Engineering Control Systems and Instrumentation (with Placement) MSc
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
About the course
Reasons to study
This course is specifically aimed at International students, supporting those wishing to gain practical work based experiential learning. Together with studying your chosen course we are offering you the opportunity to secure a placement* for an additional 6 months, making the course 18 months in length. This allows students with limited experience to put into practice the skills and techniques developed throughout the Master’s degree.
This advanced course has been developed in consultation with industry and is supported by our internationally recognised academic and research staff and the industry standard facilities based in our Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT).
This course will enable you as a graduate or an engineer from industry, to acquire the key skills to operate effectively in a modern engineering manufacturing environment. In the context of this course, the engineering manufacturing industry is defined as:
Our facilities include an impressive range of professionally equipped laboratories for control, electrical, electronic and communications projects. In addition we also have:
With our support you will develop the practical skills and expert knowledge required to succeed in roles in technical design, development and project management in the areas of controls systems and instrumentation; improving your technical effectiveness and preparing you for roles in management.
*Please see the placement section for more details.
Program Outline
Course detail
Modules
Core modules
Process Measurement and Control
You will be studying the principal types of process plant and associated control equipment used in the process industries. Models of process plant systems are developed for optimising control system performance. You will get familiarised with the principal types of computer control systems, including PLCs, Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems, SCADA systems and Distributed Control (DCS) systems. Further on, you will get experience of working with instrumentation systems for the measurement of such as, temperature, pressure, level and flow. You will get familiarised with the real-time imaging systems for monitoring multiphase flows in pipes (e.g. oil-water or solids-water flows).
Manufacturing Systems Automation
This module will provide you with an understanding of the hardware and computer control systems used in modern manufacturing. You will consider how to define appropriate sensors and instruments to be able to automate a process safely and how to break an automation challenge into logical steps. This will develop your ability to automate any such processes through design and programming of PLC control systems. The workshop sessions will give you practical understanding of control systems used in machine tools, industrial robots, automated part handling, and inspection.
Signal Analysis and Processing
This module is concerned with the main fundamental frequency and time-frequency transforms, which form the basis of modern signal processing. In this module you will gain an understanding of the classical, advanced and novel signal processing techniques for characterising and processing digital signals and learn how these techniques can be used in various industrial signal processing applications; fundamental concepts, related to digital signals; the Fourier transform and the power spectral density; the advanced time-frequency transforms: the short-time Fourier transform, the short time chirp Fourier transform and the wavelet transform; classical and advanced digital filters; and the advanced and novel higher order spectra. This module is applicable to a wide range of industrial sectors: aerospace, oil and gas, transport, power generation, construction industry, communication, including cell phone industry, food industry, healthcare and many others.
Project and Finance Management
This module aims to develop your understanding of the strategic aspects of programme and project management and its role in adding competitive advantage to an organisation. The module enables you to gain a firm grounding in the principles, processes, tools and techniques that underpin programme and project management. It also aids you to develop a systematic understanding of the purposes and uses of financial information, together with the ability to use quantitative skills to improve performance management and decision making within an organisation. Emphasis is placed upon the need for competence in project planning and control. Team-working, communication and risk management skills are developed by means of group activity. Extensive use is made of project management and simulation software.
Advanced Technical Project
"The project provides the opportunity required within an MSc to undertake and manage a major programme of advanced independent work. The aim of this module is to give you the ability to apply your knowledge and skills to conceive and deliver a creative solution to a technical challenge at the forefront of your discipline. Where possible the project is carried out in collaboration with an industrial company and takes place at the company. Your academic supervisor will be based within one of the research centres or institutes within the Department of Engineering and Technology. The project is the opportunity for you to show your ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively and to show originality in tackling and solving problems. You will be allocated a project supervisor(s) who will help guide you through this process. The project will allow you to display the qualities needed for employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative in complex and unpredictable professional environments.
Professional Development and Research Methods
professional development, you will develop professional skills such as team working, organisation and leadership. You will also get the opportunity to explore a range of research methods and understand how they can be used in your own area of interest. There will be the opportunity to learn about professional registration in Engineering and how you can begin on that journey. You will learn through self directed study of online material supported by interactive seminars and workshops, this will give you ownership of your own learning and help you develop skills for life long learning and continued professional development. The assessment for this module will enable you to put these skills into practice in coursework which challenges your professional development and research skills whilst focussing on broadening your understanding of contemporary challenges in the sector.
Professional Development and Practice
This module provides you with the opportunity to reflect on your professional practice during your Masters degree by undertaking a period of development through study or by working with a company, research group or within a teaching environment in the UK or overseas. This module encourages you to reflect on your technical, personal and professional development experiences, and to identify your learning from these experiences.
Optional modules
Choose one from a list which may include:
Virtual Instrumentation
This module will provide you with knowledge of hardware and software aspects of virtual instrumentation (VI). You will acquire skills in modelling, designing, processing and simulating a range of analogue and digital systems. The practical elements of this module will equip you with an ability to implement a virtual instrument on a PC using graphical programming. You will deploy industry standard LabVIEW software tools in designing and simulating real systems.
Computers in Control
This module provides a critical review of the hardware and software aspects of microcontroller interfacing. You will develop an understanding of embedded systems concepts through the use of various peripherals. You will explore various aspects of microcontroller based systems such as support programs, design environment, memory utilization, compilation, and modularization. This module will extend your design skills in both software and hardware in implementing microcontrollers in embedded systems.
Optional modules
Choose two from a list which may include:
Parallel Computer Architectures Cluster and Cloud Computing
Many existing and future computer-based applications impose exceptional demands on performance that traditional computer systems cannot offer. Hence, there is a need for High-Performance Computing, Cluster and Cloud Computing which are driving scientific, technological and social innovation. In this module you will gain in-depth knowledge of Cluster and Cloud Computing technologies. The practical exercises will give you experience of building a computer cluster using laboratory hardware or in a cloud; parallel programming and applications.
Modelling Dynamic System
Dynamic systems of inter-related entities are becoming more commonplace as computational resources are miniaturised. Examples of dynamic systems include information technology network infrastructure for communications, computational devices that have mobility, or even the inner workings of a modern central processing unit (CPU). As physical devices adopt more technology, become more ubiquitous, and contribute to inter-connected ‘smart’ environments, there is a need to be able to understand, model and design innovative solutions that embody, and take into account, these dynamic characteristics. This module will enable you to select the most appropriate method of modelling a dynamic system, before simulating its behaviour and then optimising its performance.
Modelling of Electromechanical Systems
The module equips you with the qualities and transferable skills necessary to design, model and simulate electromechanical systems, for example, servo motion control applications in machine tools, robotics and automated production equipment, "more" electric actuation in transportation and industry. You will explore the linkage of sub-components into a complete system and the interaction of sub-components under steady and dynamic operation.
Wireless Communications for LANs, PANs and the IoT
The module is concerned with the principles of modern communication systems and their application in wireless communication networks, in particular the Internet of Things. You will begin with a basic overview of communications techniques as used in wireless applications. Then you will review existing wireless sensor, and related, technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WirelessHart and LoRaWAN comparing their performance metrics and application areas. The role of wireless communication technologies in the Internet of Things and similar application areas will be discussed.
Teaching and Assessment
You will be taught via lectures, tutorials and laboratory practical sessions and demonstrations. Recordings of sessions (e.g. lectures) will be made available through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Brightspace. Computational, practical and tutorial work is carried out on one of the school's equipped laboratories. Project work is usually carried out using the same equipment and test rigs that are used for advanced research at the university.
A variety of assessment strategies are used depending on the type and nature of the module. These include examinations, reports on laboratory experiments, laboratory-based assignments and projects.
Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course. Assessment will include coursework and peer review and reflect the emphasis of the course on the ability to apply knowledge and skills.
Feedback (either written and/or verbal) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on final coursework is available on request after the publication of results
Further information
The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.
Teaching excellence
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Triple proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2022). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
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We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 20 since 2008 (2022 data).
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We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).
Enhance your career
Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as control systems engineer, electronic engineer, junior control and instrumentation engineer, and validation and verification engineer in organisations including Bentley Motors, Spirax Sarco, Changan UK Ltd and Nespak.**
* Percentage of graduates from the School of Computing and Engineering who are in work and/or further study fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 19/20, UK domiciled graduates)
** Source: LinkedIn
88.2%*Placements
This course provides you with the chance to undertake a 6 month placement at the end of the taught element. This may be by working in a company, a research group or within a teaching environment. A placement can help you build on the knowledge and skills developed on the course.
The placement is a valuable tool that can enhance your employability and help you to develop as an individual. It is acknowledged that graduates with work experience are generally much more attractive to employers.
Our Placement Unit will be on hand to support you in finding a suitable placement opportunity. Students will have access to online learning materials to pick up advice on CVs, cover letters, speculative applications, online applications, and interviews. In addition, students will have access to the placement drop-in sessions for one-to-one advice and have a mock interview.