards Available PgCert Mechatronics and Computer

Systems Engineering *
PgDip Mechatronics and Computer Systems
Engineering *
PgCert
PgDip

* See Course Specific Regulations

Teaching Institution(s) UEL on campus
Alternative Teaching Institutions N/A
(for local arrangements see final section
of this specification)
UEL Academic School Architecture, Computing and Engineering
UCAS Code
Professional Body Accreditation N/A
Relevant QAA Benchmark Statements Engineering (October 2019)
Additional Versions of this Course PGDip Mechatronics and Computer
Systems Engineering*

*This version of the course does not

include the EG7030 Applied Research
and Engineering Practice 1. Students
who obtain the necessary credits to be
awarded the PgDip may choose to not
receive the PgDip but instead move to
the MSc route by registering for EG7030.

MSc Mechatronics and Computer

Systems with Industrial Placement

Date Specification Last Updated 30/06/21

Course Aims and Learning Outcomes

The focus of technology related economy is drastically shifting towards autonomous
mechatronic systems, automation and robotics, controlled remotely via
smart IT systems.

This MSc course combines principles from mechanics, electronics, control,

computers, automation and robotics to design, manufacture and test smart and
cognitive systems and devices, which utilise a combination of these disciplines. For
various applications, these systems and devices are required to interact with
objects, know where the objects are, and be able to perform tasks such as moving
the objects to a required new position. The electronics require information from
sensors that can detect position, orientation, and visual or audio signals. The
electrical inputs from the sensors have to be interpreted and the appropriate signals
sent out to the actuators to perform the required operation. With embedded
artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning these systems and devices can take
on board decision to act as required without human intervention. Students on this
postgraduate programme will gain this knowledge of engineering processes,
product design, digital electronics, AI and machine learning. This will also enable
them to create their own mechatronic systems that are smart and cognitive,
developing them from imagination through to reality.

This course is designed to give you the opportunity to:

• Gain a depth of knowledge and understanding of the most up to date

practices and theories in Mechatronics and computer systems engineering
• Develop techniques for analysing and solving problems in mechatronics
problems, and ways that the computer systems engineering discipline
cross-cuts with the mechatronics discipline.
• Understand the role of the engineer as an important professional in society.
• Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound
judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate conclusions
clearly to specialist and non- specialist audiences
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving problems, and act
autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level

What you will learn:

Knowledge

• Demonstrate comprehensive and critical understanding of the latest

theories and practices in Analysis and Design of mechatronics systems.
• Have a critical understanding of relevant scientific principles of the
specialisation.
• Be aware of new and emerging technologies.
• Develop appropriate models for solving problems in engineering, and the
ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
• Collect and analyse research data and using appropriate engineering tools
to tackle unfamiliar problems, such as those with uncertain or incomplete
data.
Thinking skills

• Appling original thought to the development of practical solutions for

mechatronics systems, components or processes.
• Develop a thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations, and
some appreciation of likely new developments.
• Develop advanced level knowledge and understanding of a wide range of
engineering materials and components.
• Make critical evaluations of risks through some understanding of the basis
of such risks.

Subject-Based Practical skills

• Carry out a research project

• Interpret experimental and analysis data
• Use various computer analysis and design packages and develop
appropriate models
• Complete design projects and develop appropriate conceptual schemes
• Apply engineering techniques taking account of a range of commercial and
industrial constraints

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Develop interpersonal skills, contribute and work effectively in a team

• Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, which may be as a team
member or leader.
• Learn new theories, concepts, methods etc and apply these in unfamiliar
situations.
• Develop, monitor and update a plan, to reflect a changing operating
environment.
• Learn independently and effectively; and to be able to present and convey
complex technical information to other professionals and the public both
verbally and in writing

Learning and Teaching

Knowledge is developed through

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Seminars

Thinking skills are developed through

• Coursework
• Mini projects
 • Research dissertation

Practical skills are developed through

• Laboratory experiments
• Design projects
• Planning of work required for the research dissertation
• Industrial placements, as appropriate

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

• Seminars
• Coursework
• Presentation of research
• Research dissertation

In addition, the industrial placement will provide opportunities to apply key technical
knowledge and skills learnt in the taught modules, enhance their communication and
interpersonal skills and improve their employment potential.

Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by:

• Coursework
• Examinations
• Research dissertation

Thinking skills are assessed by:

• Solutions to practical problems

• Evaluation of literature
• Evaluation of experimental data

Practical skills are assessed by:

• Use of design aids
• Use of computer aided design packages
• Laboratory experiments
• Preparation of research dissertation

Skills for life are assessed by:

• Seminars
• Design drawings
• Research dissertation
 • Oral examinations

Students with disabilities and/or particular learning needs should discuss

assessments with the Course Leader to ensure they are able to fully engage
with all assessment within the course.

Work or Study Placements

Students on the placement version of the course will undertake an internship within
a partner organisation and complete a 120 P-credit Industrial Placement Module.
The module is graded at either Pass or Fail, assessed by the partner industrial
organisation and the University and grades reflected on the students’ academic
transcripts.

The industrial placement component is for a duration of an academic year, ie,

normally 30 weeks including minimum 24 weeks of delivery time. It starts after
students have completed the 1st year of study, ie, all the taught modules and the
dissertation component of the MSc course which together form 180 credits.

Students on the two-year MSc with placement courses must pass all taught modules
of their respective course plus dissertation, ie, 180 credits, before they become
eligible to progress to the next stage and undertake industrial placement.

Students on the MSc course with placement will also normally be required to fulfil the
80% attendance requirement (on all modules) to be eligible to progress to the
industrial placement module.

Students unable to meet the above requirements and progress successfully will
normally be moved to the one-year full-time version of the course and their student
visa, if any, will be curtailed accordingly.

The structure of the extended version of the MSc courses that includes the industrial
placement is summarised in the following table:

For September intake:

Term 1 (Y1: Sep – Jan) Taught modules
Term 2 (Y1: Jan – May) Taught modules
Term 3 (Y1: May – Sep) Dissertation
End of July Y1 Deadline for confirming placement
Term 1 and 2 (Y2: Sep – May) Industrial placement
For January intake:
Term 2 (Y1: Jan – May) Taught modules
Term 1 (Y1: Sep – Jan) Taught modules
Term 2 (Y1: Jan – May) Dissertation
End of March Deadline for confirming placement
Term 3 and 1 (Y2: May – Jan) Industrial placement
Students must check the Academic Calendar for start and end of term dates.
It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to secure their placement. The University
will offer guidance and support; and recommend students to our industrial partners
who are interested in participating in the course. But the onus to find and secure the
placement is on the students. If they are unable to secure a placement at the end of
taught modules, they will be transferred back to the full time taught course without
the placement component and your student visa, if applicable, will be curtailed
accordingly by UKVI.

Students undertaking the Placement Module will also normally need to meet the
following requirements:
• 80% attendance at the 12 week employability module workshops and
classes.
• Registration on the UEL Employment Hub with CV and Covering Letter
uploaded.
• Details of placement provided to the Placement Officer by 31st July (Sept
starters) and 31st March (January starters).
• Placement Agreement form signed by the student and partner organisation
at least 3 weeks before the placement start date.

Course Structure
All courses are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of
study that is needed.

One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you
do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).

Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:

3 Equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare

students for year one of an undergraduate degree course.
4 Equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time
undergraduate degree course.
5 Equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time
undergraduate degree course.
6 Equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time
undergraduate degree course.
7 Equivalent in standard to a Masters degree.

Courses are made up of modules that are each credit weighted.

The module structure of this course:

Credit
Module
Weighting Core/Option Available
Level Module Title by
Code
Distance
 Learning
?
Y/N

7 EG7060 Mental Wealth: 30 Core N

Professional Life

7 Intelligent 30 Option N
EG7031 Transport
Systems

7 EG7061 Wireless Signal 30 Option N

Propagations

7 CD7030 Machine learning 30 Core N

on Big Data

7 EG7164 Automation and 30 Option N

Robotics

7 Smart industries 30 Option N

EG7039 and digital
manufacturing

7 Applied Research 60 Core* N

EG7030 and Engineering
Practice 1

Core for
7 Industrial 120P MSc with N
EG7021 Placement Industrial
Placement

Please note: Optional modules might not run every year, the course team will decide on an annual
basis which options will be running, based on student demand and academic factors, in order to
create the best learning experience.

Additional detail about the course module structure:

*Applied Research module is not available for PGDip course.
A core module for a course is a module which a student must have passed (i.e.
been awarded credit) in order to achieve the relevant named award. An optional
module for a course is a module selected from a range of modules available on the
course.

The overall credit-rating of the Masters course (not including the industrial
placement) is 180 credits. For PGDip courses, it is 120 credits. If for some reason
you are unable to achieve this credit you may be entitled to an intermediate award,
the level of the award will depend on the amount of credit you have accumulated.
You can read the University Student Policies and Regulations on the UEL website.

Course Specific Regulations

* It will be at discretion of the Assessment Board whether Intermediate Awards are
named or unnamed.

Typical Duration
For those not on a student visa, it is possible to move from full-time to part-time
study and vice-versa to accommodate any external factors such as financial
constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this
flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.

Course without industrial placement

The duration of this course is one calendar year full-time if enrolment is in

September, and two calendar years part-time. For January enrolment, the duration
becomes 15 months full time, and 27 months part-time. The full-time structure is
summarised in the following Table.

For September intake:

Term 1 (Y1: Sep – Jan) Taught modules
Term 2 (Y1: Jan – May) Taught modules
Term 3 (Y1: May – Sep) Dissertation
For January intake:
Term 2 (Y1: Jan – May) Taught modules
Term 1 (Y1: Sep – Jan) Taught modules
Term 2 (Y2: Jan – May) Dissertation

Course with industrial placement

The course with industrial placement is offered in full-time mode only. The duration
of this course is two academic years (including the industrial placement element).
See “Work or Study Placements” section for more detail.

The time limit for completion of a course is four years after first enrolment on the
course.

Further Information
More information about this course is available from:
• The UEL web site (www.uel.ac.uk)
• The course handbook
• Module study guides
• UEL Manual of General Regulations (available on the UEL website)
• UEL Quality Manual (available on the UEL website)
• School web pages
• The Employability HUB

All UEL courses are subject to thorough course approval procedures before we allow
them to commence. We also constantly monitor, review and enhance our courses by
listening to student and employer views and the views of external examiners and
advisors.

Additional costs:
None

Alternative Locations of Delivery

N/A